MLS Major League Soccer

MLS Game Previews

Published on May 16, 2002 under Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release


NEW YORK (Thursday, May 16, 2002) -- The following are game previews for the slate of MLS matches scheduled for the weekend of May 18-19. The nationally televised Soccer Saturday Game of the Week on ESPN2 will feature the Colorado Rapids visiting the Dallas Burn (4:00 p.m. ET).

Broadcast information for all MLS telecasts can be found online each week at: http://www.mlsnet.com/library/2002/ontv.html

For updated scores, game summaries and video highlights, log on to MLS' official web site: www.MLSnet.com

Saturday, May 18 (4:00 p.m.) - Colorado Rapids at Dallas Burn (ESPN2)

2001 Head-to-Head: Series was tied 1-1 (Burn led 6-4 on aggregate goals)

All-time Head-to-Head: Series is tied 10-10-0 (Burn lead 33-27 on aggregate goals)

Top scorers: Colorado: F John Spencer (3g, 3a = 9pts) & M Chris Henderson (4g, 1a = 9pts); Dallas: F Jason Kreis (5g, 1a = 11pts)

Did you know?: Dallas, San Jose and Los Angeles are the only clubs in MLS yet to experience a two-game losing streak during the 2002 season.

Key players out: Colorado: M Pablo Mastroeni (World Cup); Dallas: none

Notes: After 20 meetings during MLS regular season play Colorado and Dallas are separated by only six goals, with each team owning 10 wins ... Half of the six-goal all-time differential in the Burn's favor came in the last meeting between these two Western Conference rivals, when Mike Jeffries' squad registered a 6-3 win at Mile High Stadium last June ... Two of the Burn's six tallies in that match came courtesy of own goals from Colorado and also featured eight different goal scorers ... Following this match the Burn will play four of their next five games on the road, with a home rematch against Colorado sandwiched between road trips to Columbus, Kansas City, Chicago and Los Angeles ... A solid 2-0 win at home against the Wizards gives Colorado momentum for this weekend, while Dallas must shake off a 2-0 loss suffered during New England's home opener ... Rapids midfielder Carlos Valderrama will take the field in search of his 100th career assist.

Final Whistle: Colorado will look to exploit Dallas on the flanks, where Chris Henderson and Mark Chung should give the Rapids a decided advantage ... Dallas marking backs Ryan Suarez and Paul Broome will be busy tracking that pair, leaving Steve Morrow and Tenywa Bonseu to follow the movements of John Spencer.

SCHEDULED REFEREES: Referee: Gus St. Silva; Assistant Referees: Thomas Supple (SAR), Greg Watson (JAR)

Saturday, May 18 (6:30 p.m.) - MetroStars at D.C. United (MSG)

2001 Head-to-Head: MetroStars won series 3-1-0 (MetroStars led 8-6 on aggregate goals)

All-time Head-to-Head: D.C. leads series 13-10-1 (United lead 48-39 on aggregate goals)

Top scorers: MetroStars: F Rodrigo Faria (3g, 2a = 8pts); D.C.: F Santino Quaranta & Ali Curtis (2g, 1a = 5pts)

Did you know?: D.C. United (0-3) and the MetroStars (0-4) have yet to post a win or draw when facing a halftime deficit this season.

Key players out: MetroStars: F Diego Serna (red card suspension), F Clint Mathis (World Cup), D Marcelo Balboa (knee bone bruise-R); D.C.: D Eddie Pope (World Cup), M Ben Olsen (IR)

Notes: Both clubs approach this match needing victories to build momentum ... Octavio Zambrano's MetroStars haven't won a game since April 13 (a span of four games), while Ray Hudson's squad hasn't posted a "W" since April 20 ... The Metros have managed just one goal in each of their last three matches and have dropped two consecutive 2-1 decisions ... More importantly the Metros will have to rekindle their offenses without forward Diego Serna, who was ejected in the closing moments of last weekend's loss in San Jose ... United has played three consecutive matches without it's starting defensive unit, as Eddie Pope's Word Cup commitments and suspensions to Milton Reyes and Ivan McKinley have forced Ray Hudson to shuffle his defensive lineup for more than a month.

Final Whistle: The recent four-player trade between the two clubs saw Petter Villegas and Orlando Perez move to the nation's capital, while Mark Lisi and Craig Ziadie joined the Metros ... The revenge factor may supply the spark both of these teams have been missing in recent weeks.

SCHEDULED REFEREES: Referee: Kevin Stott; Assistant Referees: Jon Wilson (SAR), Steven Davidson (JAR)

Saturday, May 18 (7:30 p.m.) - San Jose Earthquakes at Columbus Crew (FOX Bay Area)

2001 Head-to-Head: Columbus won series 1-0-1 (Crew led 4-3 on aggregate goals)

All-time Head-to-Head: Columbus leads series 10-6-1 (Crew lead 34-27 on aggregate goals)

Top scorers: San Jose: F Ariel Graziani (4g, 2a = 10pts); Columbus: F Dante Washington (3g, 0a = 6pts)

Did you know?: Columbus has not yet earned standings points in consecutive matches this season.

Key players out: San Jose: F Landon Donovan and D Jeff Agoos (World Cup); Columbus: F Brian McBride (World Cup)

Notes: Motivation for Columbus will linger from a 3-2 loss at San Jose two weekends ago ... The Crew stormed to an early 2-0 lead in that match only to surrender three unanswered goals to the Quakes ... San Jose returns to Columbus Crew Stadium for the first time since capturing MLS Cup 2002 in Central Ohio ... Including last year's MLS Cup Playoffs, San Jose currently sports a four-game unbeaten streak (3-0-1) against the Black-and-Gold ... A League-high seven players have found the back of the net for Frank Yallop's squad this season, fueling a balanced offense that has overcome the absence of Landon Donovan and early injuries to Manny Lagos ... Having dismantled FC Nurnberg of the German Bundesliga 7-2 Wednesday evening, Columbus needs its potent attack to resurface in order to offset the Quakes' opportunistic strikers.

Final Whistle: Columbus desperately needs to control the tempo of this match in order to survive San Jose's pressure ... Will that job fall to rookie Kyle Martino or veteran John Wilmar Perez, who played all 90 minutes against Nurnberg on Wednesday? ... The Crew defense remains a question mark as it faces one of the most dangerous attacking teams in the country.

SCHEDULED REFEREES: Referee: Elias Bazakos; Assistant Referees: Robert Fereday (SAR), Richard Eddy (JAR)

Saturday, May 18 (8:00 p.m.) - Los Angeles Galaxy at Kansas City Wizards (KCAL)

2001 Head-to-Head: Los Angeles won series 3-1-0 (Galaxy led 9-4 on aggregate goals)

All-time Head-to-Head: Los Angeles lead series 14-9-2 (Galaxy lead 42-26 on aggregate goals)

Top scorers: Los Angeles: F Carlos Ruiz (7g, 0a = 14pts); Kansas City: M Preki (2g, 3a = 7pts)

Did you know?: Kansas City has been shut out in only one of their previous six matches this season.

Key players out: Los Angeles: M Cobi Jones (World Cup), F Chris Albright (broken foot-R), M Peter Vagenas (lower back strain); Kansas City: GK Tony Meola (World Cup)

Notes: For the second time in three weeks, these two clubs will clash at Arrowhead ... A goal from Brian Mullan and the overtime game-winner from rookie Gavin Glinton secured a 2-1 win for the Galaxy ... Los Angeles has won its last two road matches, claiming wins against Kansas City and Chicago ... Fans of the Wizards may finally get their chance to see forward Dario Fabbro, who received his visa this week and will be available for Bob Gansler's squad on Sunday ... The Argentine was signed by the Wizards on April 6, but his debut has been delayed by paperwork processing ... Without the steady hands of Tony Meola in net, Kansas City must limit the offensive chances for the Galaxy, lead the League in shots (127) and shots (57) on goal.

Final Whistle: Los Angeles still must prove it can get consistent offense from players other than Carlos Ruiz ... Kansas City's Nick Garcia will likely watch the Guatemalan closely

SCHEDULED REFEREES: Referee: Noel Kenny; Assistant Referees: Chip Reed (SAR), Jose Andrade (JAR)

Sunday, May 19 (4:30 p.m.) - Chicago Fire at New England Revolution (WB, td FOX Sports Chicago / 5:15 pm ET)

2001 Head-to-Head: New England won series 1-0-1 (Revolution led 3-2 on aggregate goals)

All-time Head-to-Head: Series is tied 3-3-3 (Aggregate goals are tied 13-13)

Top scorers: Chicago: F Ante Razov (3g, 3a = 9pts); New England: F Taylor Twellman (4g, 0a = 8pts)

Did you know?: In 1998, without backup goalkeeper Jorge Campos, in France with Mexico for the World Cup, the Fire went 5-0. Without the services of Joe-Max Moore and Mike Burns, who were in France for the World Cup in 1998, the Revs went 0-4.

Key players out: Chicago: M DaMarcus Beasley & F Josh Wolff (World Cup), M Chris Armas (torn ACL-R), D Evan Whitfield (IR), F Hristo Stoitchkov (sprained MCL-R); New England: D Carlos Llamosa (World Cup)

Notes: Just when it seemed Chicago's offense was firing on all cylinders, the Fire were held scoreless by Los Angeles at home last weekend ... Bob Bradley's squad hits the road this week looking to avenge an earlier 2-2 draw with New England in the Fire's home opener ... All eyes will be on New England newcomer Taylor Twellman, who has found the net in all three of his starts this season ... Three of Twellman's four goals have come inside the 10th minute and all four have come before halftime ... Following a 1-2-0 start, the Fire have rebounded to pull even with the MetroStars atop the Eastern Conference ... Forward Ante Razov must carry the load offensively for Chicago, which learned this week that Hristo Stoitchkov was headed for IR with a knee injury ... Down early against Los Angeles, Bradley tabbed rookie Mike Nugent later in the match to join Razov up front in hopes of sparking the offense.

Final Whistle: A large supportive crowd at CMGI Field will only encourage a Revolution defense that has scored two goals in each of its last three outings ... Chicago's defense must keep the Revolution off the board early so that Nowak has time to dictate the pace of the game.

SCHEDULED REFEREES: Referee: Kevin Terry; Assistant Referees: Richard Eddy (SAR), Steven Taylor (JAR)

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