MLS Weekly Preview & Broadcast Info

October 20, 2006 - Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release

Saturday, October 21, 2006

NEW YORK RED BULLS v D.C. UNITED - HDNet, FSN-NY, CSN-DC

Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J. - 2 p.m.

Complete series guide: http://www.mlsnet.com/pdf/mls/2006/playoffs/DCvNYecsf.pdf

REFEREE: Michael Kennedy.

SAR (bench): George Gansner; JAR (opposite): Fabio Tovar; 4th: Shane Moody

INJURY REPORT:

NEW YORK RED BULLS - OUT: MF: Mark Lisi (R adductor strain): MF Shawn Kuykendall (L knee surgery); QUESTIONABLE: MF Elie Ikangu (L hamstring strain ...

D.C. UNITED - OUT: MF Domenic Mediate (R fibula fracture); DF John Wilson (knee surgery)

SUSPENDED: none

WARNINGS: none

LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD:

NY 15 wins, 64 GF; DC 24 wins, 90 GF, 5 ties

2006 HEAD-TO-HEAD: DC 2 wins, 10 GF; NY 0 wins, 6 GF; 1 ties

AT GIANTS STADIUM:

4/22: NY 1, DC 4 (Djorkaeff 86 - Eskandarian 41, 59; Erpen 71; Walker 88)

8/16: NY 0, DC 0

MLS CUP PLAYOFFS: DC 4 wins, 9 GF; NY 1 win, 3 GF

RED BULLS UPDATE: Having a healthy Youri Djorkaeff and Amado Guevara on the field together is an important factor for the Red Bulls. From the beginning of September, the pair played together in just two games before the season finale. But in those games -- losses to New England (0-2) and D.C. (3-4) -- Djorkaeff was slowed by injury. "Guevara played very well," coach Bruce Arena said after the season-ending win. "His ability to hold the ball, passing, combining that with Youri makes us a little different because we certainly have not been the best passing team. We have difficulty keeping the ball." ... In addition to the two losses and two draws in league play, United knocked New York out of the U.S. Open Cup in a 3-1 quarterfinal victory. "I don't know why we struggle against them," John Wolyniec said. "The last couple of times we played well for stretches and we showed we can play with them. Maybe we didn't get the results we wanted, but the playoffs are a different story. If we can get a win Saturday, that would set us up huge going into D.C." ... The Red Bulls have had three coaches this season, Mo Johnston starting before Richie Williams took over on an interim basis June 27, until Arena took charge after the All-Star break. "It's been a crazy year. When you have a lot of changes, it's tough to find your identity as a team, and with Bruce coming in, he didn't make wholesale changes right off the bat, but he's been slowly changing and building toward something that he wants," Wolyniec said. "Two more weeks is two more weeks for him to make the changes that he wants and for us to come together as a unit." ... Over New York's final seven games, only Amado Guevara (five goals, three on penalty kicks) and Jozy Altidore have scored goals. However, Arena said he wasn't concerned. "You don't concern yourself with that," he said to the Daily News. "You concern yourself with results. It's all about trying to win the game Saturday. I could care less who scores the goals. If one of those two guys again scores I would not be that depressed."

UNITED UPDATE: Striker Alecko Eskandarian could be ready to return to the United starting lineup for the first time since Sept. 3. Suffering from hamstring tendonitis, he missed five games before making reserve appearances in the final two contests of the year, including a 45-minute stint last weekend. "I think he's ready to play," United head coach Peter Nowak said to The Washington Post. "Esky brings a lot of emotions and a lot of energy to our game. This is so important in this stretch." Said Eskandarian: "I'm ready to play 90 minutes. I was kind of upset that I didn't get to start this last game and just play as much as I could until I burned out. I wanted to get a good game in and work on my fitness. But even the 45 minutes I was in there, I felt fine and felt like I could've gone another 45." ... His addition to the United attack could be a vital touch. Two of the club's three shutouts on the season came in the last five games, and since the All-Star break, United have scored 14 goals in 10 games, but only one player has scored more than one -- Christian Gomez (who scored seven). The others have come from Jaime Moreno, Freddy Adu, Matias Donnet, Josh Gros, Facundo Erpen -- and two own goals. "I feel like we're playing almost too slow sometimes, where we are just going side to side in the midfield instead of looking at our forwards' runs and slipping a through ball or even hitting a long ball," Eskandarian said to the Post. "We're a great team in terms of combinations, but we can mix it up more. It's taking too long to get into the attack, and defenses are outnumbering us and just waiting for us." ... While Gomez has shown MVP form, Moreno's goal vs. New York on Sept. 23 was his only one since the All-Star break. "We have enough creativity in this team," said Nowak. "[If we] just rely on Jaime and Christian that they're going to provide this thing, then of course they will. The rest of the team must know what their roles are and must know the jobs they have to do."

Directv: 791

DishNet: 465

HDNet

KU BAND

SBS 6, TR. 13 A/B

Uplink: 14306.5(V)

Downlink: 12006.5(H)

FSN-NY

HTN Conf #1694

CSN-DC

HTN Conf #37872

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COLORADO RAPIDS v FC DALLAS - FSC/FSE

Invesco Field at Mile High, Denver, Colo. - 9 p.m.

Complete series guide: http://www.mlsnet.com/pdf/mls/2006/playoffs/DALvCOLwcsf.pdf

REFEREE: Hilario Grajeda. SAR (bench): Thomas Supple; JAR (opposite):Rob Fereday; 4th: Abbey Okulaja

INJURY REPORT:

COLORADO RAPIDS - OUT: FW Luchi Gonzalez (groin)

FC DALLAS - OUT: GK Jeff Cassar (R hip), QUESTIONABLE: GK Dario Sala (calf); FW Roberto Mina (L knee)

SUSPENDED: COL: DF Mike Petke (through Oct. 22)

WARNINGS: none

LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: COL 14 wins, 51 GF; DAL 20 wins, 70 GF; 7 ties

2006 HEAD-TO-HEAD: DAL 3 win, 9 GF; COL 0 wins, 3 GF; 1 tie

AT INVESCO FIELD at MILE HIGH:

4/15: COL 2, DAL 2 (Kirovski 39; own goal 45 - Vanney 5; Mina 25)

8/30: COL 0, DAL 2 (Nunez 25; Mulrooney 56)

MLS CUP PLAYOFFS: COL 3 wins, 10 GF; DAL 1 win, 8 GF; 3 draws

RAPIDS UPDATE: The Rapids will have a major absence in central defense as Mike Petke will be suspended. He received a red card following the completion of the Oct. 7 draw with New York, after already receiving a yellow card in that game that put him over the limit and banned for the season finale. That means Pablo Mastroeni could return to partner Aitor Karanka as he did in Houston last weekend, with Hunter Freeman or Matt Crawford and Dan Gargan on the flanks, but Fernando Clavijo has been known to give his lineup a shakeup entering the playoffs. "I would not be surprised to see some changes," Clavijo said to The Denver Post. ... Another problem for Clavijo coming down the stretch as been on the left side of midfield, where he has searched for a regular replacement since Dedi Ben-Dayan left for his native Israel at the start of August. Jacob Peterson is the most likely candidate, having started 10 of the 13 games since. "It's a revolving door right now," Clavijo said. ... Coming into the season finale -- where they needed a point to secure their playoff lives -- the Rapids hadn't won in four games and hadn't scored more than a goal in a game since mid-July. But three times they came back from a goal down for the vital draw against Houston and clinched fourth place in the West. "The way we end the season makes you really think things can work," Clavijo said. ... And so, for the second year running, the Rapids will face FC Dallas in the first round, playing host to the first leg in Denver and traveling to Frisco for the return match. A year ago, the scoreless draw in the first leg set the stage for a dramatic 2-2 draw through extra time -- and subsequent penalty kick shootout victory to move into the conference championship. Clavijo says last year's experience will give his team an advantage. "We have a little bit of an edge," he said. "It's going to be a war, but I like it and I like our chances."

FC DALLAS UPDATE: The last two times Dallas reached the MLS Cup Playoffs, they were eliminated by ... the Colorado Rapids -- including in last season's conference semifinals. Just as last year, FC Dallas held home-field advantage, but were defeated on penalty kicks after being held to a 2-2 draw by a 10-man Rapids in the second leg. "They remember what happened and weren't very happy about it. It will definitely add an extra edge to the series," said Colin Clarke. "You never get over those. It's always in your mind. We felt we were the better team last year and deserved to get through, but it didn't happen. We've got to put that right. The good thing is that we have got an opportunity to put it right." ...The Hoops feel they are a better team a year later."I've said it since day one -- this team is a stronger squad and we have more depth," Simo Valakari said. "We have been together one more year and that has helped us with the team concept. We play better with one another because we know everyone better. It's a different team this year." ... There will likely be no changes to the 10 field players for Saturday's first leg, which means Abe Thompson will partner Carlos Ruiz in attack and Kenny Cooper will play a wide midfield role. "Kenny (Cooper) has had a great year and it's been well-documented. ... For a player to come in his first year back, he's done remarkable," Clarke said. "Abe in the last six or seven games he's played, has made a big difference for our team and to the way we play. It was great for him to get a goal over the weekend (against Los Angeles) and great for his confidence. Big games for some young kids, but I think they'll be able to cope with it." ... The only question could be in goal, where Dario Sala returned to full training after missing the final four games of the regular season to a calf injury. Shaka Hislop has been in goal as the Hoops have conceded 10 goals in that stretch.

FSC/FSE

KU BAND

AMC 5, Tr. 8A

Uplink: 14212.5(V)

Downlink: 11912.5(H)

Symbol Rate: 6.1113

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Sunday, October 22, 2006

CHICAGO FIRE v NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION -- ABC

Toyota Park, Bridgeview, Ill - 1 p.m.

Complete series guide: http://www.mlsnet.com/pdf/mls/2006/playoffs/NEvCHIecsf.pdf

REFEREE: Tim Weyland.

SAR (bench): Emiliano Monje; JAR (opposite): Paul Scott;

4th: Terry Vaughn

INJURY REPORT:

CHICAGO FIRE - OUT: FW Chad Barrett (R fractured fifth metatarsal), MF Craig Capano (L knee derangement), DF Jeff Curtin (R adductor strain), DF Jared Montz (L adductor strain), MF Logan Pause (R meniscus surgery), MF John Thorrington (R hamstring strain)

NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION - OUT: DF Marshall Leonard (L Achilles tendon repair); PROBABLE: FW Pat Noonan (R sports hernia); MF Shalrie Joseph (R hand); FW Taylor Twellman (L hernia/hip)

SUSPENDED: none

WARNINGS: none

LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: NE 12 wins, 44 GF; CHI 10 wins, 37 GF; 6 ties

2006 HEAD-TO-HEAD: NE 1 wins, 6 GF; CHI 2 wins, 7 GF; 1 ties

AT TOYOTA PARK:

6/11: CHI 3, NE 3 (Jaqua 39, 79; Carr 90 - Twellman 87; Ralston 90; Dorman 90)

7/8: CHI 1, NE 2 (Jaqua 51 - Ralston 23; Dorman 37)

MLS CUP PLAYOFFS: NE 4 wins, 9 GF; CHI 4 wins, 12 GF; 0 ties

FIRE UPDATE: For the fifth time in seven years, the Fire will meet the Revolution in the MLS Cup Playoffs. Three years ago, Chicago knocked out New England in the Eastern Conference Championship at Soldier Field on their way to a third MLS Cup Final, but last year it was the Revolution returning the favor at Gillette Stadium. And the Fire haven't forgotten. "Any time a team ends your season, it leaves a bad taste in your mouth," striker Chris Rolfe said to The Chicago Tribune. "It sat with me for a while during the offseason." ... Like last year, the Fire will likely have to do it in New England -- the Revolution's late run saw them slip past Chicago into second place in the East. "I'm looking forward to going back to their place to get another chance in that same setting -- same atmosphere," Rolfe said. ... Unlike a year ago, this time it will be a two-game series to decide who advances. The Fire feel that could give them an edge -- especially this year, after winning twice in Foxborough in league play. The Revolution won one game in Bridgeview with the second meeting a draw, but prior to the Fire's win at New England on April 30 of this year, their last victory there in all competitions had come Aug. 18, 2002. "I'm not convinced that playing at home first is the worst thing," head coach Dave Sarachan said to the Chicago Sun-Times. "It can be an advantage because you can set the tone for the series." ... The Fire were arguably the hottest team in MLS over the second half, losing just twice from July 22-Sept. 23, until back-to-back losses heading into the season finale. But Sarachan pointed the win against D.C. United in the last game as important. "[It] gives us continued momentum going into [this] week and preparing for New England," Sarachan said. "Winning is still an important component even though this game had no implications as far as playoff positioning. We wanted to finish the season on a high note." ... Sarachan should have a full first-choice squad to choose from, after Diego Gutierrez returned to full training following a hamstring injury.

REVOLUTION UPDATE: There will likely be good news for Revolution coach Steve Nicol as he prepares to name his team for Sunday's opener. Midfielder Shalrie Joseph began training this week after missing the final five games through a hand injury. "It feels good just to be playing again but I am a little out of shape and I think that it will take the next couple of days to get myself back to where I was. ... I need to work this week to try and earn back my spot." ... Joseph will wear a protective brace on his hand. "I've got a lot of protection it right now and it is kind of heavy. ... It definitely is going to hinder me a little bit because I am a very physical player and I just need to be aware of where my hands are at all times," he said. "I'm not going to worry about it but once you get on the field it's going to be a battle." ... In addition, Nicol has seen Pat Noonan return to the field already after sports hernia surgery, and Daniel Hernandez made substitute appearances in the final two games after missing five months following ankle surgery. "We've got a problem. We've only got 11 spots so a couple of players are going to be disappointed. For the first time this season, I can almost say that we have got everybody to choose from," said Nicol. "We are just a wee bit short of that; Noonan is not 100 percent, Danny has been out for a long time and Shalrie is not 100 percent. We're in a decent spot and, hopefully, in the next week or two, we can get everybody at 100 percent. I might have a problem at the moment but I'll certainly have a bigger one then." ... Once again, another late season surge pushed the Revolution into their playoff place. In 2002, the Revs ended the year on a six-game unbeaten run (five wins), going 6-0-1 in 2003, 3-2 in 2004 and 2-1-2 last year. "It's always nice to go in with a little confidence, to be on a roll," said Steve Ralston, whose arrival in New England coincided with the streak. "It feels like the last (five) years since I've been here, we've done this. I don't know what the secret is, but I feel like, late in the season, we've always gone on a run like this."

ABC

KU BAND

AMC 1, Tr. 18 Upper

Uplink: 14369(H)

Downlink: 12069(V)

Symbol Rate: 13.235

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CHIVAS USA v HOUSTON DYNAMO - ESPN2

The Home Depot Center, Carson, Calif. - 4 p.m.

Complete series guide: http://www.mlsnet.com/pdf/mls/2006/playoffs/HOUvCHVwcsf.pdf

REFEREE: Jorge Gonzalez.

SAR (bench): Nate Clement; JAR (opposite): Craig Lowry; 4th: Brian Hall

INJURY REPORT:

CHIVAS USA - OUT: DF Carlos Llamosa (L adductor tear); MF Carlos Borja (R knee MCL tear); MF Mike Muñoz (R ankle surgery); MF John O'Brien (R patella tendonitis); MF Ramón RamÃrez (L knee MCL surgery); PROBABLE: MF Jesse Marsch (concussion); FW Juan Francisco Palencia (R knee MCL sprain)

HOUSTON DYNAMO - OUT: FW Julian Nash (L foot metatarsal fracture); PROBABLE: MF Brian Mullan (R knee MCL sprain)

SUSPENDED: none

WARNINGS: none

LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: CHV 1 win, 5 GF; HOU 1 win, 6 GF; 2 ties

2006 HEAD-TO-HEAD: CHV 1 win, 5 GF; HOU 1 win, 6 GF; 2 ties

AT THE HOME DEPOT CENTER:

6/28: CHV 1, HOU 1 (Marsch 75 - De Rosario 55)

8/26: CHV 3, HOU 2 (Bornstein 8; Razov 45, 57 - De Rosario 28, 67)

MLS CUP PLAYOFFS: first meeting

CHIVAS UPDATE: Chivas USA hopes were given a boost this week when Francisco Palencia returned to full training. Since originally injuring a knee on Aug. 6, Palencia has made just two appearances, spraining the knee again on Sept. 13, his only start over that 11-game stretch. "He's certainly come back faster than anyone imagined. He's worked hard," head coach Bob Bradley said. "We'll see how he feels from it, but it's a good sign." Said Palencia: "Everybody is motivated about the playoffs, but for us it's important to have all the team 100 percent. I'm coming back, and I hope I can help the team get to the final." ... There is concern however for midfielder Jesse Marsch, who suffered a concussion in the season finale against Real Salt Lake. Marsch was held out of training at the start of the week, and hoped to be able to participate by Friday. "It's better to take your time and then go and have to go backwards. If you have to go backwards then you're just losing a lot of time," Marsch said. ... Marsch would likely be tasked with the responsibility of marking Dynamo playmaker Dwayne De Rosario. In his absence, the Chivas central midfield pairing could be rookie Sacha Kljestan and second-year man Francisco Mendoza. "We're still looking at different possibilities," Bradley said. "Those two have worked together before so that's one possibility." ... The other injury concerns involve Ante Razov, Juan Pablo Garcia and Claudio Suarez. Garcia was still feeling pain with his adductor injury so he was kept out of last week's match as a precaution, while Suarez, meanwhile, has tendonitis in his Achilles heel. Both players should be ready to go by Saturday, Bradley said. Razov played 78 minutes after missing two games with hip and groin issues. "I thought he was moving well. A couple of times he had opportunities to let shots fly and he seemed to be striking it well. Those are all good signs," Bradley said.

DYNAMO UPDATE: While Dynamo and Chivas USA ended the year with nearly identical records, a late Houston surge kept the club with the home-field advantage. Chivas USA narrowed the gap over the second half of the year -- they lost just twice from June 18 to Sept. 30 -- but Dynamo went undefeated over their final six games to hold onto second in the West. "Any team can beat any team in this league any day," Dynamo coach Dominic Kinnear said. "I look at the team that we have and feel very confident with the way we're stepping in, but obviously, you have to respect Chivas and the weapons they have in Garcia and (forward Ante) Razov and Bornstein." ... Nearly the entire Dynamo roster was with the San Jose Earthquakes a year ago, who went out of the playoffs in a 4-2 loss on aggregate to Los Angeles in the conference semifinals after winning the Supporters' Shield. "The playoffs are like a whole new season," Dynamo defender Kelly Gray told the Houston Chronicle. "It doesn't matter who was good throughout the year. It's whoever's good on that day. It's about who comes with the attitude, who comes wanting to win." ... Though the teams played to a goalless draw in their last meeting, the first three games were all open affairs. "We've had pretty interesting games with them. It's been pretty exciting," Houston forward Alejandro Moreno said. "They like to attack, and so do we. We just have to go there and get a good result so we can finish it when we come back here." ... Dynamo's only real injury concern is midfielder Brian Mullan, who is suffering from a medial collateral ligament sprain in his right knee but should be available for the first leg. ... Dynamo's output in the final game was their biggest since July 15, when they scored three goals in back-to back games (including against Chivas). "I think it's a good matchup for us. I think it's a team that likes to play soccer as opposed to a couple other teams in our division that like to delay the game a little bit," Craig Waibel said. "I think we've played a little better throughout the year."

ESPN2

VYVX Conf #2166446N2

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