GALAXY TODAY

Opponent--New York/New Jersey MetroStars.

Site--Giants Stadium.

Time--Noon PDT.

TV--Channel 34.

Radio--KTNQ (1020).

Records--Galaxy 1-5; MetroStars 2-4.

Record vs. MetroStars (1996)--3-1.

Galaxy update--If it is any consolation to a team in the Western Conference cellar, Washington D.C. United got off to just as horrid a start last season and ended up winning the Major League Soccer championship. The Galaxy’s problem has to do with goals--it can’t seem to score any. Friday night’s 2-0 shutout loss to United at RFK Stadium was the second time in six games the Galaxy has been blanked in ’97. The team has scored only six goals in all. After six games last season, it had scored 13. Eduardo Hurtado returns to the starting lineup today and perhaps will recall that he scored the third hat trick in MLS history last June 9 in a 4-0 victory over the MetroStars at Giants Stadium. Midfield playmakers Mauricio Cienfuegos (World Cup duty with El Salvador) and Chris Armas (suspended, unless the league revokes his red card from Friday night’s game) will both be sidelined, however. So will the injured Cobi Jones.

MetroStar update--Coach Carlos Alberto Parreira managed to win a World Cup in the United States when he steered Brazil to its 1994 victory. So far, however, he has found winning in the MLS a tougher proposition. The MetroStars, still without the injured Tab Ramos, have struggled. One reason is that former World Cup standout Roberto Donadoni of Italy finds himself surrounded by a cast on unknowns. That is no slight on goalkeeper Tony Meola, whose once-shaky game has improved significantly this season. Nor is it meant to disparage diminutive Colombian striker Anthony De Avila. At 5 feet 3, he has moves that could turn the Galaxy defense inside out.