Questionable Goal Could Be the Difference
The Galaxy’s Carlos Ruiz has been in a season-long battle with New England’s Taylor Twellman for Major League Soccer’s scoring title, a feat that could go a long way toward deciding the league’s most valuable player. And before the final weekend of the regular season, Twellman (49 points on 22 goals and five assists in 27 games) is ahead of Ruiz (47 points on 23 goals and one assist in 25 games).
But should Ruiz lose out to another first-year MLS All-Star, the Guatemalan striker would seem to have reason to complain.
One of Twellman’s goals came on a play in which the forward never touched the ball. Rather, in the Revolution’s 2-0 victory over Dallas on May 11, Burn goalkeeper Matt Jordan was “pressured” by Twellman on a corner kick by Ted Chronopoulos and, in the ensuing collision between Twellman and Jordan, Jordan accidentally punched the ball into the net.
Critics have charged that either Chronopoulos should have been credited with the score or Jordan should have been given an own-goal. Some have even said that the goal should have been disallowed and Twellman charged with a penalty for interference.
Stone Cold Move
A Rolling Stones concert at the Meadowlands has forced the New York/New Jersey MetroStars out of their home stadium for the MLS Cup playoffs, should they qualify.
Team officials announced Thursday that the MetroStars would play postseason matches at Riverfront Stadium, a 6,200-seat baseball park in Newark, N.J., home of the independent Bears.
“We get the incredible, intimate atmosphere of Riverfront Stadium, which should provide us with the perfect environment as we try to bring home the MLS Cup.” MetroStar President Nick Sakiewicz said.
The MetroStars averaged 18,155 for their 14 home league games and Riverfront Stadium will be expanded with temporary seating to at least 8,500.
Currently in sixth place in the playoff table, the MetroStars can clinch a spot with a victory Saturday at New England, although they could also get in with a loss and help in other games.
Pachuca’s Surprise
Walter Silvani’s 48th-minute goal gave upstart Pachuca a 1-0 victory over Morelia in the final of the CONCACAF Champions Cup late Wednesday at Mexico City’s Estadio Azul, giving Pachuca its first continental championship.
It was the first time in the tournament’s 40-year history that two teams from the same country met in a championship game.
Morelia, which is in third place in the Mexican first division’s opening tournament, was a decided favorite over Pachuca, which is tied for 19th place in the 20-team league.
Man U Update
Despite UEFA’s edict that Maccabi Haifa play its home European Champions Cup matches in Cyprus because of security concerns in the Middle East, Manchester United Coach Sir Alex Ferguson said he was willing to take his team to Israel for the return game.
“It wouldn’t affect us,” Ferguson said after his team defeated Haifa, 5-2, Wednesday night at Old Trafford.
But then again, Ferguson was confused earlier in the week as to which Israeli club was preparing to play.
At a pre-match news conference, in which he spoke on his upcoming opponent, Ferguson referred to the accomplishments of Hapoel Tel Aviv, not Haifa, the first Israeli club to make it this far in the competition.
U.S. News
Redlands native Landon Donovan, 20, became the youngest ever finalist for the Honda player of the year award when he joined Claudio Reyna and Brad Friedel in media voting for the award, which will be announced on Oct. 8.
The first Women’s United Soccer Assn. All-Star game will be played at 1 p.m. Saturday in Portland, Ore., and broadcast live on PAX-TV. Among those scheduled to play are Mia Hamm, Julie Foudy and Brandi Chastain.
