Friday Sept. 6 — MetroStars at D.C. United
Location: RFK Stadium. Kickoff (ET): 7:30 p.m. Television:
Home Team Sports (delayed until 11:00 eastern). Satellite: Spacenet 3, Tr. 23.
Series History: May 12 at RFK Stadium — Giovanni Savarese scored a second-half equalizer, and the Metros earned a 2-1 shootout win; May 30 at Giants Stadium — A.J. Wood scored his first MLS goal, but United rallied for a 2-1 victory; Aug. 21 at Giants Stadium — 41 fouls were committed in United’s 3-2 win.
Injuries: MetroStars — D Nicola Caricola (hairline toe fracture) is questionable, D Matt Knowles (strained groin) is doubtful, M Manny Lagos (torn ACL) is out; D.C. United — G Jeff Causey (sprained elbow) and M John Harkes (bruised quad, bruised ankle) are probable, D Eddie Pope (bruised gluteus) and M Shawn Medved (strained calf) are questionable, G Mark Simpson (groin tear) and M Kris Kelderman (bruised heel) are doubtful, D Mike Huwiler (aggravated groin) and M Jesse Marsch (broken ankle) are out.
Of Note: The MetroStars have lost four straight after dropping a 2-0 decision to Tampa Bay on Wednesday…. Carlos Queiroz will try to inject a little life into the Metros offense by moving Tab Ramos up front and employing a 4-3-3 formation…. With Matt Knowles and Nicola Caricola still nursing injuries, the MetroStars defense is extremely thin…. D.C. with have both of its Bolivian stars (Marco Etcheverry and Jaime Moreno) back in the lineup…. Etcheverry leads MLS with 17 assists…. Richie Williams sits out tonight’s encounter after receiving his fifth yellow card against Colorado last Thursday…. Look for Shawn Medved to replace Williams in the lineup…. Steve Rammel (who scored both goals in D.C.’s 2-0 U.S. Open Cup win on Wednesday) gets another start up front with Raul Diaz Arce away playing for El Salvador.
PROBABLE LINEUPS
MetroStars — Meola, Zaun, Harty, Hennessy, Vermes, Donadoni, Unger, Joseph, De Avila, Ramos, Wood.
D.C. United — Causey, Peay, Pope, Agoos, Gori, Etcheverry, Harkes, Medved, Sanneh, Moreno, Rammel.
Prediction: Etcheverry leads D.C. to a 2-1 win.
Sat. Sept. 7 — Columbus at Kansas City
Location: Arrowhead Stadium. Kickoff (ET): 8:30 p.m. Television: Sportschannel Ohio. Satellite: Satcom C1, Tr. 15.
Series History: May 2 at Arrowhead Stadium — In perhaps the most entertaining match of the season, Kansas City outscored the Crew 6-4; June 8 at Ohio Stadium — The Wiz won another thriller, 4-3 in a shootout; Aug. 24 at Ohio Stadium — Stellar goalkeeping by Brad Friedel helped the Crew to a 2-1 win.
Injuries: Columbus — G Pat Harrington (sprained ankle) and M Todd Yeagley (strained ankle, bad lower back) are questionable, M Adrian Paz (fibula stress fracture) is doubtful, G Bo Oshoniyi (shoulder surgery), D Shane Battelle (ruptured PCL), M Brian Bliss (strained Achilles, pulled groin), and M Billy Thompson (torn ACL) are out; Kansas City — M Scott Uderitz (strained knee) is questionable.
Of Note: Columbus has won six straight under Tom Fitzgerald, but the ranks are depleted for this matchup…. In addition to the injuries mentioned above, Mike Clark is out with a red-card suspension, and Doctor Khumalo is in South Africa for his father’s funeral…. Todd Miller, who starred at Westminster College in Salt Lake City and played for the USISL’s Milwaukee Rampage this season as a developmental player, will make his first MLS start…. Matt McKeon will again start in place of the injured Scott Uderitz for K.C., which is looking to extend its lead in the Western Conference.
PROBABLE LINEUPS
Columbus — Friedel, Smith, Iribarren, Caligiuri, Michallik, Yeagley, Miller, Warzycha, Maisonneuve, McBride, Carrera.
Kansas City — Lagerwey, McKeon, Okafor, Bowers, Gutierrez, Klopas, Sorber, Preki, Chung, Takawira, Johnston.
Prediction: Crew winning streak ends at six — Wiz prevail 3-2.
New England at Dallas
Location: Cotton Bowl. Kickoff (ET): 8:30 p.m. Television:
none. Satellite: none.
Series History: June 23 at Foxboro Stadium — Dallas crushed the Revs 4-1, as Diego Sonora had a pair of assists; Sept. 4 at Foxboro Stadium —
Joe-Max Moore scored the winning goal from the penalty spot as New England edged the Burn 2-1.
Injuries: New England — D Mike Burns (arthroscopic knee surgery) is probable, M Alberto Naveda (chicken pox) is questionable, F John Kerr (pulled groin) is out; Dallas — F Ted Eck (sprained ankle) is probable, D Tom Soehn (torn ACL) is out.
Of Note: New England helped its playoff hopes with Wednesday’s win, but a road win in Dallas would really give the Revs a boost…. Mark Watson, the erstwhile Columbus defender, scored in his Foxboro debut on Wednesday…. Alberto Naveda may be able to play, depending on how quickly he recovers from the chicken pox…. Gerell Elliott continues to play well for Dallas — the former indoor star has had a hand in the bulk of the Burn’s goals since his return from a foot injury.
PROBABLE LINEUPS
New England — Heaney, Lalas, Okaroh, Wylie, Fraser, Aunger, Watson, Sawatzky, Debrito, Welton, Moore.
Dallas — Dodd, Farrer, Santel, Ibsen, Lozzano, Sonora, Alvarez, Kreis, Haynes, Sanchez, Elliott.
Prediction: Burn win the rubber match, 2-0.
Sunday, Sept. 8 — San Jose at Colorado
Location: Mile High Stadium. Kickoff (ET): 3:00 p.m. Television: Univision. Satellite: Spacenet 3, Tr. 5.
Series History: May 8 at Spartan Stadium — Paul Bravo scores twice in San Jose’s 3-1 win; July 17 at Mile High Stadium — John Doyle scored his first MLS goal to lead San Jose, 2-0; Aug. 25 at Spartan Stadium — Missael Espinoza’s opening-minute tally was enough for the Clash, who escaped with an ugly 1-0 victory.
Injuries: San Jose — D Oscar Draguicevich (separated ribs) and F Paul Bravo (tendonitis in knee) are probable, G Tom Liner (concussion) is questionable, D Troy Dayak (herniated disk) and M Paul Holocher (torn ACL) are out; Colorado — M Steve Trittschuh (broken toe) and F Jean Harbor (aggravated broken ulna) are probable, M Roy Wegerle (strained calf) is questionable, D Troy Edwards (groin surgery), D Ian Butterworth (bruised foot), D Marcelo Balboa (bruised foot), M Brian Bates (compound thumb fracture), M Dominic Kinnear (reconstructive knee surgery), and F Richard Sharpe (aggravated tibia stress fracture) are out;
Of Note: San Jose clinched a playoff spot when Colorado failed to beat Los Angeles in regulation on Thursday… The Rapids are eliminated from postseason play…. San Jose keeper Tom Liner suffered a concussion when he collided with the post while making a save against Los Angeles last weekend and may be replaced in the lineup by Dave Salzwedel…. Clash defender Troy Dayak has a herniated disk in his neck and will be examined again on Monday before it is determined whether he will play again this season.
PROBABLE LINEUPS
San Jose — Salzwedel or Liner, Martin, Doyle, Draguicevich, Emenalo, Baicher, Rodas, Lewis, Bravo, Espinoza, Wynalda.
Colorado — Woods, Cannon, Hamlett, Kmosko, S. Henderson, Bartlett, Trittschuh, Benedetti, C. Henderson, De Vries, Harbor.
Prediction: Eliminated, undermanned Rapids are no match for San Jose —
Clash roll 3-1.