Predictions
Here are Soccer America Associate Editor Poul SwainÆs predictions for the games on May 30: Miami 2 D.C. United 1 Chicago 3 Los Angeles 2 San Jose 2 Colorado 0
Previews
(all times ET) Wednesday, May 30 (7:30 p.m.) – D.C. United at Miami Fusion (Comcast SportsNet) Season series: First meeting;
All-time regular season series: United leads 7-5-0 (United leads 25-24 in aggregate goals)
Leading scorers: United: F Abdul Thompson Conteh (6g, 1a =13pts); Miami: Alex Pineda Chacon (5g, 1a = 11pts)
Did you know?: D.C. United knocked Miami out of the MLS Cup playoffs in 1998 and 1999.
Key players out: United: M Ben Olsen (ankle surgery-R&L), D Mark Watson (Canadian national team), M Santino Quaranta (U.S. U-17 national team); Miami: None reported.
Notes: After dropping a pair of league matches, United has been off since May 19 … D.C. has played only seven games this season, the fewest in the league. United will catch up this week with contests against division leaders Miami (Eastern) and Chicago (Central) … The last time these teams met, the Fusion routed United 6-2 at the end of the 2000 regular season, behind a hat trick from striker Diego Serna … Miami’s Carlos Llamosa, a major cog in MLS’ best defense, will play his first match against his former team on Wednesday night … The Fusion acquired Llamosa in the offseason for versatile Brian Kamler and a first-round SuperDraft choice, which United used to select defensive midfielder Ryan Nelsen … Serna may be ready for another monster game against United, after a two-goal performance in last Saturday’s 4-0 rout of Tampa Bay.
KEY MATCHUP: United D Eddie Pope vs. Miami F Diego Serna: The Colombian has had several big performances against United in the past, including a hat trick in the final match of the 2000 season. Serna finally appears to be awakening from his early-season slump. Pope’s combination of speed and strength may be United’s best hope of containing the Fusion’s big gun.
SCHEDULED REFEREES: Referee: Ricardo Valenzuela; Assistant Referees: Robert Fereday (SAR), Greg Watson (JAR)
Wednesday, May 30 (8:30 p.m.) – Los Angeles Galaxy at Chicago Fire (FOX Sports West – TD: 7:00 p.m. PT) Season series: First meeting;
All-time regular season series: Los Angeles leads 5-4-1 (Los Angeles leads 11-10 in aggregate goals)
Leading scorers: Los Angeles: M Cobi Jones (3g, 2a = 8pts); Chicago: M Dema Kovalenko (3g, 3a = 9pts)
Did you know?: Los Angeles traded midfielder Chris Armas to Chicago prior to the Fire’s inaugural 1998 season in a multi-player trade, in which the Galaxy received goalkeeper Kevin Hartman.
Key players out: Los Angeles: D Alexi Lalas (knee/PCL sprain-L); Chicago: Carlos Bocanegra (ankle sprain-L)
Notes: The Galaxy start a two-game Midwestern swing on Wednesday in Chicago … Los Angeles will close its week out in Columbus against the resurgent Crew … Defender Ezra Hendrickson continues to score clutch goals for the Galaxy. The attacking back had the opening goal in last Saturday’s 2-0 victory over New England, his second game-winning goal of the season … Hendrickson also notched two goals in the final of the Football Confederation Champions Cup in January … The Fire are a positive result away from setting a new MLS record by going unbeaten in 16 straight home games … Chicago has gone 13-0-2 in its last 15 home contests, including a 1-1 draw with San Jose on Saturday … Defender Andrew Lewis, filling in for the injured Carlos Bocanegra, had the Fire’s only goal in last weekend’s stalemate with the Earthquakes.
KEY MATCHUP: Los Angeles D Ezra Hendrickson vs. Chicago M DaMarcus Beasley: Hendrickson spends as much time attacking down the right flank as he does defending. Beasley, one of MLS’ fastest players, will have to keep Hendrickson honest in this contest. The Fire can create chances down the wing if Beasley can slip behind the Galaxy’s outside back.
SCHEDULED REFEREES: Referee: Kevin Terry; Assistant Referees: Scott Weyland (SAR), Nate Clement (JAR)
Wednesday, May 30 (9:30 p.m.) – Colorado Rapids at San Jose Earthquakes (KBDI – Ch. 12) Season series: First meeting;
All-time regular season series: Series tied 10-10-0 (Colorado leads 36-34 in aggregate goals)
Leading scorers: Colorado: M John Spencer (5g, 2a =12pts); San Jose: F Dwayne DeRosario (2g, 2a = 8pts)
Did you know?: If San Jose wins or draws in this contest, it will conclude the first undefeated month in the club’s six-year history.
Key players out: Colorado: M Wes Hart (Achilles tear -L), GK Adin Brown (sprained neck); San Jose: F Dwayne DeRosario (Canadian national team).
Notes: This is the first of two consecutive meetings between these clubs … They’ll meet again on Saturday in Colorado … The Rapids have not won a game in their last four outings and will be without starting goalkeeper Adin Brown again on Wednesday in San Jose … Reserve goalkeeper David Kramer has gone 0-2-1 in place of Brown, allowing five goals in three games … Colorado’s offense did come alive last Saturday, scoring three goals in a draw at Columbus … Striker John Spencer found the back of the net again, and has scored five of the team’s 10 goals … San Jose is unbeaten in six games, a club record … Defender Zak Ibsen scored in the 90th minute last Saturday, as the ‘Quakes rallied to earn an impressive 1-1 draw in Chicago … The Earthquakes will again rely on teenage phenom Landon Donovan, who assisted on Ibsen’s goal last weekend.
KEY MATCHUP: Colorado M Chris Dawes vs. San Jose M Ronnie Ekelund: In the Rapids’ new formation, midfielders Ross Paule, Marcelo Balboa and John Spencer are all given freedom to come forward. That leaves Dawes as the lone defensive midfielder charged with disrupting San Jose’s transition game. Ekelund, a smooth creator in midfield, will look to spring attackers Manny Lagos, Ronald Cerritos and Landon Donovan against the Rapids’ back line.
SCHEDULED REFEREES: Referee: Peter Kokolski; Assistant Referees: Roger Itaya (SAR), Emiliano Monje (JAR)
