Khano on a mission for glory
By Stephen Wright
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Thirst for success: Khano Smith is gunning for MLS Cup glory.
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Khano Smith is on a mission to right the wrongs of last year's heart-breaking MLS Cup defeat when Revolution renew acquaintances with defending champion's Houston Dynamo in Sunday's showpiece showdown.
Bermudian Smith still suffers from nightmares over Dynamo's penalty shoot-out victory and is using those painful memories as motivation as he prepares for the biggest moment of his footballing life.
The left winger is keen to stress this is no revenge assignment, however. For the 26-year-old the championship represents a second chance to finally put to bed the demons that still haunt him 12 months on.
"Last season we let ourselves down, I mean we had the game won and let it slip away," said Smith whose team had been leading 1-0 with eight minutes of injury time remaining.
"Yes, this weekend's final is a repeat of last season's but I don't feel like we're on a revenge mission or anything. There's certainly no more extra spice from my point of view.
"There's a lot of respect between the two teams and we're very similar in both our approach and set-up. For me it's a chance to right the wrongs as I still have nightmares about that defeat. If we win on Sunday, finally it will be out of my system."
Perennial bridesmaids the Revolution have never won the MLS Cup in their 13-year history and have finished runners-up for the last two seasons. Smith, who missed the 2005 final through a knee injury, admits the overriding emotion was one of relief after beating Chicago Fire in the Eastern Conference Final to reach their third successive championship match.
"It's always a special occasion to reach the MLS Cup, but we didn't get carried away with our celebrations as the job isn't fully done," said the former Dandy Town man.
"To be honest the emotions I felt after last week's victory were more of relief than anything else."
While football in a city like Boston, which boasts both baseball's Red Sox and American football's New England Patriots, often struggles for consistent mainstream publicity, Smith said media attention this week has been particularly intense as the clock ticks down to the final.
"During the build up to the final there's always a lot more media attention, I experienced that last year," said Smith who has become a Revs mainstay this season.
"We've had quite a few press days and I imagine it will be more of the same when we arrive in Washington. We'll be there for a few days prior to the game to prepare, acclimatise and relax.
"I've got my mum, dad, girlfriend and daughter coming to the final. I've also got some cousins from Baltimore making the trip.
"It's definitely the biggest match of my football career but I don't feel nervous - I can't wait for it."
Revolution take on Dynamo, who beat Kansas City in the Western Conference final last weekend, at the RFK Stadium in Washington on Sunday at 1 p.m (Bermuda time).
