Tampa Bay at MetroStars
Location: Giants Stadium. Kickoff (ET): 7:30 p.m. Television:
MSG network. Satellite: Satcom C4, Tr. 6.
Series History: May 4 at Giants Stadium — Metros rally from a 3-0 deficit to win 4-3 in a shootout; Aug. 17 at Tampa Stadium — Roy Lassiter scored twice as Tampa spanked the Metros 3-1.
Injuries: Tampa Bay — D Cle Kooiman (fractured cheekbone), D Frank Yallop (abdominal strain), D John Diffley (sprained wrist) and M Derek Backman (bruised toe) are probable, M Peter Hattrup (torn ACL and MCL) is out; MetroStars — D Nicola Caricola (hairline toe fracture) is doubtful, M Manny Lagos (torn ACL) is out.
Of Note: The MetroStars have lost three straight, and are in danger of missing the playoffs now that Columbus and New England are making late charges…. Antony De Avila returns to the MetroStars lineup, and Ian Hennessy, signed by the team Aug. 26, will start on defense because Nicola Caricola is out with a hairline toe fracture…. Tampa Bay will be without Carlos Valderrama — the Colombian midfielder had commitments in Colombia and returns to the U.S. today…. “El Pibe” will be on the field when Tampa faces the Rochester Rhinos in the U.S. Open Cup this weekend…. Cle Kooiman will be available for the Mutiny this evening, despite his fractured cheekbone…. The rugged defender will wear a specially-designed, protective facial mask.
PROBABLE LINEUPS
Tampa Bay — Dougherty, Pittman, Kooiman, Yallop, Backman, Ralston, Vasquez, McKinley, Hunjak, Galderisi, Lassiter.
MetroStars — Meola, Zaun, Harty, Hennessy, Vermes, Donadoni, Unger, Ramos, Joseph, De Avila, Wood.
Prediction: Metros get a much-needed win, 3-2.
Dallas at New England
Location: Foxboro Stadium. Kickoff (ET): 7:30 p.m.. Television: WABU-Boston. Satellite: none.
Series History: June 23 at Foxboro Stadium — Dallas crushed the Revs 4-1; Diego Sonora had a pair of assists.
Injuries: Dallas — F Ted Eck (sprained ankle) is probable, D Tom Soehn (torn ACL) is out; New England — D Mike Burns (arthroscopic knee surgery) is probable, M Alberto Naveda (chicken pox) and F John Kerr (pulled groin) are out.
Of Note: New England’s playoff run was halted in Tampa on Saturday, and the Revs look to gain some needed momentum against Dallas tonight…. Alberto Naveda, the team’s top scorer, is out with chicken pox…. The disease has made its way through the team — defender Tom Lips was sidelined last week…. Dallas looks to take over sole possession of first place with an outright win tonight…. Hugo Sanchez is back after a one-game red-card suspension.
PROBABLE LINEUPS
Dallas — Dodd, Farrer, Santel, Ibsen, Lozzano, Sonora, Alvarez, Kreis, Haynes, Sanchez, Elliott.
New England — Heaney, Lalas, Okaroh, Wylie, Fraser, Aunger, Debrito, Baba, Woodring, Welton, Moore.
Prediction: Revs take it, 2-1.
Also this evening, D.C. United will face the USISL’s Carolina Dynamo in a U.S. Open Cup match at Klockner Stadium in Charlottesville, Va. It will be a homecoming for D.C. coach Bruce Arena and his numerous former UVa stars. Marco Etcheverry and Jaime Moreno will be available for United, but Salvadoran striker Raul Diaz Arce will be away with his national team for its World Cup qualifier against Cuba. The Dynamo are led by Yari Allnut (who scored a goal for Kansas City earlier this season), and Chugger Adair, who was with the L.A. Galaxy during the MLS preseason.