Division lead, revenge at stake

The Mutiny lost 5-1 its last time in Chicago. The teams meet there again for first in the Central.

By RODNEY PAGE

© St. Petersburg Times, published July 15, 2000

It has been nearly three months since the winded Mutiny visited the Windy City, but the memories are still fresh. On April 28, less than 48 hours after its most impressive win (a 4-0 thrashing of San Jose), the Mutiny suffered its worst loss, 5-1 at Chicago.

(The Mutiny allowed five unanswered goals, four in the second half. It was a forgettable night.

"We were embarrassed last time," Mutiny forward Eric Quill said. "Now it's time even up the score."

Going into the first meeting, the Mutiny was struggling on the road, trying to juggle playing time for forwards Mamadou Diallo and Raul Diaz Arce and finishing a stretch of three games in six days.

Since then, Tampa Bay has solved its road troubles, traded Diaz Arce and gotten two days rest before tonight's rematch.

At stake is first place in the Central Division with 10 games remaining for both after tonight. The Mutiny is on top with 34 points; the Fire has 33.

Mutiny coach Tim Hankinson won't need a Knute Rockne speech. He said his team knows what's at stake.

"After a somewhat difficult result at D.C. Wednesday (a 2-2 tie) no one is going to look past this game," Hankinson said. "The boys know that in order for us to stay on top we need to steal at least a point in this game. We get them twice more in our place, so winning up here is important. And the memory of the last time we were here will be a motivator as well."

The Mutiny has changed slightly since April; Diallo is the full-time forward and John Maessner was picked up from D.C. United. But the Fire has a much different look. Forward Ante Razov, who scored twice April 28, and midfielder Chris Armas are with the U.S. national team for a World Cup qualifier Sunday in Guatemala.

Defender Lubos Kubik is out with a right knee strain and forward Hristo Stoitchkov is out with a groin tear. Midfielder Peter Nowak is questionable with a lower leg bruise and midfielder Diego Gutierrez is questionable with a mild concussion.

That's at least four starters out, and as many as six.

"They can still score goals," Hankinson said. "What we'll try to do is contain (forwards) Josh Wolff and Dema Kovalenko by using (defensive midfielders) Josh Keller and Maessner. If we can contain them, then guys like Rally (Steve Ralston), (Eric) Quill and Mamadou are going to get freed up. That's the situation we want."

If the defenders falter even a little, this could be a shootout. Chicago leads Major League Soccer with 45 goals in 21 games, an average of 2.14 goals per game. The Mutiny is second with 42 goals in 21 games, a 2.00 average.

"With the players we have, we can score a lot of goals," Maessner said. "So can they. This is a great chance for us. (Chicago) is one of the best teams in the league."

One thing the Mutiny can look forward to is rest. Since June 17, Tampa Bay has not had a week off. It has played at least twice weekly during that stretch and also played an exhibition Saturday.

Its next game is July 22 against Los Angeles, the start of a three-game home stand. There is also a week off for the All-Star game July 29 in Columbus.

"It will be nice to be able to give them a full day off," Hankinson said. "But with the amount of games we've played I still think we're on an upward swing. Regardless of the result, I think we're heading upward at the right time. The season is all about ups and downs, and this is a good time to start going up again."

© St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved.

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