Needing a win, Revs can only tie

FOXBORO — Summer officially ended at 9:54 last night. At the same time, the Revs’ flickering playoff hopes began to dim as well.

But what the Revs might lack in quality on occasion, they make up for with a healthy dose of resiliency. It was that sort of never-quit style that enabled the Revs to twice rally back to tie the Chicago Fire, 2-2, in front of a Gillette Stadium crowd of 24,388.

The point allowed the Revs (8-10-11) to pull even with idle D.C. United (9-11-8) for seventh spot in the MLS Eastern Conference, each with 35 points.

“We have ourselves to blame. Those were two poor goals we conceded. But we can take away a lot of positives, though. We could have, should have won the game. We’re going to continue to fight. I still hope and believe that we’ll make the playoffs,” said Revs coach Brad Friedel. “In every game, we have a chance to win the game.”

The Revs came in a woeful 1-6-4 over the last 11 games, but with a 6-4-4 showing at home. And prospects appeared good against a Fire side that was only 2-83 on the road.

But the Fire (7-15-7) took advantage of a turnover by Revs rookie Brandon Bye to take the lead in the 19th minute. Bye lost control of the ball deep in his end and Chicago forward Alexsandar Katai took possession, dribbled past Michael Mancienne and curled a left-footer into the far corner.

“The first half, Chicago came to kill the clock, waste time. Most of the game, their players were within 35 yards of the goal. That was completely different than from previous games they played on the road,” Friedel said.

Bye was subbed out for Juan Agudelo in the 46th minute as the Revs faced an upward climb. Teal Bunbury came close in the 57th minute when he reached a cross by Kelyn Rowe. Fire captain Dax McCarty drew a yellow card and Rowe’s subsequent free kick curved wide.

The Revs were in dire need of a turn of fortune. It arrived in the 62nd minute. Midfielder Cristian Penilla attempted a pass, which deflected wide to defender Andrew Farrell. His cross came off a Fire defender and headed toward goal, forcing keeper Richard Sanchez to reach full-stretch to tip it away. But on the spot was Scott Caldwell, who had an easy tap-in at the far post to tie it.

“We say this too much but we played well. We created a lot of chances. We didn’t finish in the final third,” said Caldwell. “It came down to our play on the field. We need to win. We played well but it wasn’t enough. I don’t know what we need to do. We all have to take accountability.”

Momentum swung just as quickly the other way minutes later. Chicago midfielder Raheem Edwards’ cross was inadvertently steered by Mancienne into his own net to give the Fire a 2-1 in the 67th minute.

But the Revs refused to roll over and attacked in transition. A long ball found Penilla behind the defense. Sanchez charged out to him, but Penilla spun away and fired a left-footed shot into the empty cage from about 12 yards out in the 70th minute. It was his 10th tally of his first MLS season, and it earned the Revs the draw.