Predictions
Here are Soccer America Associate Editor Poul SwainÆs predictions for the games on June 23: Los Angeles 2 MetroStars 1 Tampa Bay 1 D.C. United 3 Dallas 4 Columbus 2 Chicago 1 New England 0 San Jose 2 Kansas City 1
Previews
(all times ET) Saturday, June 23 (4:00 p.m.) – MetroStars at Los Angeles Galaxy (ESPN) Season series: MetroStars lead 1-0 (MetroStars lead 2-0 in aggregate goals);
All-time regular season series: Los Angeles leads 9-5-0 (Los Angeles leads 26-16 in aggregate goals)
Leading scorers: MetroStars: F Clint Mathis (7g, 5a, 19pts); Los Angeles: F Sasha Victorine (5g, 3a = 13pts), F Cobi Jones (4g, 5a = 13pts)
Did you know?: Including the U.S. Open Cup second round match in Charleston on June 27, the MetroStars play their next six games on the road.
Key players out: MetroStars; F Clint Mathis (torn ACL-R), D/M Steve Shak (partial MCL tear-R); Galaxy: M Simon Elliott (New Zealand national team)
Notes: The MetroStars are looking for their first road win, as the team is 0-3-2 this season away from Giants Stadium … The Metros have scored just one goal in the first two games after Clint Mathis’ season-ending injury, going 0-1-1 in that span … The MetroStars have also been slowed by injuries to midfielder Petter Villegas and striker Rodrigo Faria, who are both questionable with minor injuries … The Galaxy are coming off an impressive 3-3 draw with Miami, MLS’ best team, in Ft. Lauderdale last Saturday … Los Angeles’ offense has come around and the Galaxy are now second in the league in scoring … Emerging striker Marvin Quijano has two goals in his last three games … The Galaxy will benefit from the return of offensive standout Luis Hernßndez from Mexican national team duty.
KEY MATCHUP: MetroStars M Richie Williams vs. Galaxy M Mauricio Cienfuegos: The pair of veteran midfielders have locked horns on numerous occasions over the years. Cienfuegos appears to be hitting his stride after a slow start, highlighted by a spectacular goal last week in Miami. Williams, one of the top defensive midfielders in MLS, needs to not only limit the Salvadoran’s chances on goal, but his service to the likes of Hernßndez and Jones.
SCHEDULED REFEREES: Referee: Ricardo Valenzuela; Assistant Referees: Francisco Sanchez (SAR), Gibby Widner (JAR)
Saturday, June 23 (7:00 p.m.) – D.C. United at Tampa Bay Mutiny (Comcast Sports Net) Season series: First meeting;
All-time regular season series: United leads 12-5-1 (United leads 39-30 in aggregate goals)
Leading scorers: United: F Abdul Thompson Conteh (8g, 1a, 17pts); Tampa Bay: F Mamadou Diallo (6g, 3a = 15pts)
Did you know?: In 12 games this year, United’s Abdul Thompson Conteh has tallied eight goals, matching his season total from last year when he played for San Jose.
Key players out: United: M Ben Olsen: (ankle surgery-L & R); M Bobby Convey (U.S. U-20 national team), M Ryan Nelsen (New Zealand national team) Mutiny: D Chad McCarty (broken ankle -L), M Carlos Valderrama (red card suspension.)
Notes: United will look to make it two wins in a row on the road after earning their first road win last Saturday in Kansas City … 16-year-old Santino Quaranta, the youngest of a strong crop of young players, had a pair of goals in last week’s victory over the Wizards … Fellow rookies Mark Lisi and Bryan Namoff have taken on creative duties in the middle, adding to the attack spearheaded by veteran Marco Etcheverry … Tampa Bay has dropped nine straight games and will again be forced to play without a major offensive cog, Carlos Valderrama, who received a red card early in last week’s 6-1 drubbing at the hands of Columbus … Tampa Bay is the only team in MLS without a victory at home … Tampa’s leading scorer, Mamadou Diallo, has now gone three straight matches without scoring a goal, which sets a new scoreless streak mark for ‘Big Mama’, who last year only went two matches without a goal (three times).
KEY MATCHUP: United: D Eddie Pope vs. Mutiny F Mamadou Diallo: Pope’s strength and speed make him United’s best defense against Diallo in this contest. Without Valderrama to set him up, Diallo may be easily frustrated with the classy Pope’s defensive efforts.
SCHEDULED REFEREES: Referee: Rich Grady; Assistant Referees: Jon Wilson (SAR), Misail Tsapos (JAR)
Saturday, June 23 (8:00 p.m.) – Columbus Crew at Dallas Burn (ESPN2) Season series: Dallas leads 1-0-0 (Dallas leads 4-0 in aggregate goals);
All-time regular season series: Dallas leads 10-4-1 (Dallas leads 28-18 in aggregate goals)
Leading scorers: Columbus: M John Wilmar Perez (3g, 5a, 11pts); Dallas: F Bobby Rhine (4g, 5a = 13pts)
Did you know?: Columbus has never won in regulation at the Cotton Bowl (0-7). The Crew’s lone win in Dallas came via a shootout in 1996.
Key players out: Columbus: F Edson Buddle (U.S. U-20 national team), M Ian Woan (groin strain-L), M Todd Yeagley (stress fracture-L foot), M Robert Warzycha (dislocated ankle tendon-L); Dallas: M Antonio Martinez (MCL tear-R)
Notes: Columbus will need all the confidence it gained from Saturday’s 6-1 pummeling of Tampa Bay when it ventures to the Cotton Bowl to face the red-hot Burn … The Crew last won in Dallas in 1996, and most recently were routed by Dallas 4-0 on May 12 … Dallas has won three straight, outscoring its opponents by a combined total of 10-3 … Although Columbus will regain the services of U.S. national teamer Brian McBride, Crew interim head coach Greg Andrulis could be tempted to field the same potent lineup he used on Saturday … Dallas is armed with the league’s second-ranked offense (2.00 goals/game) which will test a Columbus back line that has often needed spectacular play from goalkeeper Tom Presthus to keep games close … Defense also remains a concern for Dallas, which despite having posted a league-high five shutouts, ranks only 8th defensively, having allowed 21 goals in 12 matches … A win in this match will vault Columbus back into the Central Division chase, while a win for Dallas would help it surge past Chicago should the Fire falter at home against New England.
KEY MATCHUP: Columbus M John Harkes vs. Dallas M/F Jason Kreis: From his deep midfield slot, Harkes will play a large part in the efforts to contain the Burn’s three-man attack. As the Burn’s most active forward, Kreis could lure Harkes away from the center, creating more room for his partners Bobby Rhine and Ariel Graziani.
SCHEDULED REFEREES: Referee: Michael Kennedy; Assistant Referees: George Gansner (SAR), Richard Huber (JAR)
Saturday, June 23 (7:00 p.m.) – New England Revolution at Chicago Fire (WB – WLVI 56) Season series: New England leads 1-0 (New England leads 2-1);
All-time regular season series: Series tied 3-3-1 (Series tied 10-10 in aggregate goals)
Leading scorers: New England: M CatT (4g, 2a = 10pts); Chicago Fire: M Dema Kovalenko (4g, 5a = 13pts)
Did you know?: Zach Thornton has recorded a shutout against every team during his MLS career except for San Jose and New England.
Key players out: New England: M Andy Williams (Jamaican national team), F Wolde Harris (Jamaican national team), M/F William Sunsing (Costa Rican national team), M Yari Allnut (foot surgery-R), GK Juergen Sommer (ruptured Achilles tendon-L); Chicago: F DaMarcus Beasley (U.S. U-20 national team), D Carlos Bocanegra (sprained ankle-L), F Josh Wolff (stress fracture-L foot)
Notes: Both teams should be relatively well rested after not playing this past Saturday, although New England will be facing its second game of the week following a Wednesday clash with Colorado at Foxboro … A potentially bigger problem for New England this weekend could be the delayed return of Jamaican National Team regulars Andy Williams and Wolde Harris, whose status for this weekend is still uncertain … Chicago last played an MLS match on June 9, a 1-0 win vs. Columbus … Following an 0-6 start, New England stunned the Fire on May 12 at Foxboro to earn its first points of the season … Revolution M CatT will carry New England’s offensive hopes on his shoulders, especially if Harris and Williams remain with Jamaica … Despite an injury to Josh Wolff, the Fire attack remains potent as Dema Kovalenko, Hristo Stoitchkov, Eric Wynalda and Jamar Beasley have all contributed … The foursome should test the Revolution’s three-man defensive alignment which could see Mauricio Wright shifted forward to the midfield … Chicago’s stingy defense could pose a problem for New England’s offense, which has yielded a league-low 13 goals.
KEY MATCHUP: New England D Mauricio Wright vs. Chicago F Eric Wynalda: Regardless of whether he plays as the center back, or at withdrawn midfielder, Wright will likely see plenty of his former teammate. After playing with two different teams in the past two seasons, Wynalda seems to have found a home in Chicago, and his offensive contribution has improved while Josh Wolff and Hristo Stoitchkov have battled injuries.
SCHEDULED REFEREES: Referee: Paul Tamberino; Assistant Referees: Nathan Clement (SAR), Richard Eddy (JAR)
Saturday, June 23 (10:00 p.m.) – Kansas City Wizards at San Jose Earthquakes (Metro Sports, FOX Bay Area) Season series: Series tied 0-0-1 (Series tied 0-0 in aggregate goals);
All-time regular season series: Kansas City leads 10-9-2 (Kansas City leads 31-25 in aggregate goals)
Leading scorers: Kansas City: M Matt McKeon (4g, 1a, 9pts); San Jose: F Ronald Cerriitos (3g, 5a = 11pts)
Did you know?: San Jose’s current 10-game unbeaten streak began with a spirited 0-0 draw with the Wizards at Arrowhead Stadium.
Key players out: Kansas City: GK – G Tony Meola (strained abdominal muscle), F Mo Johnston (strained neck); San Jose: F Landon Donovan (U.S. U-20 national team)
Notes: Kansas City takes to the road for the seventh time in the team’s last nine matches, looking to snap a three-game losing streak that has seen the team outscored 12-1 … San Jose returns home looking to extend a 10-match unbeaten steak and a four-game unbeaten streak at home … Kansas City will be bolstered by the return of Nick Garcia from a one-game suspension, as the Wizards attempt to find their defensive dominance of 2000 … Lowe’s return should help the Wizards offensively, as he and Lassiter have formed the team’s most effective combination up front … New acquisition Junior Agogo will gain an additional week of training with his new teammates, after making his San Jose debut in the 0-0 draw with the MetroStars … San Jose D Jeff Agoos returns from national team duty to strengthen a defense which has not yielded more than one goal in a game since a 3-2 win vs. D.C. United on May 12.
KEY MATCHUP: Kansas City F Onandi Lowe vs. San Jose D Jeff Agoos: Exactly a week after the two squared off in World Cup qualifying, a rematch will occur at Spartan Stadium … Lowe’s size and speed tested the entire U.S. defense in Kingston, and on the smaller confines of Spartan Stadium expect Agoos to keep close tabs on the Jamaican … Fitness will also become a factor as both players face midweek qualifiers.
SCHEDULED REFEREES: Referee: Terry Vaughn; Assistant Referees: Scott Weyland (SAR), Emiliano Monje (JAR)
