Midweek Previews: MLS Week 25

by user The Manly Ferry

(NOTE: The guys who schedule Major League Soccer's games are clearly sadists; I can barely keep up.)

I’ve got some minor adjustments to this week’s first round of match previews. First, I’m shrinking and tinkering with the “info box.” Rather than list every injury, no matter its status, I’m going to list only those that strike me as significant - with the caveat that I could miss a big one through simple ignorance. The approach to reporting records will be generally the same - e.g. I’ll show overall record, the relevant record, either home or away, for the circumstances, as well as each team’s “form” since, to pick a number, any number, August 12. What I’m going to add is a record of the two teams’ head-to-head records in 2006.

For those wanting more concrete information, though, it seems wise to link to Major League Soccer’s (MLS) latest injury report (here - dammit, it’s not current), to post the standings for all to see, and I’m still going to embed MLS’s in-house previews into the match-up for each game.

With editorial business out of the way, it’s time to turn to the matches themselves - and there are some big ones tonight: two intra-conference match-ups, topped off by one inter-conference tilt with big-ish implications for both teams. Whatever happens, the stretch-run lays ahead - and it’s getting shorter. To the match-ups:

New England Revolution v. DC United

INFO BOX

New England: Overall, 8-8-10; Home, 6-3-3; Form, TLLWLW

Injuries/Suspensions: OUT: Pat Noonan; PROBABLE: Shalrie Joseph (ankle)

DC United: Overall, 14-3-9; Away, 6-2-5; Form, TTWLTWLT

Injuries/Suspensions: DOUBTFUL, Alecko Eskandarian

Season Series: 6/3, 1-0 to DC @ DC; 6/17, 1-1 @ NE

Mmm...tough call. If one follows the pattern of DC’s recent record, signs point to a win (complete the sequence: WLTWLT....W, right?). Against that, MLS’s preview talks about New England having won two of their last three; not mentioned in MLS’s typically unstintingly positive press release is the identity of the opposition in each case - the Columbus Crew and Red Bull New York, two unmistakable league lightweights. Moving to more concrete measures, while both teams have struggled with goals lately (report on New England’s woes), DC has had the better of the season series. Faith in my New England Revolution extends only so far - in this case, only so far as pegging a goalless draw as their best likely outcome. But, with DC’s line-up near full-strength, look for their edge to hold tonight. Prediction: DC UNITED WINS - and, if they don’t, look out.

FC Dallas v. Chivas USA

INFO BOX

FC Dallas: Overall, 14-8-4; Home, 10-2-1; Form, LLLLWWT

Injuries/Suspension: OUT, Roberto Mina, Arturo Alvarez

Chivas USA: Overall, 8-7-11; Away, 2-5-5; Form, WTWLT

Injuries/Suspension: I’ll be honest: apart from Ramon Ramirez, I don’t know the injured players all that well.

Season Series: 6/11, 2-1 to FCD @ Dallas; 7/1, 3-0 to Chivas @ Chivas; 9/9, 1-1 @ Chivas

MLS’s in-house preview contains a really interesting statistics regarding Chivas USA: they’ve drawn 10 of their last 15 games - and it looks like they passed the bug onto Dallas, who rarely ties, last weekend. Based on the fact Dallas has quietly pulled together the league’s best home record, look for that to change tonight. This game raises some funny issues around pre-conceptions: for instance, I had long assumed Dallas had issues in defense, but the standings reveal they’ve got the second-lowest goals against average after DC United; they also show that Chivas has the higher-scoring offense (though Dallas are hardly slouches). Chivas has the longer injury list, but, for all that, their line-up looks fairly stable; meanwhile, Dallas also enjoys something close to their best. Add to that a chance for Dallas to clinch a spot in playoffs with a win and that points me to... Prediction: FC DALLAS WINS - and it should be a good game to boot.

Colorado Rapids v. Chicago Fire

INFO BOX

Colorado Rapids: Overall, 10-11-5; Home, 8-3-3; Form, WTLLWL

Injuries/Suspension: SUSPENDED, Dan Gargan; PROBABLE, Eric Denton

Chicago Fire: Overall, 10-8-8; Away, 4-5-4; Form, LWWWWWTWWW

Injuries/Suspension: OUT, Chad Barrett, Ivan Guerrero; QUESTIONABLE, Zach Thornton; SUSPENDED, Calen Carr

Season Series: 8/26, 1-0 to Chicago @ Chicago

This makes for a highly intriguing match-up, but one with greater meaning by far for the hosts. While Chicago sits comfortably inside (9 points) the playoff tent and only continues to make themselves more at home inside, Colorado slips ever closer to the outside; I, for one, won’t be the least surprised if they slip out entirely. Whatever happens in the grand scheme, the simple presence of Colorado in any game requires throwing out considerations like form and talent; they’re that unpredictable. Perhaps their growing need for a win will spur Colorado to bigger things; whatever those things be, one could hope for something more than their typical 1-0 win . The return of league assists co-leader Terry Cooke could help a bit in that regard. If Chicago’s going to drop a game, this one seems likely as any. Between the altitude in Denver, fatigue (holy crap! How many games can you squeeze into a month?!), and the simple fact they can drop the points, I can’t see them bringing the due intensity. Missing Ivan Guerrero stings a bit. Prediction: DRAW - goalless; either that or a Colorado win; but I’m feeling the draw.

Date

Wed 09/13/06, 11:44 am EST