Saturday, April 7 –(7:00 p.m.) — New England at MetroStars (Metro Guide, WLVI 56) Season series: First Meeting. All-time regular season series: New England leads 11-9-0 (MetroStars hold a 38-34 edge in aggregate goals) Top returning scorers: New England: F Wolde Harris (15g, 7a, 37pts) 6th in MLS; MetroStars: F Clint Mathis (16g, 14a, 46pts) Did you know? Six of the MetroStars nine all-time wins against the Revolution have come at Giants Stadium. Key players out: New England: Yari Allnut (foot surgery-R), Rusty Pierce (hamstring strain-L); MetroStars: Martin Klinger (hamstring strain-L), Mark Semioli (hamstring strain-R), Billy Walsh (foot surgery complications-R) Notes: The MetroStars return nearly every starter from last year’s team that came within one game of reaching MLS Cup, they also will carry with them the burden of heightened preseason expectations … A young but talented defense led by goalkeeper Tim Howard and Mike Petke was solid in Spring Training, but could potentially be the MetroStars achilles heel … New England Coach Fernando Clavijo continues to fine-tune a team that gave Chicago a scare in the playoff quarterfinals … A young defense could also victimize the Revolution, which will rely heavily on the experience of veterans John Harkes, Leonel Alvarez, Mauricio Wright and Eric Wynalda … The MetroStars faithful have eagerly anticipated the home debut of Colombian Pedro Alvarez, his presence adds even more firepower to an offense that ranked second in MLS last season with 64 goals (2.00/game) … New England’s offensive hopes revolve around Jamaican Wolde Harris who will look to build off his 15 goal output from 2000. KEY MATCHUP: New England M William Sunsing vs. MetroStars M Mark Chung: Two of Major League Soccer’s most talented midfielders will go head to head on opening day. Sunsing will look to build off a heroic performance in Costa Rica’s most recent World Cup Qualifying match (a 3-0 win vs. Trinidad), while Chung’s playmaking and goal-scoring abilities (3g, 11a in 2000) provide the Metros with a dangerous scoring option from the flanks. Spectacular ballhandling displays by both players should be expected. SCHEDULED REFEREES: Referee: Ricardo Valenzuela; Assistant Referees: Craig Lowry (SAR), Nate Clement (JAR) Saturday, April 7 — (7:30 p.m.) — Kansas City at D.C. United (Metrosports) Season series: First Meeting; All-time regular season series: Kansas City leads 6-5-1 (Wizards lead 29-21 in aggregate goals) Top returning scorers: Kansas City: M Chris Klein (6g, 8a 20 pts); D.C. United: F Jaime Moreno (12g, 7a, 31 pts) Did you know? Kansas City’s last match against United at RFK Stadium was abandoned when the stadium’s lights malfunctioned … The match on June 10, 2000 was recorded as a 0-0 draw. Key players out: Kansas City: Peter Vermes (abdominal strain-IR); D.C. United: Mike Ammann (hamstring strain-R), Jaime Moreno (knee surgery-R), Ben Olsen (ankle fracture-R), Eddie Pope (big toe sprain-L) Notes: The Wizards begin the defense of their MLS Cup 2000 Championship against a new-look D.C. United squad that begins Major League Soccer’s sixth season with four key veterans watching from the sideline due to injury … Although they return their rock-solid defensive core, Kansas City is looking to replace its top three scorers from last season … MLS’ all-time leading scorer (and former member of D.C. United) Roy Lassiter headlines a revamped Wizards attack along with young Trinidad phenom Gary Glasgow … Former MLS MVP Marco Etcheverry will need to shoulder the load early for the three-time champs with F Jaime Moreno sidelined with a knee injury … Alongside Etcheverry, United will likely start 17-year-old Bobby Convey and first round SuperDraft choice Ryan Nelsen, giving United a talented but relatively inexperienced look in midfield … Wizards Head Coach Bob Gansler has called upon Mike Burns to fill in for the injured Peter Vermes on defense … Goalkeeper Mark Simpson will need to organize United’s defense, which is without Eddie Pope (injury), and offseason departures Carlos Llamosa and Jeff Agoos. KEY MATCHUP: Kansas City M Francisco Gomez vs. D.C. United M Ryan Nelsen: The youngster Gomez will handle the playmaking duties for the Wizards in 2001, while Nelsen assumes the vacancy left by the departure of United defensive midfielder Richie Williams … Disrupting Kansas City’s attack and taking some of the pressure away from United’s defense will be Nelsen’s primary responsibility … With dangerous targets like Lassiter and Glasgow awaiting service up front, Gomez must try to move the ball forward. SCHEDULED REFEREES: Referee: Tim Weyland; Referee’s Assistants: Greg Barkey (SAR), George Vergara (JAR) Saturday, April 7 — (7:30 p.m.) — Colorado at Miami (UPN – Ch. 20) Season series: First Meeting. All-time regular season series: Miami leads 5-3-0 (Miami leads 15-14 in aggregate goals) Top returning scorers: Colorado: F Junior Agogo (10g, 7a, 27pts); Miami: F Diego Serna (16g, 10a, 42 pts) Did you know? In four matches at Lockhart Stadium, the Rapids have surrendered 11 goals (an average of 2.75/game). Key players out: Colorado: Marcelo Balboa (abdominal hernia surgery), Keyeno Thomas (fractured wrist-L), Robin Fraser (abdominal hernia), Junior Agogo (red card suspension); Miami: Leo Cullen (hamstring strain-L); Carlos Llamosa (red card suspension) Notes: After an injury-plagued 2000 campaign, Colorado will kick off 2001 with the majority of its roster in good health … The presence of Adin Brown in goal and Paul Bravo in the midfield make the Rapids a much different squad than the one forced to limp through last season … The host Fusion played impressively during MLS Spring Training, attacking from all angles in the midfield with new acquisitions Chris Henderson, Preki, and Alex Pineda Chacon … With the steadying presence and reliability of Englishman Ian Bishop and U.S. National Team standout Carlos Llamosa, South Florida fans are hoping for big things from their team … The Rapids will attack primarily through forward Junior Agogo, Neathan Gibson and John Spencer, Miami will counter with the talented defensive trio of Pablo Mastroeni, Tyrone Marshall and Leo Cullen. KEY MATCHUP: Colorado D Stephen Herdsman vs. Miami F Diego Serna: Despite the recent acquisition of Robin Fraser, the veteran’s injury will ensure that Herdsman will occupy the middle of the Rapids defense. Herdsman should have his hands full with the crafty Serna, who knows every trick in the book when it comes to goal scoring. Herdsman will need all his speed to match Serna’s guile and perhaps a mistake-free performance to avoid being victimized. SCHEDULED REFEREES: Referee: Alex Prus; Referee’s Assistants: Jon Wilson (SAR), Chip Reed (JAR) Saturday, April 7 — (7:30 p.m.) — Chicago at Columbus (ESPN2) Season series: First Meeting. All-time regular season series: Chicago leads 6-2-0 (Fire have a 16-11 advantage in aggregate goals) Top returning scorers: Chicago: F Hristo Stoitchkov (9g 7a 25pts); Columbus: F Dante Washington (15g, 9a, 39pts) Did you know? The Crew’s Tenywa Bonseu appeared in six of the Fire’s seven playoff games last season, which included a spot in the Fire’s starting 11 for MLS Cup. Key players out: Chicago: Sergi Daniv (ankle scope-L), Peter Nowak (hamstring strain-L), Hristo Stoitchkov (medial ankle sprain-L); Columbus: Brian McBride (knee sprain-R), Duncan Oughton (ankle sprain-L) Notes: Columbus will debut its new four-man defensive line-up against a Fire squad that led the league in offense last season (2.09/goals per game) … Ironically, the most important offseason addition for the Crew comes in the form of defender Tenywa Bonseu, who stabilized the Fire defense during the team’s run to MLS Cup 2000 … He’ll see plenty of former teammate Josh Wolff, who now becomes the Fire’s premier scoring option with the departure of forward Ante Razov … Both teams begin the season at less than full strength … Chicago will be minus Bulgarian legend Hristo Stoitchkov and midfield general Peter Nowak for the opener, while Columbus will start the season without U.S. National Team forward Brian McBride and rookie defender Duncan Oughton, who had all but nailed down a spot as the team’s right back before suffering a sprained ankle at Spring Training … The Crew’s depth will be tested early on this season with a mid-week match in Costa Rica vs. Saprissa in the first leg of the Football Confederations’ Giants Cup … Even with McBride’s injury, Columbus remains dangerous offensively with speedsters Jeff Cunningham and Brian West, who could create problems for Chicago’s central defender Andrew Lewis. KEY MATCHUP: Chicago D Carlos Bocanegra vs. Columbus F Dante Washington: Bocanegra will likely get the responsibility of marking Washington, the Crew’s top scoring threat in 2000. He’ll also have to keep a close eye on the explosive Jeff Cunningham, who can create havoc down the flanks if left unwatched. SCHEDULED REFEREES: Referee: Kevin Terry; Referee’s Assistants: Richard Huber (SAR), George Gansner (JAR) Saturday, April 7 — (8:30 p.m.) — Tampa Bay at Dallas (WTTA) Season series: First Meeting. All-time regular season series: Series tied 7-7-0 (Series is tied 20-20 in aggregate goals) Top returning scorers: Tampa Bay: F Mamadou Diallo (26g, 4a, 56pts); Dallas: F Jason Kreis (11g, 13a, 35pts) Did you know? Dallas strikers Jason Kreis and Ariel Graziani combined to register 68 points last season Key players out: Tampa Bay: Craig Demmin (MCL strain-R), Josh Keller (MCL strain-R); Dallas: Aleksey Korol (strained IT band-R), Chad Deering (red card suspension) Notes: Tampa travels to Dallas, with M Carlos Valderrama and F Mamadou Diallo, Major League Soccer’s most lethal one-two punch last season … The Mutiny may be without the services of central defender Craig Demmin, who Alfonso Mondelo was counting on to help organize the team’s backline … If Demmin can’t go, look for Joe Addo to return to the sweeper position after playing much of the preseason in a supporting midfield role … Dallas will counter with Kreis and Graziani, a forward pairing that causes trouble for almost any team … On defense, the Burn are formidable up the middle with Jorge “Zarco” Rodriguez and offseason acquisition Lubos Kubik … This game may be won on the flanks, where Diallo and ultra reliable Steve Ralston pose the greatest danger. KEY MATCHUP: Dallas M Jorge Rodriguez vs. Tampa Bay M Carlos Valderrama: The arrival of Lubos Kubik has thrust Rodriguez forward, allowing him more freedom to join the attack. In this matchup, Rodriguez must keep the ball away from Valderrama before attempting to help the Burn offense heat up. SCHEDULED REFEREES: Referee: Noel Kenny; Referee’s Assistants: Robert Fereday (SAR), Misail Tsapos (JAR) Saturday, April 7 — (10:00 p.m.) — San Jose at Los Angeles (FOX Bay Area, FOX Sports West 2) Season series: First Meeting. All-time regular season series: Los Angeles leads 14-4-2 (Los Angeles leads 36-25 in aggregate goals) Top returning scorers: San Jose: Dario Brose (5g, 4a, 14pts); Los Angeles: Cobi Jones (7g, 6a, 20pts) Did you know? San Jose’s roster features eight new players in 2001. Key players out: San Jose: Dario Brose (swollen knee-R), Jimmy Conrad (fractured foot-R), Jamie Clark (athletic hernia), Landon Donovan (fractured ribs), Harut Karapetyan (ankle surgery-L); Los Angeles: Brian Mullan (knee surgery-L) Notes: The new look Earthquakes travel to Pasadena to face a Galaxy team that retains many of the same faces that already helped them qualify for the FIFA Club World Championship in Spain this summer … Veteran U.S. National Team defender Jeff Agoos has been in top form lately during World Cup Qualifying, and the Earthquakes will need all of his experience as they attempt to put all their new pieces in place …The Galaxy enter this season as one of the league’s more settled teams, with an attack built around midfield maestro Mauricio Cienfuegos and attacker Cobi Jones … San Jose Head Coach Frank Yallop will counter with forward Ronald Cerritos, who returns from an injury-shortened 2000 season along with Canadian International Dwayne DeRosario, who was impressive during Spring Training … The Quakes may also get an unexpected contribution from Nike Project-40’s Scott Bower, who’s preseason play on the right wing has also made him a probable starter … It will be tough to crack Kevin Hartman and the Galaxy defense, who added soccer legend Alexi Lalas to a backline that already included U.S. International Greg Vanney, Olympian Danny Califf, and Ezra Hendrickson. KEY MATCHUP: San Jose D Jeff Agoos vs. Los Angeles F Cobi Jones: These teammates on the U.S. National Team should be very familiar with each other already. Agoos will anchor a young San Jose backline that will likely face its share of pressure from Jones and other Galaxy attackers. SCHEDULED REFEREES: Referee: Gerry Corrie; Referee’s Assistants: Tom Bobadilla (SAR), Roger Itaya (JAR) (all times ET)