MLS Cup 2003 Notebook
Published on November 22, 2003 under Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release
TORRANCE, Calif. (November 21, 2003) - With MLS Cup 2003 just two days away, both teams went through their final paces in training sessions before Friday's MLS Cup News Conference. The following is a compilation of news and notes from the camps of each of the finalists ahead of Sunday's Major League Soccer championship game pitting Chicago Fire and San Jose Earthquakes:
'QUAKES, FIRE TO STAND PAT: Neither head coach indicated they would be making any changes to the teams that won the Conference Championships for each club last weekend. For the Fire, that's no great surprise: head coach Dave Sarachan has run out the same starting 4-4-2 scheme in all three playoff matches.
Earthquakes boss Frank Yallop shook up his first-choice side for Game Two of the Western Conference Semifinal series against Los Angeles Galaxy, and said he will stay with the same team for the third consecutive match.
"It's hard to change anything that's going well. I think Chicago has had the same lineup for three games in a row; we've had it the same for two games in a row. Would I change that now? It would be tough to, unless an injury comes through," Yallop said.
Yallop added the only changes he would make to his team could be in how he employs his substitutions. In the past two weeks, Yallop has been lauded for the substitutions he has made, which have seen players coming on to make a difference.
"The substitutes are dying for the game to start. They can't wait to get on the field, and they've come on and done great for us," he said.
Both Teams Stellar Front to Back: Sunday's match on the wide field at The Home Depot Center has many observers predicting a high-scoring affair, though the teams played to a pair of scoreless draws in their three league meetings during the season. In the postseason, the Earthquakes have scored eight goals in their three matches - and allowed six.
While the Fire rearguard has yet to allow a goal in the postseason over three games, Sarachan was quick to point out that the Earthquakes tied the Galaxy for fewest goals allowed in the regular season with 35.
"Let's not forget both teams defend well, and defending is a skill. It may not be pretty, but it is a skill, and I don't think it's defending just for the sake of clearing the ball and being ugly," Sarachan said. "I think there are just quality defenders on both teams. So to say there should be a lot of goals, is kind of unfair to say because of the fact that there are good goalkeepers and good defending."
Fire captain Chris Armas added that predicting the outcome of the game and determining who has the edge is an impossible task.
"We have some great attackers ... but if I say there's an advantage, I would say that their defense can't handle them, but I think they can," Armas said.
Injuries Fail to Fell De Rosario: After suffering a torn knee ligament during preseason, San Jose forward Dwayne DeRosario returned in August and immediately made his presence felt. By season's end, he had four goals and three assists in 11 matches and had regained his spot in the side, partnering Landon Donovan in attack.
Then, in Game One of the Western Semifinals, another twist of fate put the Canadian international out when he suffered a hamstring injury. But he returned in the Conference Championship against the Wizards and now looks to contribute again in MLS Cup 2003.
"This season was really my chance to play, so yes, I'm a little disappointed that I didn't get my opportunity due to injury," he said. "But, I'm still part of the team. I'm happy for where we are right now, and I'm trying to use that emotion to build myself up."
DeRosario said he will most likely start the game on the bench, but he is chomping at the bit to get on the field: "I'm expecting that if I don't start, I can come on and do my best and, hopefully, I can repeat 2001."
In 2001, of course, DeRosario logged the most important 11 minutes of his career, coming on with just five minutes left in regulation during MLS Cup 2001 against the Los Angeles Galaxy. In the sixth minute of overtime, however, DeRosario scored the golden-goal match-winner to complete San Jose's worst-to-first season.
Repeating his 2001 Cup performance would be quite a feat, but a confident DeRosario believes he can shrug off this year's injuries and come up aces again.
"It's a great opportunity. I've gotten my chances in the past, and I was able to take advantage of it. I plan to do the same this year," he said.
Faria Re-unites with Fire: In May, after grabbing a starting role alongside Ante Razov in the Chicago Fire attack, Rodrigo Faria was suddenly forced to deal with the death of his father in his native Brazil. By the time he returned to Major League Soccer in August, Faria had been traded to San Jose - and Friday was his first chance to catch up with his former Fire teammates.
Faria chatted with former head coach Dave Sarachan, and praised Fire general manager Peter Wilt, not only for bringing him into the positive atmosphere around the Fire, but for treating him like family.
"I felt like part of the family, and I was. Peter Wilt is one of the greatest guys I've ever met. He gave me the opportunity to talk to my father for the last time. When I got the call, it was about 6:30 in the evening, and he booked me on the next flight at 9:30," Faria said.
Faria may be counted on Sunday afternoon to provide a boost for San Jose late in the game, and considering the wave of emotion he has been riding since the beginning of the MLS Cup Playoffs, he's a good bet to do so. After going nearly 600 minutes without scoring a goal, the Brazilian striker notched the game-winner in the thrilling overtime victory that put the 'Quakes in the Western Conference Championship, and he pointed to the sky in memory of his departed father.
After what he says has been the most difficult year of his life, coming through in MLS Cup would be poetic justice.
Major League Soccer Stories from November 22, 2003
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- MLS Cup 2003 Notebook - MLS
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