Every point big for Rapids

FRISCO, Texas -- A year ago, the Colorado Rapids missed the MLS playoffs by a single point. The point the Rapids end up needing this year might have been secured Saturday when they came back to claim a 2-2 draw with FC Dallas at Pizza Hut Park.

Herculez Gomez gave the Rapids an early 1-0 edge in the fifth minute. That lead held until the 49th when FCD's Kenny Cooper converted a penalty kick for the equalizer. The Hoops made it 2-1 when Juan Toja scored in the 64th but Colorado drew even again just three minutes later when Conor Casey headed one home for the final scoreline.

After the game, Rapids head coach Fernando Clavijo was pleased with the resiliency that his side showed in the draw.

"We never gave up," he said. "We played hard and that was a soft penalty, a very soft penalty. I think Dallas was surprised by it. I'm not going to say it wasn't or not but it was very soft. I'm disappointed but very happy with the way that we fought to get a point back. We have to make sure that we keep adding points."

For Colorado captain and defender Pablo Mastroeni, at least in his eyes, it was a match that never really developed any sort of flow.

"It was a real strange game," Mastroeni said. "It was hard to get good possession and to gain a good rhythm in the game. Dallas had a good rhythm going in the last 10 minutes of the game, were given a fortuitous PK and they went with that."

However, like his coach, Mastroeni was encouraged by the character his team showed in fighting its way to a draw.

"We were pretty resilient to get that second goal," he said. "I don't think we're excited about this point but we realize that a point on the road can make the difference between making the playoffs at the end. Last year, we were snubbed by a point and this year, we have a really strong mindset of bearing down and trying to get points on the road and making sure we take care of the stuff at home. Nobody here is ecstatic or excited, but everyone is relieved that we at least came in and got a point here."

Colorado defender Ugo Ihemelu agreed that the draw never really produced much of anything resembling flow.

"It was tough," he said. "We didn't really get going possession wise. For us, the one thing is that we're on the road and had a few highs. We're just trying to maintain that momentum. Our job today was to if we could get the win, get the win. But if we couldn't, we wanted to get out of here with at least one point and we did that."

Saturday's match was especially interesting for Ihemelu and teammate Colin Clark because both played for current FCD head coach Schellas Hyndman while they were collegians at SMU.

"It was interesting," Ihemelu said. "That's my old coach and I definitely want to perform well when I come home and play against my old coach, someone that I respect. He brought me to where I am today. It was kind of weird. I want to beat him but at the same time, I want him to do well. We came out with the tie but I would rather take the win because I'm a competitor. It was a good game, well fought and I think he's going to take his team to where it wants to go."

Both FCD goals came because of miscues by Rapids goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul but that doesn't mean that Clavijo has lost faith in his starter between the posts.

"He has saved our life in many games but he's human and is going to make mistakes," Clavijo said. "It's not about Bouna (Coundoul), it's about us. I just told him that he's saved our bacon many times. We're going to make mistakes but it's about what we do after we make mistakes that matters. The team reacted well. There is nothing we can do. This is a game of mistakes. Bouna has been very solid through the years for us. I thought it was weak decision-making (on the two goals) but then again, hopefully, we learn from them."

Mastroeni remains encouraged by a team that he sees as getting stronger as the season wears on and one that is ahead of where they were last year when the Rapids narrowly missed qualifying for the playoffs.

"There's been a change in mindset in the last month where we have come together as a team," he said. "We went to San Jose after they took it to us earlier in the season at our home and got a point there. Historically speaking, this is a tough place to play but I think we were resilient. Not only is the point important but we're also building character at the right time of the season. It feels good to come into places and go away with a point."


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Davis: All-Star matchups

Matthew Etherington's resume (or "CV" in the continental parlance) doesn't look quite as polished as David Beckham's. Beckham's path to glory came via stops at world soccer heavyweights Manchester United and Real Madrid. By comparison, West Ham's left winger arrived at the Boleyn Ground via Peterborough, Bradford City and then EPL middleweight Tottenham.

(Etherington did have a one-week trial at Man U. back during the 1998-99 campaign, where he earned lavish praise from none other than Sir Alex Ferguson -- but didn't earn an invitation to stay on.)

But there they will be under the bright BMO lights on Thursday, lining up on opposite sides of the midfield stripe before kickoff on the grounds inside Toronto's Exhibition Place. It's but one of the intriguing matchups to monitor as Major League Soccer's All-Stars target a fifth consecutive win in the showcase series against foreign opposition.NEWS • Blanco plays the hero for MLS
• All-Stars demonstrate strength of MLS
• Stars gush over All-Star experience
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• All-Star notebook: Long day's end
• Hammers pleased with performance
• Blanco leads MLS past West Ham
• Garber's State of the League address
• All-Stars aim to defeat West Ham
• All-Star first for MLS luminaries
• De Rosario shines in spotlight
• West Ham visits land of opportunity
• MLS announces All-Star First XI
• MLS All-Stars to face West Ham
ANALYSIS • Davis: All-Star Game earns high marks
• Davis: All-Star matchups
• A look at West Ham United roster
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SIGHTS & SOUNDS
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Awards presentation: 350K
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All-Star Highlights, part 1: Photos
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(The matchups are tentative, as neither West Ham manager Alan Curbishley nor MLS boss Steve Nicol is obligated to share their intentions -- which means both coaches will be in it to win it Thursday.)

Beckham vs. Etherington:

Even if he's far less decorated, Etherington can be a difference maker. He has occasionally turned those dashes up and down the wing into game-turning performances, as when he hit for a hat trick against Wimbledon back in the stretch run of his sterling 2003-04 season.

The former England youth international, who sometimes struggles to fend off Luis Boa Morte's challenges for the starting spot, had three goals in 15 appearances during last year's injury-blighted campaign at West Ham.

Beckham, meanwhile, will have to focus a little harder to lift those seeing-eyed deliveries off the BMO FieldTurf. Beckham has improved his ability to cope with artificial surfaces since last year. Still, he never looked 100 percent comfortable last week as the Galaxy battled the New York Red Bulls on the carpet at Giants Stadium. The manner in which Beckham strikes free kicks, corner kicks and long deliveries from the run of play requires that plenty of the ball's surface to be available; some artificial turf surfaces don't provide quite enough, although BMO's FieldTurf plays better than most.

Craig Bellamy vs. Jimmy Conrad:

Conrad has battled some of the game's best while wearing a U.S. national team shirt. He was summoned to hold off Italian marksmen Luca Toni and Francesco Totti back when things looked dire for the United States in that memorable, heroic World Cup night in Kaiserslautern.

So he won't be intimidated by the combustible Bellamy, but he will have plenty to cope with. The powerful striker from Wales combines pace and a fiercely combative spirit. Conrad is likely to partner with either Jim Brennan or Pablo Mastroeni if Nicol opts for a four-man back line.

Bellamy is back from an injury-shorted season. He seems likely to partner with young striker Dean Ashton, who made his England debut last spring against Trinidad & Tobago. Ashton scored 11 times in 24 appearances last year for West Ham in a season that was also shortened by injury.

There might not be a lot of rest for the MLS defenders; Nicol brought only four of them, although Pablo Mastroeni can (and probably will at some point) play in the back, as he has lately for Fernando Clavijo at Colorado.

Shalrie Joseph vs. Mark Noble:

Whatever formation Nicol chooses (his preferred 3-5-2 or a 4-4-2 that might match up better with the Hammer), you can bet that Shalrie Joseph will man the holding role in midfield.

There, the New England Revolution heart and soul will likely do battle with Mark Noble, a home-grown West Ham talent. Like Joseph, he's known for all-out effort, getting the job done through an indomitable combination of skill, grit and stamina. Tackling hard and chasing harder, Noble immediately endeared himself to Hammers fans during his West Ham debut back in 2005, as he bravely passed the test against combative Tottenham center midfielder Edgar Davids.

Juan Toja vs. Julien Faubert:

There's a lot going on here. Faubert made just four starts last year after a celebrated $11 million move from France's Bordeaux in the summer of 2007. Now, he's getting a chance to establish a toehold in the midfield at Upton Park ahead of more heralded types who are coming back from injury, well-known fellows such as Kieron Dyer and Freddie Ljungberg.

He's likely to be on the right Thursday, where he'll probably oppose Toja, who may soon join a short list of MLS players who capped their careers here during an All-Star Game. A move to Steaua Bucharest in Romania could be ahead for the long-haired Colombian, who highlighted his year and a half with FC Dallas at last year's All-Star happening.

Faubert will be supported along the right by West Ham fullback and captain Lucas Neill, the veteran Australian international in his third season at Upton Park.

So, what will he give Thursday? Will Faubert begin digging in, finding the extra something and holding his ground? Will Toja be distracted by the impending move to Eastern Europe? If Toja performs anything like last year, as he scored one of two goals against Celtic, Faubert will have his hands full.

Landon Donovan vs. Anton Ferdinand:

The "other" Ferdinand, Anton, now 23, is beginning to emerge from his brother Rio's long shadow. The younger Ferdinand may never quite escape the comparisons to his older brother, but now in his sixth season at Boleyn Ground, he's developed into a steady presence in the center of West Ham's defense. He'll likely partner on Thursday with Calum Davenport, who moved across London from Tottenham in January of 2007.

They'll both have to be tip-top to cope with Donovan, who seems to enjoy these opportunities to combine his pace with a new variety of playmaker. Donovan will most likely take up a second striker position, just as he does for Los Angeles. From there, he'll look to get balls from Christian Gomez or Cuauhtemoc Blanco in the attacking midfield position. Plus, any time Beckham gets control along the right, his first option will often be to find Donovan streaking toward goal or into the corner.

Kenny Cooper vs. Robert Green:

Where will the West Ham United goalkeeper's mind be? Last year's player of the year at Upton Park is having a tiff with management, upset over compensation. He said so publicly last week, eliciting a quick, sharp and equally public retort from West Ham officials.

So, Cooper will look to exploit any gaps in concentration from the young English 'keeper. Combined with Donovan, the young pair of U.S. attackers has 21 goals in 31 matches this year.


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Quakes stay fit, rout Honduras

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- When you're scheduled to play an international friendly in the middle of the MLS regular season, the game plan is pretty simple.

"We wanted to score some goals and get a victory, and not have any injuries," San Jose Earthquakes head coach Frank Yallop said after watching his club do just that, beating the Honduras Olympic team 4-0 Tuesday night at Buck Shaw Stadium.

Ned Grabavoy, Shea Salinas, Jovan Kirovski and Kei Kamara all got on the scoreboard for San Jose, who enjoyed its best offensive output since the team's rebirth this season.

"It's always good to score, but obviously it's a friendly, and (Honduras) wasn't the strongest team that we've faced this year," Yallop said. "But it's never easy finding the back of the net, and it was nice to have four different scorers. It might give us some confidence to feel a little more comfortable in front of goal."

The Earthquakes dominated the match from the start, scoring twice in each half while shutting down the Honduran attack.

"I think we played with a bit of confidence for a change. It's a friendly, but it shows that we can play decent football," Yallop said. "We've been a little bit edgy on everything lately, so it was nice to see (the Earthquakes) just go out there and play and perform."

The exhibition allowed the Earthquakes to field several players who've seen limited action so far this season, and also gave some who've been struggling a chance to shine.

"I thought Ned Grabavoy had a good game in the middle of the field," Yallop said. "He was playing free and moved the ball well. Ramiro (Corrales) played well the first half, and Shea (Salinas) had some moments. It was good to see Jovan (Kirovski) get his first or second 90 minutes in, too. There were some good performances out there."

Before the game, the Earthquakes introduced the just-signed Darren Huckerby and Francisco Lima to the press. They did not dress for the game, but should be ready, along with the newly acquired Scott Sealy, to see action when San Jose travels to Canada on Saturday to face Toronto FC.

"Maybe the players we've signed have moved some people a little bit, so that's good," Yallop said. "Competition for a place is always good on any team. And (these signings) are going to put some people under pressure, which is good.

(Huckerby, Lima, and Sealy) will all hopefully be available Saturday," Yallop said. "Like Darren (Huckerby) said, he's only trained once in two months, so it'd be a little tough for him to be thrown out there, but hopefully he can be on the bench. I don't want to force him into anything he's not quite comfortable with. The same with (Francisco) Lima. We'll see how he feels. Scott Sealy will probably be available, because he's played in MLS and he's fit and raring to go. but they might all get some time."

After traveling to Toronto Saturday, the Earthquakes finish out the season with nine home games in their remaining 13 matches as they attempt to climb back into the playoff picture after beginning the year with a 3-9-4 record. The events of Tuesday might just be a good start.


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Razov brings Chivas closer to semis

CARSON, Calif. -- Ante Razov scored in the 73rd minute as Chivas USA beat Santos Laguna 1-0 at The Home Depot Center on Wednesday for their first victory in SuperLiga 2008.

However, Chivas USA still might need a victory against the New England Revolution on Sunday to secure a spot in the second round. Their passage might also depend on the result of the other Group B game between Pachuca and Santos, also on Sunday.

The reigning Mexican league champions are also not eliminated but would need a convincing victory against Pachuca and a Revolution win against Chivas USA if they are to advance to the semifinals.

Chivas USA wasted no time in putting their latest acquisition on the field. Roberto Nurse officially joined the club on Tuesday and received the paperwork necessary to play earlier Wednesday. Nurse, a native of Mexico City, started as essentially the lone striker.

In total, Chivas USA coach Preki made five changes to the starting lineup from Sunday. Dan Kennedy replaced Lance Parker in goal as Kennedy was a scratch against Pachuca due to injury. Shavar Thomas and Jim Curtin started in central defense while Kraig Chiles replaced Jesse Marsch in central midfield.

Santos, meanwhile, made just two changes to the squad that started in the 1-0 loss to New England: Christian Benitez replaced Oribe Peralta up front while former Chivas USA midfielder Johnnie Garcia replaced Juan Pablo Rodriguez, who was sent off against the Revolution.

Jonathan Bornstein had Chivas USA's first look at goal but sent a 20-yard attempt well over the crossbar. Minutes later, Nurse won a corner kick after a blazing run inside the Santos penalty area. Chiles sent the ball well over his teammates' heads, though.

Christian Benitez had an open goal in front of him in the 12th minute but could not open the scoring. Benitez took the ball after a pass from the back cleared Chivas USA's defense. Benitez walked into the penalty area, forced Kennedy to dive and skirted around the fallen 'keeper. Benitez ripped a shot but saw it carom off the crossbar and to Shavar Thomas.

Matias Vuoso, meanwhile, tested Kennedy from close range in the 26th minute but Kennedy was in good position to stop Vuoso, who fired a shot from 10 yards out on the right side.

Bornstein, meanwhile, tried his luck twice more on Santos goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez but sent one shot over the crossbar and the other hopelessly wide.

Kennedy turned away Edgar Castillo in the 40th minute as the U.S.-born left back fired a shot on goal that Kennedy did well to turn away.

The first half, though, was slowed down by several rough challenges as players from either side tried to slow down the speedy opposition. Paulo Nagamura was booked after a challenge on Fernando Arce while Francisco Torres saw yellow for taking out Nagamura with a rough slide tackle minutes later.

Chivas USA made a pair of moves at halftime as Preki took out Nurse and Atiba Harris in favor of Razov and Jesse Marsch. The MLS Originals each were subbed out midway through the second half on Sunday and were given just 45 minutes on Wednesday in an apparent effort to manage their respective fitness levels.

Jorge Flores, meanwhile, entered the match in the 62nd minute in place of Chiles. Flores picked up a slight ankle injury that kept him from dressing for the Galaxy match a week ago. Flores was an unused substitute against Pachuca but received the chance to play on Wednesday as his ankle was likely fit enough to last at least a half hour.

Chivas USA finally broke through in the 73rd minute. Kljestan picked up a bad clearance attempt by a Santos defender, settled the ball and sent a cross to the front of the goal. Razov hit a perfect glancing header past Sanchez and inside the left-hand post.

For Razov, the goal was his fifth all-time in international club competitions. Razov scored three goals as a member of the Chicago Fire in the CONCACAF Champions' Cup and accounted for Chivas USA's lone goal on Sunday.

Kennedy turned Vuoso away in the 83rd minute with a diving effort. Vuoso fired a shot on goal from just inside the penalty area but Kennedy extended and parried the ball away.

Santos had a late equalizer called back due to an offside call.


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Woodwork unkind as Fire, RSL draw

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- The woodwork was unkind for both teams, but the Chicago Fire and Real Salt Lake ended up in a scoreless draw on Saturday night at Toyota Park. The draw was good enough to keep the Fire in third place in the Eastern Conference, while RSL maintained its hold on the top spot in the West.

Chicago did not waste any time applying pressure. Chad Barrett took the first shot of the match in the fifth minute. Justin Mapp sent a corner kick into the box one minute later. Cuauhtemoc Blanco headed it toward goal while inside the box. The ball deflected off a defender and back into play.

In the 10th minute Real Salt Lake had their best opportunity of the match. Javier Morales bent a corner kick into the box and Yura Movsisyan headed it toward goal. The ball bounced off the right side of the crossbar and back on to the ground, where Fire goalkeeper Jon Busch smothered the ball for the save.

In the 33rd minute things opened up for the Fire. Chris Rolfe intercepted a back pass and went in on RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando one-on-one. Rimando slipped and Rolfe rounded the fallen goalkeeper, but he sent a long ball into the side netting.

In the 41st minute Chicago had another opportunity. Rolfe slid a through ball to Barrett, who held off defender Jamison Olave and took a quick, low shot. It beat Rimando, but the ball bounced off the right post and back into play. Rolfe tried to get there, but was already too far to the left and took an awkward fall.

At the start of the second half, RSL sent on forward Robbie Findley for Tino Nunez. In the 47nd minute, Findley captured a poor clearance at the top of the box and had Busch alone in front of him. His shot bounced off Busch and then glanced off the left post.

Blanco sent a perfect ball to Justin Mapp in the 67th minute. Mapp drilled it at the net, with the ball deflecting out for a Fire corner kick. Then two minutes later Mapp sent a shot into Rimando's arms.

The game took a strange turn in the 75th minute, when Kovalenko tackled Blanco and received a yellow card. Blanco attempted a freekick from the right side of the box to no avail. But before the play took place, referee Ricardo Salazar issued a red card to Fire defender C.J. Brown, who was warming up with the substitute players.

Chicago had another opportunity in the 87th minute. Blanco found substitute Patrick Nyarko, who forwarded the ball to a streaking Mapp. Mapp blasted the ball at the goal, but Rimando jumped into the air and deflected the ball out of play, the second of two saves the RSL goalkeeper was credited with on the night.

For each team, it was the fourth time in the last six games they were held scoreless. The Fire remain the stingiest team defensively in the league, while RSL is now 1-6-1 on the road on the season.


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D.C. eager to shake SuperLiga funk

WASHINGTON -- D.C. United's reserve-laden side were soundly beaten by Houston Dynamo in their SuperLiga finale on Saturday night, handing United their third consecutive home defeat in the tournament and piling more stress on an injury-ravaged club facing a second meeting with the Orange just three days later.

But the Black-and-Red are approaching Tuesday's rescheduled league match as an opportunity for a fresh start, hopeful that their sudden SuperLiga funk disappears as they turn towards their first MLS contest in more than three weeks.

"We've just got to get back to the league and try to start winning again," said defender Marc Burch after Saturday's setback. "It's tough to take three losses but we'll learn, we'll move on. We're in a good place in the league right now and if we beat them on Tuesday, now that's the most important game."

With several starters recovering from significant injuries and others looking worn down by the daily grind, this meeting with the defending MLS Cup champs arrives at a less-than-ideal time for D.C. But squad can look forward to a break after Tuesday, with the All-Star Game -- which, for the first time ever, will have no United representation -- presenting nearly two weeks off from match play.

"You can see a lag. You can definitely see some tired legs, and you can sense where we need to regroup," said Bryan Namoff. "I think this is definitely going to be a time where the bench is going to need to give us some added depth in the latter half of the season."

Saturday's match saw head coach Tom Soehn practically empty that bench, starting three rookies and giving a fourth, Mike Zaher, his first-team debut. The resulting 3-1 loss offered several hard lessons for those youngsters -- most notably, the consequences of lax set-piece marking at the top level -- but Namoff saw reasons to be encouraged as his team looks to reverse the result some 72 hours later.

"I think we can take some lessons learned on some marking situations, but they didn't really create a lot of chances," said the veteran right back. "I didn't think they were that dangerous. Defensively we were pretty sound, and we were a lot tighter than the last couple of games. So there's definitely some positives to take away from this game, leading up to Tuesday."

Perhaps the greater challenge for D.C. lies at the attacking end. Though their statistical dominance has lagged this season, the Orange boast one of the league's sturdiest back lines and United have scored just five goals in six total meetings with Dynamo since the organization's 2005 relocation from San Jose.

Reflecting its South American components, the Black-and-Red attack is possession-based and typically lets the ball do the work -- but a new tack might be required if Dynamo's formidable but sometimes ponderous defense is to be breached. With Marcelo Gallardo's continued absence likely forcing Soehn to field striker Jaime Moreno in a playmaking role, the speed of in-form frontrunner Francis Doe could become more of an option.

"They're good. But I think we need to maybe change it up a little bit and look for a couple balls in behind. They're big, physical players -- I don't think they're the fastest players," said D.C. midfielder Clyde Simms. "I think just to vary it up a little bit, some checking in and if one [striker] checks in the other go in behind, and hit a couple balls over top. Ultimately if we get those over top every now and then, I think it'll open up things in the middle."

Doe seems to have settled into life in the nation's capital after his early days with United were interrupted by international duty with Liberia, including a lost passport incident that delayed his return to D.C. after World Cup qualifiers last month. Beyond scoring in three of United's last four matches, his athleticism gives the front line a different look when deployed alongside Luciano Emilio's instinctive finishing skills.

"When I first came here, I didn't understand the guys, the way they played," said Doe on Saturday. "But it was my first time. In training and in games, I'm understanding the way they're playing and coach is telling me where to be: get into space, holding the ball. I think it's going better for me."

His entire team will hope for the same improvement as they eagerly return to league play.


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Inexperience, fatigue catch up to D.C.

WASHINGTON -- D.C. United can point to a host of extenuating circumstances surrounding their 3-1 SuperLiga loss to Houston Dynamo at RFK Stadium on Saturday night: a nasty injury bug, the urgent need to rest tired regulars like Jaime Moreno and the long odds on the situation that had to transpire for them to advance into the tournament's knockout rounds.

Yet in the end, the Black-and-Red failed to mind a fundamental tenet of the game and were duly punished by the defending MLS Cup champions. United's poor man-marking on two first-half set pieces allowed Houston dead-ball specialist Brad Davis to set up teammates Ricardo Clark and Bobby Boswell for close-range headers, pushing United into an early -- and in the end, insurmountable -- hole for the third consecutive match.

"It's just personal responsibility, you know? If you've got a man, don't let him score," said D.C. defender Marc Burch. "But I thought we played good soccer, and for most of the game I thought we played pretty good defense. So it was just a couple of breakdowns."

Having blasted his team for their halfheartedness in Tuesday's underwhelming 3-2 loss to Atlante, a pensive Tom Soehn was more measured in his evaluation of United's latest setback.

"I think as far as injecting some new guys, we had to look into the future and see how important it was to get some guys rest," said the D.C. head coach. "On the competitive side, that part was better. And we talked about their danger on set pieces -- I thought we controlled a lot of the first half and gave away two set pieces [where] we just let our marks go. We didn't compete on those, so that's pretty discouraging."

While Ryan Cordeiro's inexperience was perhaps to blame for allowing Clark to beat him to Davis' 12th-minute corner kick, it was surely fatigue that turned Devon McTavish's feet to lead as he tracked former teammate Bobby Boswell on a right-wing free kick 16 minutes later, and at the moment those are the twin plagues stalking the Black-and-Red. The rigors of a crowded schedule gave Soehn little choice but to call on youngsters and reserves, especially with a rescheduled league match against Dynamo just 72 hours away.

"It's been taxing," said the second-year boss. "We've been in a rough stretch and through the first part of the season and this last part, we've had a lot of injuries. So a lot of guys are putting in a lot of minutes and over the long haul, it wears you down. So we had to evaluate the approach to this game and hopefully we got some guys some needed rest [for] when we get back to work on Tuesday. That's a very important game for us."

Soehn had every reason to envy the depth available to his Dynamo counterpart. Dominic Kinnear was able to field a strong first XI and still bring stalwarts like Stuart Holden and Brian Ching off the bench to secure the result in the second half, when the midsummer mugginess further drained United's tired legs and Soehn pulled off Fred, Clyde Simms and Luciano Emilio.

"Yeah, you know, you take some of the guys who've logged the majority of the minutes out of the game, and it's tough," said Bryan Namoff. "You get guys who, some are inexperienced and haven't added too much to the team as of yet. It's just a difficult situation all around, and you add the heat and humidity into a season where leading up to this month, there's been a lot of added games."

But even as United look to strike back with a stronger lineup and more thorough performance in Tuesday's game, a makeup of the June 4 clash at RFK that was washed out by lightning and torrential rain, the same fundamentals will have to be addressed.

"Going into tonight, we knew it was a long shot, but still a good possibility," said Clyde Simms, referring to his team's faint hopes in SuperLiga, "and we wanted to at least put some fear into their eyes for Tuesday, which is a big game for us. We know they're a team that survives on set pieces, and we'll have to do something to fix that before Tuesday."


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