Sept. 25, 1997 – Dallas Burn 1:2 Revolution at Cotton Bowl (Att.: 6,897)

Former Boston College forward Paul Keegan’s 88^th-minute goal qualified the Revolution for the MLS playoffs in the final game of the season. Keegan, an early substitute for Imad Baba (injured after a Wade Webber tackle from behind), scored his only goal of the season off a throw-in from current Revolution general manager Mike Burns.

A nine-game losing streak had pushed the Revolution toward becoming the only MLS team to fail to qualify for the playoffs in the league’s first two seasons, but they rallied with three wins in the final four games. Gerell Elliott finished off a 31st-minute Alain Sutter back heel for the Burn, then Joe-Max Moore’s 58^th-minute penalty kick equalized after an Alberto Naveda-Alexi Lalas combination set up Giuseppe Galderisi to earn the penalty. Walter Zenga made some spectacular saves, including point blank attempts by Elliott and Dante Washington, and Brian Dunseth played a key defensive role in place of injured Francis Okaroh.

Also, that day a source told me the league had nixed a mid-season deal that would have moved Eric Wynalda from the San Jose Clash to the Revolution. Wynalda, the U.S. national team’s leading scorer, had become among Reebok’s featured players, the Randolph-based company attempting to raise his profile. Wynalda played for the Revolution in 2001 and ’02. Chris Aduama photo

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