San Jose at Washington
Location: RFK Stadium
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. (ET)
Television: Home Team Sports (delayed to 11:00 p.m.)
Satellite: Spacenet 3, Tr. 23
Previous Meeting: San Jose beat Washington 1-0 in the MLS inaugural game at Spartan Stadium April 6.
Injuries: San Jose — D Ben Iroha (pulled hamstring) is probable, G Tom Liner (sprained ankle), M Henry Gutierrez (fractured cheekbone) and M Paul Holocher (torn ACL) are on injured reserve; Washington — M John Harkes (hyperextended knee) is questionable, F Juan Berthy Suarez (sprained foot) is off injured reserve but still questionable, D Mike Huwiler (torn abdominal and groin muscles) is on injured reserve.
Preview: A rematch of the MLS opener, which Eric Wynalda won with a classic late goal. Both teams started the year slowly, but have been playing well of late, as they each come into tonight’s encounter on a two-game winning streak. A San Jose win would put the Clash in second place in the Western Conference.
United survived without John Harkes in Colorado, and they may have to do without him again tonight, since he is still bothered by a knee injury. Marco Etcheverry has turned up his game of late, and he now leads the league with seven assists. Steve Rammel has been very successful at winning balls in the air, but that may prove difficult against San Jose’s John Doyle, whose stellar play against Kansas City and Columbus earned him MLS Player of the Week honors (the first time a defender has won the award).
San Jose is still without injured goalie Tom Liner, but backup Dave Salzwedel has been steady in relief. Look for Tim Martin or Freddy Butler to start in place of the injured Henry Gutierrez (who will miss a month after fracturing his right cheekbone against Columbus). D.C.’s Jeff Causey has had an up-and-down year in goal, and with Paul Bravo and Eric Wynalda leading the San Jose attack, the United keeper can’t afford another miscue like the gaffe that resulted in A.J. Wood’s goal for the MetroStars last week.
PROBABLE LINEUPS
San Jose — Salzwedel, Iroha, Dayak, Doyle, Emenalo, Martin, Baicher, Rodas, Espinoza, Bravo, Wynalda.
Washington — Causey, Pope, Peay, Agoos, Gori, Kelderman, Williams, Sanneh, Etcheverry, Diaz Arce, Rammel.
Predicition: “El Diablo” is en fuego in a 3-2 United win.
Tampa Bay at Kansas City
Location: Arrowhead Stadium
Kickoff: 8:30 p.m. (ET)
Television: SportsChannel Florida
Satellite: Satcom C1, Tr. 17
Previous Meeting: Tampa Bay blanked the Wiz 2-0 in Tampa Stadium.May 8.
Injuries: Tampa Bay — D Steve Pittman (patella tendon irritation) is probable, G Mark Dougherty (back spasms) is doubtful, M Peter Hattrup (torn ACL, MCL) is on injured reserve; Kansas City — F Frank Klopas (hip-flexor strain) is questionable.
Preview: After playing seven games in 17 days with both the Mutiny and Colombia’s national team, Tampa Bay midfielder Carlos Valderrama is not expected to play against the Wiz. With forward Diego Viera serving a one-game suspension after being red-carded in Saturday’s loss to Los Angeles, the Mutiny will be thin on the front line. Giuseppe Galderisi must play well. Tampa keeper Mark Dougherty has been sidelined with back spasms, so William & Mary product Scott Budnick will make his second straight start.
Kansas City midfielder Preki has been bothered by a strained knee, and although he continues to play in games, his training has been limited. Still, he is second in the league in scoring (6 goals, 5 assists, 17 points) and engineered the Wiz’ 2-1 comeback win over the Revolution on Saturday. Keeper Garth Lagerwey appears to have solidified his hold on the starting job for now. The Wiz has scored 15 of their 18 goals in Arrowhead, but they will once again be without Digital Takawira, who is still with Zimbabwe’s national team for World Cup qualifying.
PROBABLE LINEUPS
Tampa Bay — Budnick, Pittman, Yallop, Kooiman, Vasquez, Ralston, McKinley, Wise, Hunjak, Galderisi, Lassiter.
Kansas City — Lagerwey, Bowers, Ekeme, Okafor, Uderitz, Reasoner, Sorber, Chung, Preki, Prampin, Johnston.
Prediction: Preki and Johnston score as the Mutiny offense sputters without Valderrama. 3-1, Wiz.