Predictions

Here is Soccer America Associate Editor Poul SwainÆs predictions for the games on June 9: Dallas 2 D.C. United 3 Miami 2 Kansas City 1 New England 2 Tampa Bay 1 Chicago 1 Columbus 0 San Jose 2 Los Angeles 2

Previews

(all times ET) Saturday, June 9 (1:00 p.m.) – D.C. United at Dallas Burn (ESPN) Season series: First meeting; All-time regular season series: Dallas leads 8-7-0 (United leads 33-26 in aggregate goals) Leading scorers: United: F Abdul Thompson Conteh (6g, 1a =13pts); Dallas: F Jason Kreis (3g, 4a = 10pts) Did you know?: In United’s last visit to Dallas, on August 12, 2000, the game-time temperature was a sweltering 100 degrees. Key players out: United: M Ben Olsen (ankle surgery-R&L); Dallas: none reported. Notes: Coming off yet another tough loss, United heads to Dallas looking for their first road win of the season … D.C. went 1-4 in the month of May, and started June with a 2-1 defeat to Chicago on Saturday at RFK … United gave up two late goals in the loss … The D.C. defense will be bolstered by the return of veterans Mark Watson (Canadian national team duty) and Carey Talley for this match … The Burn are coming off a midweek win over Tampa Bay on Wednesday … After posting only six home losses combined in the last two years (three in 1999 and 2000), the Burn already have dropped four of six home games this season … Striker Bobby Rhine continues to emerge as a third scoring option behind Ariel Graziani and Jason Kreis, with a goal and two assists in the last five Burn contests. KEY MATCHUP: D.C. United D Eddie Pope vs. Dallas F Ariel Graziani: The Ecuadorian striker has been inconsistent throughout the campaign, but has begun to show signs of life during the past few games. Pope is D.C.’s most athletic defender and will have to rely on his speed and strength against the Burn’s ranging attacker. SCHEDULED REFEREES: Referee: Alex Prus; Assistant Referees: Richard Huber (SAR), Jose Andrade (JAR) Saturday, June 9 (4:00 p.m.) – Kansas City Wizards at Miami Fusion (Telemundo, Metro Sports) Season series: Kansas City leads 1-0 (Kansas City leads 2-1 in aggregate goals); All-time regular season series: Series tied 3-3-1 (Kansas City leads 8-5 in aggregate goals) Leading scorers: Kansas City: F Chris Brown (3g, 2a = 8pts), M Francisco Gomez (2g, 4a = 8pts); Miami: F Diego Serna (6g, 5a = 17pts) Did you know?: Miami suffered its only defeat of the season at Kansas City on April 18 by a 2-1 score. Key players out: Kansas City: none reported; Miami: D Pablo Mastroeni (yellow card suspension). Notes: The Wizards appear to be a revitalized team, with the addition of Jamaican striker Onandi Lowe and the return to health of MLS’ all-time leading scorer Roy Lassiter … Lassiter became the first player in league history to record 200 points scored with a goal in last weekend’s 2-1 victory over Tampa Bay … Chris Brown and Mo Johnston notched a pair of late goals in Kansas City’s come-from-behind victory over Miami at Arrowhead Stadium … The Wizards have never won at Lockhart Stadium, having gone 0-2-1 there against the Fusion … Miami is riding a five-game winning streak and holds an impressive +15 goal differential after 11 matches … Striker Diego Serna is the Fusion’s second straight MLS Player of the Week, after scoring a hat trick performance in last Saturday’s 6-2 rout of Dallas … Goalkeeper Nick Rimando has been a major reason for the Fusion’s hot start, as he leads the league in goals against average (0.72), save percentage (.847), shutouts (5), wins (9), and save ratio (6.25). KEY MATCHUP: Wizards M Matt McKeon vs. Fusion M Ian Bishop: While defensive stalwarts Carlos Llamosa and Leo Cullen deal with Lowe and Lassiter, Bishop will be charged with keeping and winning possession in midfield. The Englishman dished out three assists last weekend vs. Dallas, but will face a more physical challenge in the hard-charging McKeon this Saturday. With the return of Peter Vermes on the Wizards’ back line, McKeon has been given more freedom to come forward and join the attack. SCHEDULED REFEREES: Referee: Noel Kenny; Assistant Referees: Chip Reed (SAR), Greg Watson (JAR) Saturday, June 9 (7:00 p.m.) – Tampa Bay Mutiny at New England Revolution (Sunshine Network WLVI 56) Season series: First meeting; All-time regular season series: Series tied 9-9-0 (Tampa Bay leads 41-32 in aggregate goals) Leading scorers: Tampa Bay: F Mamadou Diallo (6g, 2a = 14pts); New England: M CatT (4g, 1a = 9pts) Did you know?: Tampa F Mamadou Diallo was held pointless in his only career appearance against New England. Key players out: Tampa Bay: D Chad McCarty (broken ankle-L); New England: M Yari Allnut (foot surgery-R) Notes: Tampa Bay’s second match of the week takes the team to Foxboro Stadium, where they will face a Revolution squad that has been solid on defense at home … New England boasts the second lowest home GAA (1.00) in MLS … Fitness could play a factor in this match as Tampa Bay will be playing their third match in eight days … Inconsistent play from the team’s flank midfielders remains a concern for the Revolution, who will need improved performances from wingers Ted Chronopoulos and Braeden Cloutier in order to neutralize the Mutiny’s Steve Ralston and Eric Quill. KEY MATCHUP: Tampa Bay D Craig Demmin vs. New England F Wolde Harris: Despite the Mutiny’s 2-1 loss to Kansas City, Demmin used a physical game to effectively neutralize powerful Wizards striker Onandi Lowe for most of the match. He faces another Jamaican scoring threat this week although Harris is going through a difficult stretch. New England desperately needs Harris to break from his slump. SCHEDULED REFEREES: Referee: Rich Grady; Assistant Referees: Steven Taylor (SAR), John Konstantinidis (JAR) Saturday, June 9 (8:00 p.m.) – Columbus Crew at Chicago Fire (FOX Sports Chicago, Sport! TV) Season series: Series tied 0-0-1 (teams drew 1-1 on April 7); All-time regular season series: Chicago leads 6-2-1 (Chicago leads 17-11 in aggregate goals) Leading scorers: Columbus: M John Wilmar Perez (3g, 3a = 9pts); Chicago: M Dema Kovalenko (4g, 5a = 13pts) Did you know?: Columbus is winless against the Fire in its last six attempts. Key players out: Columbus: M Ian Woan (strained groin-L), M/D Todd Yeagley (stress fracture-L foot), M Robert Warzycha (dislocated ankle tendon-L); Chicago: Carlos Bocanegra (ankle sprain-L), Andrew Lewis (ankle sprain-R), Josh Wolff (sprained foot-L) Notes: Columbus travels to Soldier Field for its first road contest under the guidance of interim head coach Greg Andrulis … In four matches since Andrulis replaced Tom Fitzgerald (including an exhibition against Bayer Leverkusen), Columbus has yet to lose, posting a 2-0-2 record … Despite a late comeback that yielded a win at D.C. United, Chicago will look to improve on a performance that saw the team fail to record a shot or corner kick in the first half at RFK … Defensively, Chicago has been exposed in each of its last two matches, although outstanding play by GK Zach Thornton allowed the Fire to thwart multiple United scoring chances … John Wilmar Perez must continue his inspired play for Columbus, although his job this weekend will be to play through Chicago’s defensive stopper Chris Armas. KEY MATCHUP: Columbus M Duncan Oughton vs. Chicago M Peter Nowak: Two weeks ago, Oughton frustrated D.C.’s Marco Etcheverry with gritty and relentless marking. Columbus will need more of the same to slow down Nowak, who has consistently given the Crew fits in the middle of the park. SCHEDULED REFEREES: Referee: Andrew Barnes; Assistant Referees: George Gansner (SAR), Francisco Sanchez (JAR) Saturday, June 9 (10:30 p.m.) – Los Angeles Galaxy at San Jose Earthquakes (ESPN2) Season series: San Jose leads series 1-0-0 (San Jose leads 3-2 in aggregate goals); All-time regular season series: Los Angeles leads 14-5-2 (Los Angeles leads 38-28 in aggregate goals) Leading scorers: Los Angeles: D Greg Vanney (4g, 2a =10pts); San Jose: F Ronald Cerritos (3g, 3a = 9pts) Did you know?: San Jose is a league leading 6-0-1 both when scoring first and when leading at the half. Key players out: Los Angeles: none reported; San Jose: none reported Notes: Los Angeles heads north looking to avenge a season opening 3-2 setback at the hands of the Earthquakes … More importantly, a win will pull the Galaxy even with San Jose atop the Western Division … A revitalized Los Angeles attack should get an even bigger surge with the return of F Luis Hernßndez and M/F Cobi Jones, both of whom sat out the team’s 1-1 draw with Columbus on Saturday … A balanced offense, organized defending and outstanding goalkeeping by Joe Cannon have pushed San Jose to the top of the West … Los Angeles will need to harness all their speed and creativity on the smaller field at Spartan Stadium, where San Jose has allowed only four goals in four matches. KEY MATCHUP: Los Angeles M Mauricio Cienfuegos vs. San Jose M Richard Mulrooney: Los Angeles looks to Cienfuegos for quality distribution to Luis Hernßndez, Brian Mullan, and Cobi Jones. As San Jose’s defensive midfielder, Mulrooney will be asked to shadow Cienfuegos and cut down the passing lanes. One of the league’s more versatile midfielders, Mulrooney will join the attack if Cienfuegos doesn’t keep him occupied. SCHEDULED REFEREES: Referee: Paul Tamberino; Assistant Referees: Greg Barkey (SAR), Chris Strickland (JAR)