Tampa Bay at Columbus
Location: Ohio Stadium. Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. (ET). Television:
ESPN2. Satellite: Galaxy 5, Tr. 14.
Previous meetings: Tampa won 2-1 in Columbus April 20. The two clubs split their last pair of games in Tampa, with the Crew taking a 4-3 shootout win June 22, and the Mutiny prevailing 4-1 on July 4.
Injuries: Tampa Bay — GK Mark Dougherty (infected toe) is probable, F Diego Viera (bruised shin) and M Goran Hunjak (sprained MCL) are questionable, M Carlos Valderrama (aggravated hamstring) is doubtful; Columbus — GK Bo Oshoniyi (strained shoulder) D Mike Clark (strained hamstring) D Janusz Michallik (strained wrist) and F Brian McBride (recovering from separated shoulder) are probable, D Brian Bliss (strained achilles) is doubtful, D Shane Battelle (ruptured posterior cruciate ligament) is on injured reserve.
Preview: If the Crew is ever going to end its six-game home losing streak, tonight’s the night. Tampa will be without four key starters: Carlos Valderrama (out with an injured hamstring), Martin Vasquez (yellow cards), Giuseppe Galderisi (yellow cards), and Steve Pittman (suspension). Pittman is sitting out the game because of an incident with his previous club Partick Thistle of Scotland’s Premier Division, when he ran onto the field to confront Rangers’ star Paul Gascoigne. This will give some playing time Adam Frye, John Diffley, and Derek Backman.
Columbus, languishing in the Eastern Conference cellar, has nonetheless been playing some of the most entertaining soccer in the league. Brian McBride rediscovered his scoring touch in Saturday’s 4-3 loss to San Jose, notching two goals to give him a team-high 10 for the year. Speedy Uruguayan Adrian Paz will again be benched in favor of playmaker Marcelo Carrera, and David Winner will be in goal, although the Crew are attempting to sign former Wiz keeper Pat Harrington.
PROBABLE LINEUPS
Tampa Bay — Dougherty, Kooiman, Yallop, Diffley, Ralston, Hunjak, Backman, McKinley, Frye, Wise, Lassiter.
Columbus — Winner, Clark, Iribarren, Caligiuri, Thompson, Warzycha, Khumalo, Carrera, Bliss, McBride, Marino.
Prediction: A sorely needed 3-2 Columbus victory.