Predictions
Here are Soccer America Associate Editor Poul SwainÆs predictions for games on May 19: San Jose 3 MetroStars 2 Miami 2 Tampa Bay 0 Colorado 1 New England 0 Columbus 0 D.C. United 1 Chicago 1 Kansas City 1 Los Angeles 3 Dallas 2
Previews
(all times ET) Saturday, May 19 (4:00 p.m.) – MetroStars at San Jose Earthquakes (Telemundo) Season series: First Meeting;
All-time regular season series: San Jose leads 8-4-1 (San Jose leads 20-15 in aggregate goals).
Leading scorers: MetroStars: F Clint Mathis (7g, 4a = 18pts); San Jose: F Dwayne DeRosario, M Ian Russell (2g, 2a = 6pts)
Did you know? San Jose’s only other stints in first place came following this year’s season opener and the team’s inaugural-game victory over D.C. United on April 6, 1996.
Key players out: MetroStars: D Daniel Hernandez (fractured knee cap-R), M Billy Walsh (foot stress fracture-R), F Martin Klinger (hamstring tear-L), F Adolfo Valencia (slight medial meniscus tear-R); San Jose: none reported
Notes: San Jose’s two-game win streak will be put to the test at Spartan Stadium as the Quakes host the Eastern Division leading MetroStars on Saturday afternoon … Despite the team’s winning ways, San Jose will continue to fine-tune its offense after surrendering four goals in the team’s last two matches … Finding fresh legs could be the MetroStars biggest challenge for this match as a mid-week game with Colorado will further test the team’s depth … Adjusting to the small confines of Spartan Stadium will also pose a challenge for the MetroStars, who will be playing only their second road match of the season … Having played only two games at home, San Jose’s ability to adapt to the smaller playing field will also be a factor to watch … Quick passing combinations in the midfield will be the key to victory in this game, with opportunities on the flanks coming mostly from precise ball movement.
KEY MATCHUP: MetroStars D Steve Jolley vs. San Jose F Landon Donovan: Jolley could occasionally find himself matched up with the speedy Donovan in the middle or on the flanks … Donovan’s craftiness over the ball could also pose problems for Jolley, who may need to limit his occasional runs forward.
SCHEDULED REFEREES: Referee: Michael Kennedy; Assistant Referees: Jorge Reyes (SAR), David Bragg (JAR)
Saturday, May 19 (7:30 p.m.) – Tampa Bay Mutiny at Miami Fusion (WTTA-WB – tape delay 8:00p.m.) Season series: First Meeting;
All-time regular season series: Series tied 5-5-0 (Tampa Bay leads 17-14 in aggregate goals).
Leading scorers: Tampa Bay: F Mamadou Diallo (6g, 2a = 14pts); Miami: F Alex Pineda Chacon (5g, 0 a = 10pts)
Did you know? If he plays 81 minutes on Saturday, Steve Ralston will break the 14,000-minutes played mark. Ralston was the first to 10, 11, 12 and 13,000 minutes in MLS.
Key players out: Tampa Bay: F Mamadou Diallo (suspension), D Chad McCarty (broken ankle-L), D Steve Trittschuh (broken fibula-R); Miami: F Pete Marino (torn ACL-R), M Kyle Beckerman (broken fibula-R)
Notes: This is the first ‘Florida Derby’ match of the season … The second and final one scheduled for the regular season is set for a week later (May 26) at Raymond James Stadium … The Fusion, who last played a match on May 5, are the revelation of MLS thus far and sport the second-best record in the league at 4-1-1 … Miami’s rise has been spearheaded by its defense, led by the central duo of Pablo Mastroeni and Carlos Llamosa … With spectacular play from Nick Rimando (0.65 GAA – tops in MLS), the Fusion has a 229 minute shutout streak and are approaching the team record of 310 minutes … On the contrary, the Mutiny’s current Achilles’ heel is their defense, which has been decimated through injury … Recent knocks to defenders Joe Addo and Craig Demmin do not help the cause this weekend … The return of Kevin Anderson from injury may provide a boost to the defensive corps … Tampa Bay will also be going up against Miami’s current team-record six-game winning streak at Lockhart Stadium dating back to the 2000 season.
KEY MATCHUP: Tampa Bay D John Maessner vs. Miami F Alex Pineda Chacon: With Craig Demmin engaged in a physical battle with Diego Serna, the Mutiny’s flank defenders will need to be watchful of Pineda Chacon, who leads the Fusion with five goals. If the Honduran can escape coverage, he will be able to easily plot his slicing runs into the box.
SCHEDULED REFEREES: Referee: Paul Tamberino; Assistant Referees: Nathan Clement (SAR), George Gansner (JAR)
Saturday, May 19 (7:30 p.m.) – New England Revolution at Colorado Rapids (FOX New England) Season series: First Meeting;
All-time regular season series: Colorado leads 8-4-0 (Colorado leads 22-14 in aggregate goals).
Leading scorers: New England: M Cate (3g, 1a = 7pts); Colorado: M John Spencer (4g, 2a = 10pts)
Did you know? CateÆs 36th minute goal against the Chicago Fire last Saturday gave the New England Revolution its first lead of 2001 in its seventh match of the season.
Key players out: New England: M Yari Allnut (foot surgery-R), F Wolde Harris (Jamaican national team), M/F Andy Williams (Jamaican national team); Colorado: M Wes Hart (achilles strain-L)
Notes: New England will have little time to rest for this contest, after WednesdayÆs 2-1 win over Columbus at Foxboro Stadium … The Revs will most likely be without striker Wolde Harris, who is competing along with teammate Andy Williams for Jamaica in the Copa Caribe … New England hopes to have one of its two Jamaican internationals for each game this week, with Williams the likely target for Saturday … After a brutal 1-6 start, which included five road contests, this match is one of two straight on the road before the Revs return to Foxboro for three consecutive home games … Colorado had won two straight games, before losing to the MetroStars on Wednesday … John Spencer has become the focal point of the Rapids attack, registering a point in five of six games he’s played.
KEY MATCHUP: New England M Leonel Alvarez vs. Colorado M John Spencer: The Scotsman is already proving to be the key to the Rapids attack with his ability to advance from the midfield … Alvarez will need to track down Colorado’s leading scorer before he makes his move with the ball … If the Colombian succeeds in cutting off his services and penetration, the Rapids will find offense difficult to come by.
SCHEDULED REFEREES: Referee: Kevin Terry; Assistant Referees: Tom Bobadilla (SAR), Misail Tsapos (JAR)
Saturday, May 19 (7:30 p.m.) – D.C. United at Columbus Crew Season series: First Meeting;
All-time regular season series: D.C. United leads 12-5-1 (D.C. United leads 32-30 in aggregate goals).
Leading scorers: D.C. United: F Abdul Thompson Conteh (6g, 0a = 12pts); Columbus: M John Wilmar Perez (1g, 1a = 3pts), F Brian West (1g, 1a, = 3pts)
Did you know? D.C. United is ninth of 12 teams in total shots (70) but are second in goals scored (14).
Key players out: D.C. United: M Ben Olsen (ankle fracture-R); Columbus: M Robert Warzycha (dislocated ankle tendon-L), F Dante Washington (concussion).
Notes: Columbus coach Tom Fitzgerald was fired after the Crew lost, 2-1, to New England on Wednesday and replaced on an interim basis by assistant coach Greg Andrulis … The young D.C. United squad has proven to be inconsistent, allowing 2-1 leads to turn into losses in the final minute of play in two of the last three matches … F Abdul Thompson Conteh has fit well into United’s system and with six goals in four starts and has won himself a starting spot … United, which has lost both its road games thus far, has three wins and a tie in its last four trips to Columbus Crew Stadium … The match will mark the first match in which Crew goalkeeper Tom Presthus goes up against the club he spent the last four years with … While the Crew faced challenges on defense last year, the attack has let the team down in 2001 … With Brian McBride as the lone forward, the Crew have not scored a goal in two matches and the team has not hit the back of the net in 309 consecutive minutes.
KEY MATCHUP: D.C. United D Eddie Pope vs. Columbus F Brian McBride: The Crew are desperate to have Brian McBride find his scoring touch, especially with Dante Washington, last year’s leading scorer, still recovering from a concussion … United’s Pope is known for his strength in the aerial game and his ability to neutralize McBride’s skill on headers will be decisive if United add to the Crew’s goal drought.
SCHEDULED REFEREES: Referee: Rich Grady; Assistant Referees: Roger Itaya (SAR), Steven Taylor (JAR)
Saturday, May 19 (9:00 p.m.) – Kansas City Wizards at Chicago Fire (ESPN2) Season series: First Meeting;
All-time regular season series: Chicago leads 8-2-0 (Chicago leads 23-12 in aggregate goals).
Leading scorers: Kansas City: F Chris Brown, M Matt McKeon (3g, 1a = 7pts); Chicago: M Dema Kovalenko (2g, 2a = 6pts)
Did you know? The Fire has a streak of 20 games unbeaten at home including playoffs and U.S. Open Cup matches going 19-0-1 in that stretch.
Key players out: Kansas City: F Gary Glasgow (Trinidad and Tobago national team); Chicago: D Carlos Bocanegra (ankle sprain-L).
Notes: These two teams meet for a re-match of MLS Cup 2000 … Both squads are considered to be favorites again this year and have proved it with their performances … The two teams also met in Spring Training where the Fire captured a 2-0 victory … It is the third straight road game for the Wizards who are coming off a two-week layoff … The Wizards, winless in their last three matches, have lost consecutive matches against MLS Cup favorites the MetroStars and Los Angeles Galaxy … The possible return of 2000 BIC Defender of the Year Peter Vermes for his first start of the season may help steady a defense which has given up 11 goals in seven games … Only two other teams have allowed more goals this season … The Fire will begin a stretch of games without 2000 Kellogg’s Rookie of the Year Carlos Bocanegra who suffered an ankle injury against the Revolution last Saturday … The Fire will be seeking to rebound from that 2-1 loss at Foxboro Stadium and preserve their 13-game regular season unbeaten streak at Soldier Field … The record is held by the San Jose Earthquakes who had a 15-game unbeaten streak at Spartan Stadium … Head Coach Bob Bradley will return to the bench at the helm of the Fire after serving a one-game suspension last weekend.
KEY MATCHUP: Kansas City D Nick Garcia vs. Chicago F Hristo Stoitchkov: These two players renew their MLS Cup 2000 battle where Garcia did well to neutralize the Bulgarian for stretches … Stoitchkov was still dangerous in other sectors of the field in that match … If Peter Vermes starts in the center of the Wizards defense and Garcia moves to the flank, he may be juggling the likes of DaMarcus Beasley and Stoitchkov, which could spell trouble for the second-year player.
SCHEDULED REFEREES: Referee: Noel Kenny; Assistant Referees: Francisco Sanchez (SAR), Steven Davidson (JAR)
Saturday, May 19 (10:00 p.m.) – Dallas Burn at Los Angeles Galaxy (FOX Sports West) Season series: First Meeting;
All-time regular season series: Los Angeles leads 11-8-1 (Los Angeles leads 42-30 in aggregate goals).
Leading scorers: Dallas: F Jason Kreis (2g, 4a = 8pts) and M Jorge Rodriguez (4g, 0a = 8pts); Los Angeles: D Greg Vanney (3g, 1a = 7pts)
Did you know? Despite starting in only two games on the year, Bobby Rhine is second on the team in scoring with seven points. He is averaging 2.12 points per 90 minutes.
Key players out: Dallas: none; Los Angeles: D Alexi Lalas (knee/PCL sprain-L).
Notes: This game is expected to mark the return of Mexican Luis Hernandez in the Galaxy attack … Los Angeles could use a spark to its offensive game after being shut out by the MetroStars last weekend … The 2-0 defeat at Giants Stadium came after the team had a four-goal outburst against the defensively challenged Tampa Bay Mutiny … One positive note from Saturday’s game was the return of Danny Pena to the starting lineup … Pena, a four-year starter, unseated Olympian Peter Vagenas in midfield … Dallas, in second place in the Central Division, are coming off a 4-0 victory over the Columbus Crew which was an important measuring stick for an attack which struggled in its previous game … The move of Jason Kreis to attacking midfield was decisive while the addition of Bobby Rhine to the starting lineup had a positive effect … The scoring outbursts of the Burn thus far have coincided with Rhine’s presence on the field … With the Burn defense beginning to gain in cohesiveness, Dallas may have found the right mix in its lineup.
KEY MATCHUP: Dallas D Ryan Suarez vs. Los Angeles F Cobi Jones: Burn rookie, Suarez will face one of his toughest tests of the season against the Galaxy’s captain … Jones, who seems to have regained his best form, will switch positions with teammate Brian Mullan on the front of the attack … Suarez, playing in a three-man back line, will need to make quick decisions on who to track knowing that the slightest mistake could prove costly.
SCHEDULED REFEREES: Referee: Roger Sill; Assistant Referees: Paul Scott (SAR), Richard Huber (JAR)
