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Game commentary

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Kelly's stellar play provides needed spark for Duke**

Sometimes it takes a burst of brilliance--a moment of inspiration--to change the flow of a game. Junior forward Brian Kelly provided Duke with that spark Thursday night. And not only did he end up earning a win for the Blue Devils, but he turned their mood around as well.

In the last two weeks, Duke first suffered an embarrassing 2-0 loss to the College of Charleston, then played its poorest game of the year in a 2-1 loss to James Madison. Entering the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament, the Blue Devils were a far cry from the squad which started the season 6-0.

For an hour in its opener against Wake Forest, Duke's fortunes seemed to dip even lower. Losing this game by no means would have meant elimination from the playoff picture. But the team simply did not look ready.

Indecision in the penalty box cost the Blue Devils some early goals. When Kelly's shot did hit the back of the net, the whistle blew for offsides. Then came a missed assignment on defense, and the Demon Deacons went up 1-0.

Then the player with the Irish name answered the call. Receiving the ball on the edge of the penalty area in front of a sea of jerseys, Kelly eluded his marker and let fly with a swinging left-footer. The ball whipped past the goalkeeper before he knew how to react, and went in off the far post.

A beauty, a stunner, it was the moment of inspiration.

The goal seemed to remind the Blue Devils of the play which took them to the No. 2 spot in the polls. It also rekindled the desire which fueled those performances.

Almost instantly, Duke found a spring in its step. Suddenly, Henderson started to look more comfortable. The soccer that fans came to love this season began to appear. The back-heels, the flicks, the clever running off the ball. That was the real Duke.

It was a matter of time before the second goal arrived. And wouldn't you know it, Kelly was its creator. Sent down the left by Andy Kwon, Kelly then dispatched his cross. The ball was met by Kevin Stein, whose task was easy.

Stein himself found redemption in his goal. The midfielder was under pressure to perform after being benched for the first half against James Madison.

Kelly finished off his evening with an instinctive score, his second of the game. The chance bounced to him about 12 yards out. Sensing the goalkeeper off his line, Kelly sent the ball over his own head and the hapless keeper to make it 3-1 and secure Duke's place in the NCAA tournament.

Kelly hates to take any form of credit. He would much rather heap it on his teammates. But Thursday night was certainly his.

Kelly said repeatedly that the Blue Devils can beat any team in the country. I suppose Duke has always known that. Their opponents have known it too. Trouble is, the team has not performed like it should have in recent weeks.

The Blue Devils finished the match in the form with which they began the season. As the crowd chanted "UVa! UVa!" at the end, they knew--and Duke knew--this team is ready.