Predictions
Here are Soccer America Associate Editor Poul SwainÆs predictions for games on May 12: New England 1 Chicago 3 MetroStars 3 Los Angeles 1 D.C. United 3 San Jose 2 Dallas 1 Columbus 0 Colorado 1 Tampa Bay 2
Previews
(all times ET) Saturday, May 12 (7:30 p.m.) – Chicago Fire at New England Revolution (FOX Sports Chicago, FOX New England) Season series: First Meeting;
All-time regular season series: Chicago leads 3-2-1 (Fire leads 9-8 in aggregate goals).
Leading scorers: Chicago: M Dema Kovalenko (2g, 2a = 6pts); New England: D Leonel Alvarez, D Mauricio Wright, F Matt Okoh (1g, 0 a = 2pts)
Did you know? After starting the season as members of the Revolution, Jamar Beasley and Eric Wynalda have both scored for Chicago this season.
Key players out: Chicago: F Josh Wolff (foot sprain-L); New England: M Yari Allnut (foot surgery – R)
Notes: After playing four straight matches on the road, New England returns to Foxboro to face the team that bounced them from the MLS Cup Playoffs last season … A member of New England’s roster until last Thursday, veteran American striker Eric Wynalda returns to face his former team … His failure to produce with the Revolution makes it unlikely that he will receive a warm reception from the New England faithful … The Revs have struggled offensively through their first six matches and Chicago’s imposing defense will not be a welcome sight … Fire Goalkeeper Zach Thornton has posted two straight clean sheets and owns the second best GAA (0.77) in MLS … Chicago has weathered early season injuries to stars Hristo Stoitchkov and Peter Nowak, in addition to losing Chris Armas and Josh Wolff to national team duty … Chicago is just beginning to assert its dominance in the Central Division, despite not fielding its first choice starting 11 in any of the team’s first five matches … Fire coach Bob Bradley won’t be allowed on the Fire bench for this match after receiving a red card in Saturday’s win against Tampa Bay.
KEY MATCHUP: Chicago M Chris Armas vs. New England M Cate: Cate will face the league’s top defensive stopper in Armas. Moving the ball quickly to his scoring options with Armas in hot pursuit will provide the Brazilian with a stiff challenge.
SCHEDULED REFEREES: Referee: Sergio Vega; Assistant Referees: Roger Itaya (SAR), Thomas Supple (JAR)
Saturday, May 12 (7:30 p.m.) – Los Angeles Galaxy at MetroStars (ESPN2) Season series: First Meeting;
All-time regular season series: Los Angeles leads 9-4-0 (Los Angeles leads 26-15 in aggregate goals).
Leading scorers: Los Angeles: D Greg Vanney (3g, 1a = 7pts); MetroStars: F Clint Mathis (6g, 3a = 15pts)
Did you know?: Clint Mathis has more points in 25 career regular season starts with the MetroStars (19g, 16a) than he had in 43 regular season starts in his years with the Los Angeles Galaxy (15g, 17a).
Key players out: Los Angeles: D Alexi Lalas (knee sprain-L); MetroStars: D Daniel Hernandez (fractured knee cap-R), F Martin Klinger (hamstring tear-L), D Mark Semioli (2nd degree hamstring strain-R), M Billy Walsh (foot stress fracture-R)
Notes: This clash of MLS Cup favorites features two of the league’s hottest teams … Clint Mathis’ Galaxy ties and his scorching play of late for the Metros provides plenty of subplots for this match … Despite their amazing three-goal rally to stun D.C. on Saturday, the MetroStars will look to reorganize a backline that surrendered two goals to D.C. … With the Galaxy’s Cobi Jones running the left wing against MetroStars right flanker Petter Villegas, expect plenty of attacking down the sides … A midfield duel between midfielders Simon Elliott and Tab Ramos should also provide plenty of entertainment.
KEY MATCHUP: Los Angeles D Danny Califf vs. MetroStars F Clint Mathis: Califf will face off against Mathis only four days after going up against the Mutiny’s Mamadou Diallo. Containing the slicing runs of Mathis is a difficult task on its own, but coming off a 100-minute physical showdown with Diallo on Wednesday, Califf will need all his energy and a superb outing to douse the torrid pace of Mathis.
SCHEDULED REFEREES: Referee: Paul Tamberino; Assistant Referees: Craig Lowry (SAR), Robert Fereday (JAR)
Saturday, May 12 (7:30 p.m.) – San Jose Earthquakes at D.C. United (FOX Bay Area, Comcast SportsNet) Season series: First Meeting;
All-time regular season series: San Jose leads 6-5-1 (United leads 23-15 in aggregate goals).
Leading scorers: San Jose: F Dwayne DeRosario (2g, 1a = 5pts); United: F Abdul Thompson Conteh (6g, 0a = 12pts)
Did you know? San Jose is one of only three teams with an all-time winning regular season record against United.
Key players out: San Jose: none; D.C. United: M Ben Olsen (ankle fracture-R)
Notes: This match features two of the league’s surprise teams, as United and San Jose have both performed better than expected early on … On the wider field of RFK Stadium, the Earthquakes may exploit their attacking speed similar to their season opening win against Los Angeles at the Rose Bowl … United’s younger defenders, Craig Ziadie and Eric Denton, must be wary of San Jose’s triple threat offense that revolves around savvy forwards Dwayne DeRosario, Ronald Cerritos and Landon Donovan … A healthy Ronnie Ekelund could bring about more order in the midfield for the ‘Quakes after sitting out last weekend with the flu … This will be United’s third match in seven days, perhaps leaving the Black-and-Red a bit weary … Getting wide midfielders Bobby Convey and Mark Lisi involved in the attack will be a key for United as it attempts to disrupt San Jose’s experienced four-man back line.
KEY MATCHUP: San Jose D Jeff Agoos vs. D.C. United F Jaime Moreno: Teammates for five seasons at United, Agoos and Moreno will lineup on opposite sides of the ball for the first time. Agoos has the ‘Quakes playing solid defense, but his squad has yet to face a striker with Moreno’s array of speed, skill and experience.
SCHEDULED REFEREES: Referee: Noel Kenny; Assistant Referees: Chip Reed (SAR), Steve Taylor (JAR)
Saturday, May 12 (8:30 p.m.) – Columbus Crew at Dallas Burn (Sport! TV) Season series: First Meeting;
All-time regular season series: Dallas leads 9-4-1 (Dallas leads 24-18 in aggregate goals).
Leading scorers: Columbus: M John Wilmar Perez (1g, 1a = 3pts); Dallas: M Jorge Rodriguez (3g, 0a = 6pts)
Did you know? The Crew has lost five straight at the Cotton Bowl, last winning in Dallas on August 14, 1996 (3-2 S0)
Key players out: Columbus: D Duncan Oughton (sprained ankle-L), M Robert Warzycha (dislocated ankle tendon-L); Dallas: D Ted Eck (red card suspension).
Notes: After a solid defensive effort that saw them blank Miami, Columbus must fire up its offense in order to get by the Burn … Despite limited contributions from dangerous strikers Ariel Graziani (3pts) and Jason Kreis (5pts), Dallas has still notched five more goals than Columbus … The Burn will still focus on improving its finishing in attack as the team missed favorable opportunities in its last two games against the MetroStars and Colorado Rapids … Ace striker Brian McBride has returned for the Crew following a knee injury, but Columbus must find space on the flanks to provide the talented finisher with good service … John Wilmar Perez will need to step up his creative play with the Crew’s career assist leader Robert Warzycha out for two months due to an ankle injury … The potential reinsertion of Jeff Cunningham or Dante Washington into the Crew lineup could add more firepower to the poorest offensive team in MLS (.75 goals/game) … After two shutouts, the Crew’s scoreless drought stands at 221 minutes — 71 minutes shy of the team record set in April 1999 … Columbus has never been blanked in three straight matches … Dallas is tied for fourth in MLS in scoring, and has allowed the fewest shots in MLS (37) … Jason Kreis has averaged better than one point per game in 12 matches vs. Columbus (3g, 7a = 13pts).
KEY MATCHUP: Columbus M Brian West vs. Dallas D Ryan Suarez: West will use his speed to test Dallas rookie Suarez on the right side and will look to supply the crosses that Brian McBride can exploit … Containing the lightning quick winger will be Suarez’s prime responsibility in the back.
SCHEDULED REFEREES: Referee: Brian Hall; Assistant Referees: Jon Wilson (SAR), David Bragg (JAR)
Saturday, May 12 (9:00 p.m.) – Tampa Bay Mutiny at Colorado (Time Warner Cable) Season series: First Meeting;
All-time regular season series: Tampa Bay leads 7-6-0 (Colorado leads 21-20 in aggregate goals).
Leading scorers: Tampa Bay: F Mamadou Diallo (5g, 2a = 12pts); Colorado: John Spencer (2g, 2a = 6pts)
Did you know? Mamadou Diallo scored his first two MLS goals against Colorado in a 4-2 win at Raymond James Stadium on April 15, 2000.
Key players out: Tampa Bay: D Steve Trittschuh (fibular fracture-R), D Chad McCarty (broken ankle-L), D Kevin Anderson (hamstring strain-R); Colorado: M/F Wes Hart (achilles strain-L).
Notes: Following their midweek battle with Los Angeles, the Mutiny head West to face the Rapids at Mile High Stadium … A late goal by Paul Bravo gave the Rapids their first win of the season last weekend in Dallas … Rapids coach Tim Hankinson coached the Mutiny for the entire 1999 and 2000 seasons after taking over mid-way through the 1998 campaign … The return of defender Craig Demmin is welcome for a Tampa Bay team still without injured defenders Steve Trittschuh and Chad McCarty … Colorado fans should get their first look at standout defender Robin Fraser, who is just getting over an abdominal strain injury … A four-time member of MLS’ Best 11, and a U.S. national team veteran, Fraser made his Rapids debut on Saturday, replacing Imad Baba in the 88th minute … John Spencer continues to spark the Rapids’ attack, which has shown marked improvement despite Colorado’s 1-3-1 start.
KEY MATCHUP: Tampa Bay M Joe Addo vs. Colorado M Marcelo Balboa: Although injuries have slowed him slightly this season, a healthy Addo remains a force for Tampa in the middle of the field. Balboa’s attacking play in the midfield slot has bolstered the Rapids’ attack, but in this match his trips into the offensive third will be closely watched by Addo.
SCHEDULED REFEREES: Referee: Richard Herron; Assistant Referees: Greg Barkey (SAR), Chris Strickland (JAR)
