Two MLS teams have swapped Project-40 players, with Columbus gaining promising goalkeeper Matt Napoleon from Miami for left-footed defender Tim Sahaydak. Assigned to the Crew last week after a year and a half of rehabilitating his anterior cruciate ligament (right knee), Sahaydak joins Alen Kozic and Carlos Parra as the Fusion’s third active Project-40 player. Miami acquired Parra from the MetroStars in the historic first Project-40 trade for midfielder Ramiro Corrales on June 5, 1998. Columbia University product Matt Napoleon will unite with fellow Project-40 members Ubusuku Abukusumo and Brian West as the Crew’s third Project-40 member. The U.S. U-23 national team keeper will take the role of Columbus’ backup netminder behind Mark Dougherty (Juergen Sommer is out until August with a torn ACL). Pennsylvania natives and members of the U-23 squad that will represent the U.S. at the 2000 Olympics, Napoleon played six games with the U.S. Pro-40 and Sahaydak played a defensive role in five matches during the 1998 A-League campaign. Napoleon played four games in goal with Miami during the 1998 season.
