Dallas at MetroStars
Location: Giants Stadium. Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. (ET). Television: MSG network. Satellite: Satcom C4, Tr. 6
Previous meeting: June 19 at Giants Stadium — a 1-0 shootout victory for the MetroStars, who also defeated Dallas 1-0 (no shootout) in the Cotton Bowl on June 2.
Injuries: Dallas — M Washington Rodriguez (strained groin) is questionable, F Hugo Sanchez (bruised lower back) is probable; MetroStars — D Matt Knowles (strained quadricep) and D Jeff Zaun (strained Achilles) are out, D Rhett Harty (strained lower back) is questionable, M Ted Gillen (strained hamstring) is probable.
Preview: The Dallas defense, which had allowed just 20 goals in 17 games, collapsed in Sunday’s 6-1 loss at D.C. United. Recent arrival Zak Ibsen (acquired from New England for John Kerr) is still adjusting to his role for the Burn, which will once again be without Uruguayan Washington Rodriguez, who is still troubled by a strained groin, but Colombian Leonel Alavarez, whose leadership has been sorely missed, is back. His presence is a welcome one for a team that is struggling to find the back of the net. Mexican star Hugo Sanchez has played well for the Burn, but he isn’t getting enough chances to score.
Italian midfielder Roberto Donadoni will be back in the lineup for the MetroStars, as will Venezuelan Giovanni Savarese (who played the first half in his country’s 6-1 loss to Bolivia). With Matt Knowles and Jeff Zaun hurt, the Metros are still a bit thin on defense (although keeper Tony Meola is playing brilliantly), and Nicola Caricola has already racked up three own-goals in just half a season. Still, with Donadoni, Tab Ramos, and Manny Lagos in midfield, MetroStars fans should expect some beautiful play this evening.
PROBABLE LINEUPS
Dallas — Dodd, Puskarich, Ibsen, Farrer, Lozzano, Alvarez, Santel, Sonora, Kreis, Haynes, Sanchez.
MetroStars — Meola, Caricola, Gillen, Harty, Vermes, Donadoni, Lagos, Ramos, Da Silva, Savarese, Johnson.
Prediction: Donadoni, Ramos shine in Metros 3-1 win.
Colorado at Kansas City
Location: Arrowhead Stadium. Kickoff: 8:30 p.m. (ET). Television: Wiz TV. Satellite: none.
Previous meeting: May 5 in Denver — Colorado avenged a 3-0 loss on April 13 when they spanked the Wiz 4-0.
Injuries: Colorado — D/M Marcelo Balboa (strained hamstring), M Dominic Kinnear (strained knee) and F Richard Sharpe (tibia stress fracture) are out, D Ian Butterworth (bruised quadricep), M Chris Henderson (strained groin), and F Jean Harbor (broken arm) are probable, D Troy Edwards (groin surgery) is on injured reserve; Kansas City — M Kevin Koetters (strained foot) is out.
Preview: Both teams are playing well of late — the Rapids have won three straight after beating Columbus on Sunday, while the Wiz has won two in a row after humbling the Galaxy Saturday night. Colorado, unfortunately, is ravaged by injury woes. Marcelo Balboa reaggravated his strained hamstring on Sunday and is out of tonight’s match and doubtful for the All-Star game this weekend. Midfielder Dominic Kinnear strained two knee ligaments against the Crew and will be out for six weeks. Defender Troy Edwards underwent groin surgery and will be flat on his back for five weeks. On top of that, defender Denis Hamlett picked up his fifth yellow card on Sunday and will miss tonight’s game. With Richard Sharpe out and Jean Harbor saddled with a cast on his broken right arm, the Rapids will rely on South African star Shaun Bartlett, and the playmaking skills of Roy Wegerle and Chris Henderson.
Kansas City will be without Diego Gutierrez, who is also suspended for gaining his fifth yellow card. His absence gives Frank Klopas a chance to move back into the starting lineup. The onetime national team goalscorer hasn’t cracked the first eleven since suffering a hip flexor strain some time ago. Garth Lagerwey has been outstanding in goal lately, and the Kansas City defense, led by Sean Bowers and Nigerian Uche Okafor, did a fine job in shutting down the vaunted Galaxy attack last weekend.
PROBABLE LINEUPS
Colorado — Woods, Kmosko, Butterworth, Henderson, Cannon, Rodriguez, Trittschuh, Benedetti, Wegerle, Harbor, Bartlett.
Kansas City — Lagerwey, Ekeme, Okafor, Bowers, Uderitz, Sorber, Preki, Chung, Klopas, Takawira, Johnston.
Prediction: Digital crawls in K.C.’s 2-1 win.