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Before Mutiny, all eyes on U.S.

The national team is expected to draw 55,000 - and, oh, yes, Tampa Bay faces D.C. United to cap the doubleheader.

By RODNEY PAGE

© St. Petersburg Times,
published September 1, 2001

Today, an overflow crowd of nearly 55,000 is expected to pack RFK Stadium for a soccer game. Major League Soccer must be doing something right to get that many people to watch the 4-19-2 Mutiny play 7-15-2 D.C. United.

Actually, it is. Before the Mutiny-United game, the U.S. national team plays Honduras at 10 a.m. (live on Ch. 28) in a World Cup qualifying match that will be the first game of a doubleheader.

It's safe to say most of the fans are there for the qualifying match. Despite its record, D.C. has been a good draw this season, averaging 18,539, second in the league behind New York/New Jersey (21,972).

But for Tampa Bay, which is out of playoff contention and played in front of just more than 4,000 at Raymond James Stadium Wednesday night, the big crowd provides motivation in a season gone bad.

"I'm looking forward to it," forward Eric Quill said. "All those people, (U.S. national team coach) Bruce Arena watching. We don't play in front of crowds like that very often."

The national team game has more meaning than the MLS game. The United States is 4-1-1 with four qualifying matches remaining and is tied with Costa Rica atop the CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football) final group. The top three teams of the six in the group advance to the 2002 World Cup.

Honduras is 2-2-2 and clinging to third in the group. While the Americans appear safe to advance to the World Cup, a slip against Honduras would make Arena nervous. The next match is at Costa Rica, a place where the United States never has won. "If we have six points from these next two games, I guess we clinch," Arena said. "You would think the two teams that started the way they did (United States and Costa Rica) would have been close to clinching already but circumstances in the last couple of games have kept it close and kept other countries in it."

Some familiar players have been called up by Arena, including former Mutiny forward Manny Lagos and goalkeeper Scott Garlick. D.C. United defender Eddie Pope was called and will not play against the Mutiny.

The Mutiny is not in the MLS playoff race. Tampa Bay was the first team eliminated, and D.C. United would be eliminated if the Mutiny wins today.

One thing on United's side: The Mutiny is on a 10-game road losing streak. But Mutiny coach Perry Van Der Beck is determined to win the final three games.

"There's something there," Van Der Beck said. "There's something there that's not right, and you know what, I'll fix it. We're still making mistakes, we're still not capitalizing on our opportunities."

Both of today's matches are about opportunity. The United States can get even closer to a World Cup berth. And players like Mutiny midfielder Steve Ralston, who has been up and down with the national team since Arena took over, have a chance to show off with Arena in the stands.

"I always want to play well, but a game like this gives you extra incentive," Ralston said. "I know a lot of the guys on the national team, so you want to play well in front of them. And Bruce being there is going to motivate everyone."

DONOVAN TO PLAY: Landon Donovan, 19, probably will play forward for the injury-depleted U.S. team today, becoming the youngest American to appear in a qualifier since 1985 and the third-youngest ever.

"If I wasn't ready, they wouldn't have me here," he said Friday.

Donovan is expected to start up front with Jovan Kirovski. The midfield, missing injured captain Claudio Reyna, probably will have Chris Armas, Tony Sanneh, Earnie Stewart and either Cobi Jones or Joe-Max Moore. Steve Cherundolo, Pope, David Regis and Jeff Agoos are expected to start at defender. Brad Friedel probably will start in goal.

-- Information from Times wires was used in this report.

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