Wednesday May 1
Dallas at Washington
Location: RFK Stadium
Kickoff: 7:30 (EST)
Television: Home Team Sports, delayed 11 p.m. Eastern
Satellite: Spacenet 3, Tr. 23. (No raw feed available)
Injuries: Washington — M John Harkes (left leg injury) is out. D Mario Gori (strained groin) and D Mike Huwiler (shin splints) are day-to-day. D Jeff Agoos (sprained ankle), M Brian Kamler (strained groin), and M Sterling Westcott (strained groin) are probable; Dallas — D Tom Soehn (torn ACL) and G Jon Walker (torn rotator cuff) are out.
Preview: With John Harkes hobbled by injury, reportedly a stress fracture, and Mario Gori also ailing, United’s chances look slim… The Burn cashed in on a pair of spectacular free kicks to beat Tampa last week, and played out the second half strictly to defend… Defender Brandon Pollard will miss this week’s games while on duty with the U.S. Olympic team in Canada, as will Eddie Pope of D.C…. Marco Etcheverry is back, and he’ll start for United, which has moved the ball around much better in its last two games after struggling on narrow fields in San Jose and Columbus. He’ll need support to evade the attentions of Leonel Alvarez… United is desperate; with a road trip to L.A. looming and a 0-4 record, it must win at home.
PROBABLE LINEUPS:
Dallas — Dodd, Farrer, Lozzano, Sonora, Santel, Ashton, Alvarez, Rodriguez, Kreis, Kerr, Eck.
Washington — Causey, Agoos, Peay, Kamler, Imler, Medved, Kelderman, Etcheverry, Williams, Rammel, Diaz Arce.
Prediction: At last! Victory for United, 2-1.
Thursday May 2
Columbus at Kansas City
Location: Arrowhead Stadium
Kickoff: 8:30 p.m. (EST)
Television: ESPN, delayed 12:30 a.m. Eastern
Satellite: Galaxy 5, Tr. 9 (no raw feed available)
Injuries: Columbus — M Doctor Khumalo (pulled groin) and F Adrian Paz (bruised knee) are probable; Kansas City — none.
Preview: Recently acquired Scottish international Mo Johnston is expected to start, but head coach Ron Newman’s concerns are in defense… Outside back Samuel Ekeme will miss the game due to a red card he received against San Jose April 21, and Uche Okafor’s spectacular goal in that game did little to mask KC’s defensive liabilities… Columbus’ Bo Oshonyi, MLS player of the week, has been superb in goal, although so much action indicates his defensive mates haven’t been as proficient as he’d like… Mike Sorber debuts for the Wiz, and if he solidifies KC’s soft midfield, the likes of Preki, Chung, and Klopas could overrun the Crew… Head coaches Liekoski and Newman faced each other in the 1988 MISL finals… Doctor Khumalo and Vitalis Takawira played against each other in an African Nation’s Cup qualifier in 1992 — Takawira scored a goal as Zimbabwe thrashed South Africa 4-1… Matt McKeon (KC) and Brian Maisonneuve (Col.) will be on duty with the U.S. Olympic team.
PROBABLE LINEUPS:
Columbus — Oshoniyi, Battelle, Michallik, Watson, Clark, Bliss, Yeagley, Young, Khumalo, Paz, McBride.
Kansas City: Harrington, Uderitz, Okafor, Bowers, Reasoner, Sorber, Chung, Preki, Klopas, Takawira, Johnston.
Prediction: The Wiz wins a wild one, 3-2.