Saturday, July 26
Los Angeles at Tampa Bay
Location: Tampa Stadium. Kickoff (ET): 7:30 p.m. Television:
KMEX-34 Los Angeles Satellite: none.
Series History: The Galaxy won 2-1 in Tampa on June 1, and then rallied for a thrilling 3-2 shootout win at the Rose Bowl before 90,000 fans on June 16.
Injuries: Los Angeles — D Dan Calichman (concussion) and F Eduardo Hurtado (strained calf) are probable, M Arash Noamouz (torn knee cartilage) is day-to-day, D John Garvey (deep bone bruise) is out, M Andrew Shue (separated shoulder) is on injured reserve; Tampa Bay — GK Mark Dougherty (infected toe), M Goran Hunjak (sprained knee ligament), and F Diego Viera (bruised shin) are probable, F Evans Wise (sprained ankle) is questionable, M Carlos Valderrama (aggravated hamstring) is doubtful, M Peter Hattrup (torn ACL and MCL) is on injured reserve.
Preview: Tampa Bay plays on just two days’ rest after dropping a 1-0 decision to Columbus on Thursday. However, the Mutiny will have three players back on the field who missed the Crew match: defender Steve Pittman (suspended for a prior incident in the Scottish Premier Division), defender Martin Vasquez (accumulated yellow cards) and forward Giuseppe Galderisi (also yellow cards). Only Carlos Valderrama, who is still recovering from an aggravated hamstring, will be out of the starting eleven, but his absence is a huge one.
Los Angeles will be without goalie Jorge Campos a while longer, as Mexico advanced to the quarterfinals of the Olympic soccer tournament (the tricolores face Nigeria on Sunday in Birmingham). David Kramer, who looked shaky in a 5-2 drubbing at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, had a relatively easy game in L.A.’s shutout of the MetroStars on Sunday. Greg Vanney and Brad Wilson did a superb job of shutting down Metros midfield aces Roberto Donadoni and Tab Ramos in that match.
PROBABLE LINEUPS
Los Angeles — Kramer, Calichman, Fraser, Semioli, Vanney, Cienfuegos, Wilson, Armas, Jones, Hurtado, J. Vasquez.
Tampa Bay — Dougherty, Pittman, Kooiman, Yallop, M. Vasquez, Ralston, McKinley, Hunjak, Wise, Lassiter, Galderisi.
Prediction: Jones and Hurtado power Galaxy to a 2-1 win.
New England at Kansas City
Location: Arrowhead Stadium Kickoff (ET): 8:30 p.m. Television: WABU-68 Boston Satellite: none.
Series History: Both teams have won at home — the Wiz prevailed 2-1 on June 1 at Arrowhead, while the Revolution won a controversial 2-1 shootout victory at Foxboro Stadium June 15.
Injuries: New England — F Welton (sprained ankle and strained thigh) is probable, D Francis Okaroh (strained knee) is questionable, F John Kerr (pulled muscle) is questionable, D Mike Burns (knee surgery) is out; Kansas City — none.
Preview: Tonight marks the MLS debut of U.S. national team star Joe-Max Moore for New England. The former UCLA All-American should add some punch to the Revs attack. Alexi Lalas will also be in the lineup for New England, as the U.S. Olympic team was eliminated in the first round of play. The Wiz will be without Cameroonian defender Samuel Ekeme, who received an additional three-game suspension and $1,000 fine for his part in an altercation with the officials after New England beat the Wiz June 15. Ekeme’s total punishment is $2,000 in fines and four games missed — he missed K.C.’s 5-1 win over D.C. United in June. Look for Scott Uderitz and Diego Gutierrez to join Sean Bowers and Uche Okafor in back for the Wiz. Expect Olympic team members Imad Baba (New England) and Matt McKeon (Kansas City) to be in action next week.
PROBABLE LINEUPS
New England — St. Andre, I. Fraser, Okaroh, Lalas, Wylie, Aunger, Woodring, Sawatzky, Welton, Moore, Kerr.
Kansas City — Lagerwey, Uderitz, Okafor, Bowers, Gutierrez, Sorber, Preki, Chung, Klopas, Takawira, Johnston.
Prediction: Moore has a fine debut, but Wiz prevail in a 3-2 nailbiter.
Colorado at Dallas
Location: Cotton Bowl Kickoff (ET): 8:30 p.m. Television:
Prime Sports Southwest/ Prime Sports Rocky Mountain Satellite:
Satcom C1, Tr. 10
Series History: Colorado thrashed the Burn 3-1 at Mile High Stadium April 21, and won there again 2-0 on May 29. Dallas gained a 2-1 shootout win at the Cotton Bowl June 15.
Injuries: Colorado — D Ian Butterworth (strained hip), D Steve Trittschuh (broken toe), M/D Marcelo Balboa (strained hamstring), M Scott Benedetti (sprained ankle), M Roy Wegerle (sprained ankle), F Jean Harbor (broken right ulna), and F Shaun Bartlett (sprained ankle) are probable, M Dominic Kinnear (sprained knee), and F Richard Sharpe (stress fracture in right leg) are out, D Troy Edwards (groin surgery) is on injured reserve; Dallas — M Washington Rodriguez (strained groin) is on 2-week injured reserve as of July 18.
Preview: This is the final meeting of the regular season for these two Western Conference rivals. The Rapids got a much-needed victory over New England on Wednesday, and they should have key defender Ian Butterworth back for tonight’s match, allowing Marcelo Balboa to move into midfield. Look for the Rapids to play a 4-4-2 and give Jean Harbor a rest, with Roy Wegerle moving up front. Scott Benedetti (who scored in Wednesday’s game) is stepping up his game for the Rapids.
A switch to a 4-4-2 formation and Gerell Elliott’s return from a broken foot have sparked the once-dormant Dallas offense. The Burn has notched seven goals in the past two games, two from Elliott and three from scoring starJason Kreis. The former Duke All-American continues to impress, and his offense, along with Elliott’s, should start to free up space for Hugo Sanchez. Defender Zak Ibsen, acquired from New England in the John Kerr trade, has blended in nicely for coach Dave Dir.
PROBABLE LINEUPS
Colorado — Woods, Kmosko, Hamlett, Butterworth, Cannon, Benedetti, Trittschuh, Balboa, Henderson, Wegerle, Bartlett.
Dallas — Dodd, Farrer, Santel, Ibsen, Lozzano, Sonora, Alvarez, Kreis, Haynes, Sanchez, Elliott.
Prediction: Rapids go down in flames — Dallas rolls 3-1.
Sunday, July 28
San Jose at MetroStars
Location: Giants Stadium Kickoff (ET): 3:00 p.m. Television:
Univision Satellite: Spacenet 3, Tr. 5
Series History: Each team has a 1-0 road victory — Jeff Baicher scored in San Jose’s June 16 win, while Rob Johnson tallied for the first time in his MLS career in the MetroStars victory Wednesday night.
Injuries: San Jose — M Jeff Baicher (strained hamstring) is probable, M Paul Holocher (torn ACL) is on injured reserve; MetroStars — D Matt Knowles (strained quadriceps) is out, M Manny Lagos (torn ACL) is on injured reserve.
Preview: After a tepid performance in San Jose on Wednesday, the Clash should be revved up for the rematch. Playmaking forward Missael Espinoza is back from his mandatory one-game red card suspension, which should mean more chances for Eric Wynalda and Paul Bravo. Meanwhile, Tony Meola continues to be impressive in goal. The MetroStars keeper picked up his league-leading sixth shutout of the year on Wednesday, and he made several outstanding saves to preserve the win. Olympians Miles Joseph and A.J. Wood will return to the starting lineup for coach Carlos Queiroz. Joseph, who already has four MLS assists, had a very impressive Olympics. This will be the final game of the year played on grass at Giants Stadium, as the dreaded astroturf will be back in place for the NFL season.
PROBABLE LINEUPS
San Jose — Salzwedel, Martin, Dayak, Doyle, Draguicevich, Emenalo, Baicher, Iroha, Espinoza, Bravo, Wynalda.
MetroStars — Meola, Caricola, Zaun, Harty, Vermes, Donadoni, Unger, Ramos, Joseph, Savarese, Wood.
Prediction: Metros send the fans home happy, 2-1.
Columbus at D.C. United
Location: RFK Stadium Kickoff (ET): 4:00 p.m. Television:
Sportschannel Ohio; Home Team Sports (HTS broadcast delayed to 7:30 p.m. eastern) Satellite: Satcom C1, Tr. 15; Spacenet 3, Tr. 23.
Series History: Columbus won their home opener over D.C. 4-0 on April 13, but D.C. pounded the Crew 5-2 a month later at RFK stadium.
Injuries: Columbus — G Bo Oshoniyi (strained shoulder), D Mike Clark (pulled hamstring), D Janusz Michallik (strained wrist), M Doctor Khumalo (strained groin), and F Brian McBride (separated shoulder) are probable, D Brian Bliss (strained Achilles, strained groin) is doubtful, D Shane Battelle (ruptured PCL) is on injured reserve; D.C. United — G Jeff Causey (abdominal strain), D Mario Gori (strained groin), M Shawn Medved (bruised elbow), and M Tony Sanneh (strained groin) are probable, M John Harkes (strained calf) is out, D Mike Huwiler (pulled groin) is on injured reserve.
Preview: Columbus ended its losing streak with a controversial 1-0 victory over a depleted Tampa squad on Thursday. “Sneaky” Pete Marino lived up to his moniker when he appeared to spike the ball past Tampa’s Mark Dougherty with his hand. Could this be the break that turns the Crew’s season around? Possibly, especially with the return of Brian Maisonneuve after scoring two goals in three games during the Olympics (he will most likely be a reserve this evening). United’s Olympians, Eddie Pope and Clint Peay, are not expected to see action today, and John Harkes will also get the afternoon off, due to a strained calf. Look for John Maessner and Shawn Medved to start behind Marco Antonio Etcheverry in midfield, with Tony Sanneh joining Steve Rammel up front (Salvadoran striker Raul Diaz Arce is suspended for accumulated yellow cards). Sanneh played up front with the Minnesota Thunder of the USISL, so it shouldn’t be a difficult switch for him. United picked up forward Ben Crawley on loan from Richmond of the USISL this week, and sent Bolivian forward Juan Berthy Suarez, who had an unimpressive stint with the team, to Bolivian club The Strongest on loan for the rest of the season.
PROBABLE LINEUPS
Columbus — Harrington, Clark, Iribarren, Caligiuri, Thompson, Warzycha, Carrera, Khumalo, Michallik, Marino, McBride.
D.C. United — Simpson, Vaudreuil, Imler, Agoos, Gori, Williams, Medved, Maessner, Etcheverry, Sanneh, Rammel.
Prediction: Etcheverry leads D.C. to a 2-1 win.