EASTERN DIVISION Record (Points)/Place D.C. UNITED 5-8-1 (16 points)/3rd D.C. United will play at Colorado on July 4, in the second of consecutive games against the Rapids, following Saturday’s 1-1 draw at home … United will then host the Los Angeles Galaxy on Saturday, July 7 at RFK Stadium … United’s talented teenagers, Bobby Convey and Santino Quaranta, will miss the Colorado match due to injury … Convey is out with a torn abdominal muscle while Quaranta will sit out the match with a contusion to his right thigh … United advanced to play the Hershey Wildcats in third round U.S. Open Cup play with a convincing 8-0 rout of the New Jersey Stallions in the second round … The third round match will be played on July 11 at a venue and time to be determined … Striker Abdul Thompson Conteh has tallied four game-winning goals this season, which is second in MLS, behind Miami’s Alex Pineda Chacon … He is also tied for second with Pineda Chacon with nine goals and tied for third in the MLS scoring race with 19 points (9g, 1a) … D.C. is 3-2-0 within the Eastern Division and 2-6-1 outside of their division … United is 4-2-1 at home at home and 1-6-0 away from RFK Stadium. METROSTARS 6-6-3 (21 points)/2nd The MetroStars visit the Tampa Bay Mutiny at Raymond James Stadium on Independence Day, in the third of five consecutive league games on the road … The Metros’ travels continue on Saturday against the Miami Fusion in the Orange Bowl … The MetroStars are seeking their first league road win of 2001 … Midfielder Richie Williams returns to the MetroStars from U.S. national team duty … He did not play, however, in the Americans’ 1-0 loss to Mexico in Mexico City … Kearny’s (NJ) Fausto Klinger, the older brother of Martin Klinger, recorded his MLS debut Saturday in Chicago, marking the first time that the MetroStars had two brothers playing at the same time … Defender Daniel Hernandez, who came off the Injured Reserve List on June 15, has notched a goal and assist in the last two games … The MetroStars are 12-4-3 all-time with Hernandez in the starting line up … The MetroStars will face C.D. FAS of El Salvador in an international club friendly on Saturday, July 14 at Mitchel Athletic Complex … The MetroStars were drawn into Group B of the 2001 Copa Merconorte, joining clubs Chivas of Mexico, Millonarios of Colombia and Deportivo Italchacao of Venezuela in the four-team group. MIAMI FUSION 11-1-2 (35 points)/1st The league-leading Miami Fusion, travel to face the Western Division leading San Jose Earthquakes on Wednesday … Miami returns home to play their second ever game in the Orange Bowl … Nick Rimando is first in several MLS goalkeeping categories including save percentage (.833) and save ratio (5.00) … He is also tied for second in the league in shutouts with five … The Blue-and-Gold’s attack is also tops in the league with 35 goals scored, and its defense is third best with the fewest goals allowed (15) … Four of MLS’ top six leading scorers come from the Fusion with Diego Serna leading the league in points (31), goals (11), assists (9) and game-winning assists (6) … Midfielder Preki is tied with Serna for the league lead in assists and is second in game-winning helpers with a total of four … Midfielder Ian Bishop is fourth in the MLS with eight assists, while midfielder/forward Alex Pineda Chacon’s five game-winning goals are also the highest total in MLS … Midfielder Jim Rooney has recorded at least one point in each of the last eight matches, which places him in a tie for the Fusion’s all-time record (Martin Machon, 2000) … Defender Carlos Llamosa (U.S.), goalkeeper Nick Rimando (U.S.) and midfielders Chris Henderson (U.S.) and Tyrone Marshall (Jamaica) all returned from their respective national teams following World Cup qualifiers this past weekend in the Football Confederation … Preki was named MLS Player of the Week following his performance (1 goal, 3 assists) in the Fusion’s 4-3 win vs. the Columbus Crew last Saturday … The Fusion will travel to Columbus, Ohio on July 11 for a third round Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match against the Crew. NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION 4-7-3 (15 points)/4th The New England Revolution travel to the Cotton Bowl for a July 4 match against the Dallas Burn … The Revs then return to Foxboro for Saturday’s match versus Kansas City … The Revs postponed last Saturday’s game with the San Jose Earthquakes due to severe thunderstorms … The makeup game will be Wednesday, August 8 at 7:30 p.m. ET … The postponement marked the first time an MLS match was postponed due to weather before the game was started … Newly signed goalkeeper Jose “El Gato” Fernandez is expected to make his MLS debut during this week’s action … New England advanced to the third round of the 2001 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, where the Revs will host the Charleston Battery of the A-League on Wednesday, July 11 … Midfielder Andy Williams entered Jamaica’s World Cup qualifier against Trinidad & Tobago in the second half and made an immediate impact by assisting on Deon Burton’s second half goal in the Reggae Boyz’ 2-1 win over Trinidad & Tobago … Striker Wolde Harris and Williams have returned from the Jamaican national team, and forward William Sunsing is back from the Costa Rican national team for this week’s MLS games … The Revolution finished the month of June with its first undefeated month of 2001 at 1-0-3, improving to 4-7-3 since an 0-6-0 start. CENTRAL DIVISION Record (Points)/Place CHICAGO FIRE 7-3-3 (24 points)/1st The Chicago Fire visit the defending MLS Cup champion Kansas City Wizards on Wednesday, July 4 at Arrowhead Stadium before traveling to Tampa Bay for their third meeting of the season with Central Division rival Tampa Bay Mutiny at Raymond James Stadium on Saturday … Midfielder Chris Armas returns to the team after competing for the U.S. in a 1-0 loss against Mexico last Sunday … Midfielder Dema Kovalenko, the Fire’s leading scorer with 17 points (6g, 5a), is sixth in the MLS scoring race … ‘Keeper Zach Thornton is the only member of the Fire to play every minute of every game in 2001 (1,207) and is currently third in the league with a 1.04 goals against average … Thornton is second among MLS ‘keepers with five shutouts and second with a .800 save percentage … The Fire will take on the Kansas City Wizards in third round action of the 2001 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday, July 11, at Blue Valley Sports Complex from Overland Park, Kansas … Chicago is 6-2-2 when scoring first and 1-1-1 when conceding the first goal … Veteran midfielder Peter Nowak turns 37 years old on Thursday, July 5. COLUMBUS CREW 4-5-4 (16 points)/3rd The Columbus Crew travel to face the Los Angeles Galaxy at the Rose Bowl on July 4 and return home to host the Dallas Burn on Saturday July 7 at Crew Stadium … Brian McBride (U.S.) and Ansil Elcock (Trinidad & Tobago) are back with the Crew after a busy stretch of Football Confederation World Cup qualifying, during which they traveled back and forth between the club and their respective national teams … McBride entered the U.S.’s 1-0 loss at Mexico Sunday in the 61st minute, while Elcock played the full 90 minutes of T&T’s 2-1 loss to Jamaica on Saturday … Columbus will play the Miami Fusion in the third round (Round of 16) of U.S. Open Cup play on Wednesday, July 11, at Crew Stadium … Goalkeeper Tom Presthus is third in MLS with 71 saves and second with an average of 5.24 saves per game … Columbus is 3-2-1 versus Central Division foes and 1-3-3 outside of their division … Columbus is 3-1-1 when scoring first, 1-4-2 when allowing the first goal and 3-3-0 in one-goal games. DALLAS BURN 6-6-2 (20 points)/2nd For the sixth straight year, the Dallas Burn will celebrate Independence Day with their fans as the Burn faces the New England Revolution Wednesday at the Cotton Bowl … Dallas travels to face Central Division rivals, the Columbus Crew, on Saturday, July 7 … Dallas is currently four points behind Chicago for the Central Division lead … Forward Bobby Rhine will be out for at least three weeks after suffering a high left ankle sprain in last Saturday’s 0-0 draw vs. Los Angeles … In the last two games (one loss, one tie), the Burn have outshot the opposition by a combined margin of 53-17 … For the year, the Burn have outshot their opponents 229-146, for a difference of 83 shots, the largest margin in the league … Goalkeeper Matt Jordan is tops among MLS goalkeepers with six shutouts … Dallas is 5-1-0 when scoring first, 1-5-0 when allowing the first goal and 3-3-0 in one-goal games. TAMPA BAY MUTINY 3-11-1 (10 points)/4th The Tampa Bay Mutiny host the MetroStars on July 4, and also welcome the Chicago Fire to Raymond James Stadium on Saturday July 7 … Tampa Bay has used 15 different starting lineups in its first 15 games this season … The Mutiny have not posted a shutout in regulation or overtime in 25 straight matches dating back to last season (July 22, 2000) … The team single-season mark is 19 games without a shutout (1996) … Kansas City’s nine-game unbeaten streak (8-0-1) against the Mutiny, following the Wizards’ 3-0 shutout on Saturday, is the longest against Tampa Bay by any MLS team … The Mutiny has surrendered 14 goals in their last four games … New goalkeeper Adin Brown is looking for his first career win against the MetroStars (0-2-1) and is 1-0-0 against Chicago … Diallo is four goals shy of tying Roy Lassiter’s team mark of 37 goals; Lassiter needed 50 games to score 37; Diallo has played 38 games thus far with Tampa Bay … Diallo’s next game-winning goal will tie him with Steve Ralston and Lassiter for the all-time Mutiny lead (7) … Ralston has quietly moved up the list with 31 career goals … Ralston is now the Mutiny’s active career assist leader following Carlos Valderrama’s departure to Colorado with 60 … Eric Quill’s next assist will give him 20 for his career, which will tie him for third all-time with Dominic Kinnear … Diallo is tied for sixth in the MLS scoring race with 17 points (7g, 3a) … Quill is tied for fifth among assist leaders with seven. WESTERN DIVISION Record (Points)/Place COLORADO RAPIDS 2-8-5 (11 points)/4th The Colorado Rapids meet D.C. United on Wednesday for the second of back-to-back games vs. the Black and Red … The two teams drew 1-1 last Saturday at RFK Stadium … Western Division rivals, the San Jose Earthquakes, come to Mile High Stadium on Saturday … Colorado is seeking their first win since beating Tampa Bay 2-1 on May 12 … Midfielder Ross Paule is tied for first in MLS with nine assists … John Spencer is fourth in MLS with eight goals and tied for fourth in scoring with 19 points … Defender Christopher Dawes returns to the Rapids after playing for Jamaica in their 2-1 win over Trinidad & Tobago in World Cup qualifying last weekend … Newly acquired midfielder Carlos Valderrama and goalkeeper Scott Garlick made their Rapids’ debuts on Saturday at D.C. … The Rapids are 2-1-2 when scoring first, 0-7-3 when allowing the first goal and 2-7-0 in one-goal games. KANSAS CITY WIZARDS 6-8-1 (19 points)/3rd The Kansas City Wizards will continue their homestand when they face the Chicago Fire in their first ever July 4 match at home … On Saturday, July 7, Kansas City will travel to New England to face the Revolution for the first time this season … Four Wizards registered their first points of the season in last Saturday’s 3-0 shutout of Tampa Bay – Peter Vermes, Michael Green, Andrew Gregor and Mike Burns … The Wizards now have 14 different players with a least one point this season … Wizards goalkeepers Tony Meola and Bo Oshoniyi have combined for 80 saves, the most by any team in MLS … Oshoniyi made his fourth consecutive start of 2001 and recorded his first win and shutout of the season vs. the Mutiny … The Wizards will play eight of their last 13 games at home … Goalkeeper Tony Meola will miss 5-6 weeks after surgery on a small tear in his abdomen … Midfielder Chris Klein (U.S.) and forwards Onandi Lowe (Jamaica) and Gary Glasgow (T&T) will return to the Kansas City lineup after missing last weekend’s match due to World Cup Qualifying … Lowe scored a goal for the “Reggae Boyz” in their 2-1 win over Trinidad & Tobago … The Wizards will take on the Chicago Fire in third round action of the 2001 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday, July 11, at Blue Valley Sports Complex from Overland Park, Kansas … The Kansas City Wizards will participate in their first ever international tournament this summer, joining the MetroStars as the two MLS clubs represented in the 2001 Copa Merconorte. LOS ANGELES GALAXY 7-4-5 (26 points)/2nd After last week’s scoreless draw in Dallas, the Los Angeles Galaxy have lost just twice in their last 10 games (4-2-4) … Los Angeles will host the Columbus Crew Wednesday night in the Rose Bowl and travel to the nation’s capital to face D.C. United on Saturday … The Galaxy and Crew together boast four national team players, who are returning from last weekend’s World Cup qualifying matches … Columbus forward Brian McBride, Galaxy midfielder Cobi Jones and Los Angeles defender Greg Vanney return from the U.S. national team after the U.S.’ 1-0 loss in Mexico … Crew defender Ansil Elcock is back after his World Cup qualifier with Trinidad & Tobago which resulted in a 2-1 loss to Jamaica … Galaxy midfielder Simon Elliott and United midfielder Ryan Nelsen face off for first time since returning from New Zealand national team and World Cup qualifying, where the duo spent three weeks before being eliminated by Australia, 6-1 on aggregate goals … The Galaxy became the first team in MLS history to win 100 regular season games on Saturday, June 23, although D.C. was on its heels with 98 wins … The club is also only seven points away from reaching the 1,000-point scoring plateau … Cobi Jones is four assists away from becoming the third member of the 50-50 club and joining Miami’s Preki and Dallas’ Jason Kreis … The Galaxy are tied for the league lead in shutouts with the Dallas Burn (six) … Goalkeeper Matt Reis has earned five clean sheets, while Kevin Hartman earned his first of the year last Saturday against Dallas. SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES 8-2-4 (28 points)/1st The Western Division leading San Jose Earthquakes will face the leaders from the Eastern Division, the Miami Fusion Wednesday night at Spartan Stadium … Both teams come in to the match with an 11-game unbeaten streaks and post the top two records in MLS … The Fusion defeated the ‘Quakes 2-1 in their first meeting on April 21 at Lockhart Stadium in Miami … On Saturday, the Earthquakes travel to play the Colorado Rapids at Mile High Stadium … On the heels of last Saturday’s postponement due to severe weather at New England, San Jose finished the month of June with a 3-0-1 record … It was their second consecutive unbeaten month and just the second time in team history that the ‘Quakes completed a perfect month of play … Goalkeeper Joe Cannon is the top-rated goalkeeper in MLS with a 0.90 goals against average and his eight wins are second-best in the league … Cannon is second in MLS with five shutouts and a 4.62 save ratio, and third among goalkeepers in minutes played (1,296), and save percentage (0.789) … Cannon currently has a 212 minute shutout streak … San Jose will play the Milwaukee Rampage in a third-round U.S. Open Cup matchup on Wednesday, July 11 at the Milwaukee Sports Complex … Former Earthquake midfielder Mauricio Solis scored the go-ahead goal in the 82nd minute in Costa Rica’s 3-2 victory over Honduras on Sunday, lifting the ‘Ticos’ to first place in the regional finals of World Cup qualifying … Solis spent the 1999 and 2000 MLS seasons with San Jose, playing 30 games and scoring four goals … San Jose is 8-0-1 when scoring the first goal, 0-2-1 when allowing the first goal and 4-2-0 in one-goal games.