MetroStars at Dallas
Location: Cotton Bowl
Kickoff: 3:00 (ET)
Television: Univision
Satellite: Spacenet 3 Tr. 5
Previous Meeting: none
Injuries: MetroStars — D Matt Knowles (sprained shoulder) and D Jeff Zaun (strained Achilles’ tendon) are doubtful, D Andrew Restrepo (sprained ankle) is out; Dallas — MF Gerell Elliott and D Tom Soehn are on injured reserve.
Preview: Dallas has struggled when it’s been without midfield general Leonel Alvarez, and his absence (he’s away with Colombia’s national team) was again felt in Wednesday night’s loss at Colorado. Midfielder Brian Haynes will need to step up for Dallas, and look for Washington Rodriguez to be a significant part of the action coming off the bench.
The MetroStars, already thin on defense, will most likely be without Knowles and Zaun, so Chris Da Silva will get a start in the back. Carlos Queiroz got a very good effort out of his team in its 2-1 loss to D.C. United, but another missed penalty kick (the MetroStars are now zero for two on penalties) prevented them from forcing a shootout. Tab Ramos has been playing well, but his teammates need to finish the scoring opportunities he creates for them.
PROBABLE LINEUPS
MetroStars — Meola, Da Silva, Harty, Caricola, Gillen, Joseph, Kydes, Ramos, Vermes, Wood, Hernandez.
Dallas — Dodd, Santel, Farrer, Lozzano, Sonora, Ashton, Kreis, Haynes, Kerr, Eck, Sanchez.
Prediction: Metros get singed as Dallas wins 2-0
D.C. United at Colorado
Location: Mile High Stadium
Kickoff: 4:00 (ET)
Television: Home Team Sports
Satellite: Spacenet 3 Tr. 23
Previous Meeting: none
Injuries: D.C. United — MF John Harkes (hyperextended knee) is doubtful, D Mike Huwiler (torn groin and abdominal muscles) and F Juan Berthy Suarez (sprained foot) are on seven-day injured reserve; Colorado — D Troy Edwards (groin strain) and D Ian Butterworh (strained right MCL) are out, GK Chris Woods (groin strain) is doubtful.
Preview: United will play at altitude on just two days’ rest after their 2-1 win at New York/New Jersey. John Harkes, who had played every minute of every game for United, hyperextended his knee and suffered a deep thigh bruise on Thursday and is unavailabe, as is defender Eddie Pope, who is away with the Olympic team. Marco Etcheverry has been in superb form of late, and leads the league with seven assists.
The Rapids are riding high after a Wednesday night shutout of Dallas. Although Shaun Bartlett (South African national team duty) is still absent, coach Bob Houghton must have been pleased with the play of Jean Harbor and Richard Sharpe up front against the Burn. If they give a repeat performance, and Roy Wegerle, Dominic Kinnear, and Chris Henderson are their usual creative selves, United keeper Jeff Causey may be in for a long afternoon.
PROBABLE LINEUPS
D.C. United — Causey, Imler, Peay, Agoos, Gori, Kelderman, Sanneh, Williams, Etcheverry, Diaz Arce, Rammel.
Colorado — Hudock, Kmosko, Hamlett, Balboa, Henderson, Trittschuh, Kinnear, Benedetti, Wegerle, Sharpe, Harbor.
Prediction: Rapids take a 3-1 victory.