Wednesday, June 26
Colorado at Los Angeles
Location: Rose Bowl. Kickoff: 10:00 (ET). Television:
none. Satellite: none.
Previous meeting: none
Injuries: Colorado — D Ian Butterworth (thigh bruise) and G Chris Woods (strained groin) are questionable, F Richard Sharpe (strained knee) is doubtful, D Marcelo Balboa (strained hamstring) is out, D Troy Edwards (strained groin) and F Jean Harbor (broken arm) are on injured reserve; Los Angeles — M Chris Armas (sprained ankle) and D Curt Onalfo (strained hamstring) are probable, M Arash Noamouz (torn knee cartilage) and F Jose Vasquez (broken foot) are on injured reserve.
Preview: Injuries have ravaged Colorado, and the Rapids face a Herculean task against the league’s top club this evening. With Marcelo Balboa and Troy Edwards out, and Ian Butterworth not at 100 percent, expect keeper Chris Woods (who is still bothered by a strained groin himself) to see plenty of action. Eduardo Hurtado and Cobi Jones could do a great deal of damage. With Sharpe and Harbor also injured, Colorado’s Roy Wegerle moves up front, and he and Shaun Bartlett must get a significant number of touches if the Rapids are to have any chance.
PROBABLE LINEUPS
Colorado — Woods, Hamlett, Butterworth, Kmosko, Henderson, Rodriguez, Kinnear, Trittschuh, Benedetti, Wegerle, Bartlett.
Los Angeles — Campos, Calichman, Fraser, Motajo, Semioli, Vanney, Salcedo, Cienfuegos, Jones, Karapetyan, Hurtado.
Prediction: Galaxy shines tonight, 3-1.
Thursday, June 27
Columbus at New England
Location: Foxboro Stadium. Kickoff: 7:30 (ET). Television:
ESPN2. Satellite: Galaxy 5, Tr. 14.
Previous meetings: Columbus scored twice in the final three minutes to snatch a 3-2 home victory on May 11.
Injuries: Columbus — G Bo Oshoniyi (strained shoulder) is probable, D Mark Watson (sprained ankle) and M Shane Battelle (strained foot tendon) are questionable, F Brian McBride (separated shoulder) is doubtful; New England —
D Ted Chronopoulos (sprained ankle), D Peter Woodring (strained Achilles) and M John DeBrito (strained hamstring) are probable.
Preview: Alexi Lalas at last returns to the Revolution lineup after stints with both the national team and the Olympic team, and not a moment too soon. The Revs were shredded 4-1 by Dallas on Sunday. Aiden Heaney had a tough game in goal, and Jim St. Andre will get a shot against the Crew. TImo Liekoski’s club finally ended a six game losing skid with a wild shootout win in Tampa June 22. Can the Crew win once again without top scorer Brian McBride? That will probably depend on Adrian Paz, who has lifted his game in recent weeks, Doctor Khumalo, who was with the South African national team for most of the losing streak, and recent addition Robert Warzycha, who has been a hard worker for Columbus.
PROBABLE LINEUPS
Columbus — Winner, Clark, Bliss, Watson, Tompson, Warzycha, Caligiuri, Khumalo, Michallik, Marino, Paz.
New England — St. Andre, Chronopoulos, Fraser, Wylie, Lalas, Naveda, Burns, Aunger, Woodring, Keegan, Welton.
Prediction: Revs hold onto the lead this time, win 2-1.