Note: Fiorentina vs. MetroStars Friday night exhibition will be televised live by MSG at 7:30 p.m. Eastern. Satellite: Galaxy 5, Tr 17 or Satcom C4, Tr 6.
May 25 — Colorado at New England
Location: Foxboro Stadium
Kickoff: .7:30 p.m. (ET)
Television: WABU 68 (Boston), Prime Sports Rocky Mountain.
Satellite: Satcom C1, Tr 18.
Previous meeting: None.
Injuries: Colorado — Chris Woods (GK) is out with a pulled groin. Ian Butterworth (D) is doubtful with a strained MCL.
Preview: With both teams deprived of U.S. national team players because of the friendly with Scotland, lineups will be juggled accordingly. New England will suffer more with the loss of defenders Alexi Lalas and Mike Burns, although Marcelo Balboa’s departure further weakens the Rapids in the area they can least afford.
Colorado head coach Bob Houghton must alter his team selection once again, after hitting the right combination last Sunday against Columbus in a 4-2 win with Balboa in defense and Richard Sharpe replacing Jean Harbor up front. Ian Butterworth is injured, and the Rapids’ defense should be easy pickings for the Revs dynamic pair of Welton and Paul Keegan. Iain Fraser didn’t play against Fiorentina on Wednesday night, so he may see his first MLS action against Colorado through desperation.
PROBABLE LINEUPS
Colorado — Hudock, Hamlett, Kmosko, Edwards, Trittschuh, Rodriguez, Kinnear, Wegerle, Henderson, Sharpe, Bartlett.
New England — Heaney, Ibsen, Lips, Chronopolous, Weitzmann, Fraser, Aunger, Naveda, Keegan, Ukrop, Welton.
Prediction: Colorado, 2-1.
May 26 — Columbus at Los Angeles
Location: Rose Bowl
Kickoff: 4:00 p.m. (ET)
Television: Univision
Satellite: Spacenet 3, Tr 5
Injuries: Los Angeles — Jose Vasquez (broken foot) probably won’t be available for another month
Previous meeting: None.
Preview: Without Brian McBride, the Crew has little chance of ending the Galaxy’s six-game winning streak. Head coach Timo Liekoski is boiling mad at his players, who let a 2-0 lead slip and were beaten by the Rapids 4-2 last weekend.
After starting the season well, Crew goalie Bo Oshoniyi has been lit up for 11 goals in the past three games, in part by his own weaknesses, but also due to slack defending. The Crew’s central defense collapsed against D.C. United (a 5-2 loss) and Colorado last week. Brian Bliss and Shane Battelle will have to drop back from midfield often to shore up that creaky back line. Pete Marino has played well in limited action, and should replace McBride up front, although recent signing Mac Cozier is another possibility. A strong game from Adrian Paz could help the Crew break down the L.A. defense.
Defensive midfielder Chris Armas, who’s been one of the Galaxy’s unsung heroes, returns to the lineup after missing a game with a hamstring strain. Cobi Jones is on national team duty, so Eduardo Hurtado will drift out to the right side, or tuck into the middle to allow right back Mark Semioli to push into the attack. Jones’s absence also means a probable appearance by Andrew Shue. If Jorge Salcedo starts, he will play a vital role at in both halves of the field. So far, his appearances as a sub have been better than his starts.
After this game, the Galaxy — blessed by the best schedule early in the season — leaves on a three-game road trip.
PROBABLE LINEUPS
Columbus — Oshoniyi, Clark, Michallik, Watson, Thompson, Carrera, Bliss, Battelle, Khumalo, Paz, Marino.
Los Angeles — Campos, Motajo, Calichman, Fraser, Semioli, Armas, Salcedo, Noamouz, Cienfuegos, Hurtado, Karpetyan.
Prediction: Galaxy, 3-1.