GALAXY TONIGHT
Opponent--New York/New Jersey MetroStars.
Site--Rose Bowl.
Time--8.
TV--ESPN2.
Radio--KTNQ (1020).
Records--Galaxy 10-15, MetroStars 9-15.
Record vs. MetroStars--1-1.
Galaxy update--The good news for Los Angeles is that midfielder Mauricio Cienfuegos and striker Welton will be back after sitting out the 2-0 loss to the Columbus Crew because of rib and ankle injuries, respectively. The not-so-good news is that forward Cobi Jones and defender Robin Fraser will sit out tonight’s match and Sunday afternoon’s game against the Tampa Bay Mutiny because they are on World Cup duty for the United States, which plays Costa Rica in Portland on Sunday. The Galaxy is only two points ahead of the San Jose Clash for the final playoff berth from the Western Conference with the regular season in its final month. “We now have seven games left, of which five are at home,” interim Coach Octavio Zambrano said Saturday after the loss in Columbus. “They are all must-win games now; we can’t drop any more like this one.” Welton leads the Galaxy in scoring with nine goals and two assists.
MetroStar update--The road has not been kind to Coach Carlos Alberto Parreira’s team, which is 1-10 away from Giants Stadium in MLS play. The MetroStars have never won at the Rose Bowl and are missing two key players. Defensive midfielder Mike Sorber and attacking midfielder Tab Ramos are with the U.S. national team in Portland. Tonight’s game might be the final chance Southern California fans have to see the MetroStars’ two veteran foreign players--Italy’s Roberto Donadoni and Brazil’s Branco. Giovanni Savarese is tied for seventh in the league with 12 goals and one assist.
