Prediction
Here is Soccer America Associate Editor Poul SwainÆs prediction for the game on June 6: Tampa Bay 4 Dallas 3
Preview
(all times ET) Wednesday, June 6 (7:00 p.m.) – Dallas Burn at Tampa Bay Mutiny (FOX Sports Southwest) Season series: Tampa Bay leads 1-0 (Tampa Bay leads 4-2 in aggregate goals);
All-time regular season series: Tampa Bay leads series 8-7-0 (Tampa Bay leads 24-22 in aggregate goals).
Leading scorers: Dallas: F Ariel Graziani, F Bobby Rhine (3g, 3a= 9pts); Tampa Bay: F Mamadou Diallo (6g, 2a = 14pts)
Did you know?: Both Tampa Bay and Dallas have already suffered four-goal losses to Miami this season.
Key players out: Dallas: none reported; Tampa Bay: D Chad McCarty (broken ankle-L)
Notes: For the first time in five games, the Mutiny will have the services of top offensive threats Mamadou Diallo and Carlos Valderrama … The pair should provide a boost for Tampa Bay, losers of four in a row in last place in the Central Division … However, a Mutiny victory would vault the club into a three-way tie for second place with Dallas and Columbus … The Burn come into this match off an embarrassing 6-2 loss at home to Miami … Burn head coach Mike Jeffries may again be without sweeper Lubos Kubik (left calf sprain), but will have versatile Jorge Rodriguez back from El Salvadoran national team duty … After winning two of its first three matches (the lone loss coming to the Mutiny on opening day), Dallas has posted just one win in the team’s last six contests.
KEY MATCHUP: Dallas M Chad Deering vs. Tampa Bay M Carlos Valderrama: Dallas has been using a pair of attacking central midfielders in Jason Kreis and Oscar Pareja, leaving most of the defensive chores to Deering. An inspired Valderrama should be eager to ignite the slumping Mutiny attack as he reunites with Diallo. If Deering can’t get a handle on “El Pibe” in the middle, it might be a long evening of chasing Diallo for the Burn defense.
SCHEDULED REFEREES: Referee: Gus St. Silva; Assistant Referees: Craig Lowry (SAR), Jeffrey Feulner (JAR)
