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Sounding the Wolff call

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COLUMBUS, Ohio -- If there's one thing that's clear after Wednesday's scoreless draw here between the U.S. and Costa Rica, it's this: As long as Brian McBride is out of the picture (three to six months, perhaps, after a blood clot was removed from his arm), Josh Wolff should be starting up front for the Americans.

Wolff's blinding speed -- and ability to create chances -- was a revelation at the Olympics, and the U.S. was infinitely more dangerous against Costa Rica after Wolff entered the game midway through the second half. What's more, he communicates much better with U.S. forward Ante Razov, a Chicago Fire teammate, than does Joe-Max Moore, who had only trained with Razov for a couple of days before the game.

Top of the Table The Mystics. All it took was one trip to a Kansas City Wizards game last week for me to see that this fan club deserves a place among MLS' best. Adolfo Valencia. Sure, the MetroStars didn't make it to MLS Cup, but the Colombian striker was money up top. Give me three Valencias over one Lothar Matthäus anytime -- and you can keep the change. U.S. fans in Columbus. Giant American flags. Long, colorful banners in the North End. Deafening noise. Great work by the spirited majority. Relegation Zone MLS on ABC. For a league that aspires to compete with the NHL, getting a lucrative national TV deal is the key to prosperity. If ABC does in fact decide to reduce the number of MLS games it televises next season, as was reported this week, the move is a step backward for the league. U.S. fans in Columbus. Alcohol-fueled "reception" of Costa Ricans at Columbus airport turns into charmless, obscenity-filled embarrassment. Alcohol-fueled rage leads North Enders to toss liquid-filled (plastic) bottles onto the field. A disgraceful minority makes everybody look bad. (Advice: Think Cameron Crazies, folks, not Philadelphia Eagles thugs.)

In fact, the ideal attacking front for the U.S. against Barbados next month would be the same look the Americans showed at the end of the Costa Rica game, with Wolff and Razov up front and Moore in a central attacking role. (Jovan Kirovski was awful in that spot on Wednesday.) For his part, Moore told me at the hotel after the game that he was much more comfortable after switching to attacking mid, and he had plenty of good things to say about Wolff.

So does everybody these days. The way Wolff is playing, he deserves the chance. And who knows? He might not let go of it even when McBride comes back.

Why Chicago will
win MLS Cup 2000

Cojones and my name may not often be mentioned in the same sentence, but there I was on Tony Meola's weekly radio show before the playoffs, boldly predicting that Meola's Wizards would reach the MLS Cup but then lose to Chicago at RFK Stadium this Sunday. I took my punishment then, and I'll take it now, but I'm standing by my story. It breaks down like this, you see:

Kansas City's offensive
third of the field

The Wizards scored only 47 goals in the regular season, tied for seventh in the league, and though K.C.'s midfield Chrises (Henderson and Klein) are fast and dangerous on the wings, they rely too much on striker Miklos Molnar to finish their chances. Expect Fire d-mid maestro Chris Armas (along with Jesse Marsch) to help take K.C. attackers Mo Johnston and Preki out of the game. In the Chicago goal, Zach Thornton looked shaky early in the season, but lately he has been stopping shots better than at any point in his career. It doesn't hurt, of course, that the Fire has solid defenders in C.J. Brown and rookie of the year Carlos Bocanegra, though both will have to make sure they don't get too jacked up and earn a quick card or two for rough play.

Edge: Chicago

Midfield

A lot depends on whether injured Fire midfielder Peter Nowak will be able to play. If Nowak doesn't play, Armas will be forced into a greater offensive role, which he performed heroically against the MetroStars in the semis but may have a harder time doing on Sunday. Yet for as good as K.C. defensive mid Kerry Zavagnin has been this season (he could have earned comeback player of the year instead of teammate Meola), Armas is better, and he seems to be OK after aggravating his sprained left MCL last week.

Chicago coach Bob Bradley's biggest decision will be what to do on the left wing. Kansas City builds much of its attack through the right side with Preki and Klein, which would put a ton of defensive pressure on DaMarcus Beasley, 18. If Bradley goes with the more experienced Diego Gutierrez on the left, however, he'd be sitting Beasley, who's maturing into a speedy, attacking threat. In any case, I'll go with youth (Beasley and Dema Kovalenko, 23) over age (Preki and Johnston, both 37).

Edge: Chicago

Chicago's offensive third of the field

Make no mistake, the Wizards are here because of their defense, which allowed only 29 goals in the regular season, best in the league. Center back Peter Vermes is MLS' defender of the year, rookie Brandon Prideaux has been steady at left back and right back Nick Garcia completely shut down L.A.'s Luis Hernandez in the semifinals. Then there's goalkeeper Meola, the likely MLS most valuable player, who has matured from "Near Post Tony" into "Post Doctorate Tony" at the age of 31. All that said, Razov and Hristo Stoitchkov are the best forward tandem in MLS, and remember, the Fire scored six goals against K.C. in their two regular season games (with each team winning once).

Edge: Even

The benches

Any team that can bring forward Wolff in off the bench has a scary amount of talent. (Wolff, after all, played well in a reserve role for the U.S. on Wednesday night.)

Edge: Chicago

Miscellaneous factors

It's hard not to compare the fatigue factor for this game to MLS Cup 1998, when D.C. United had only three days of rest after a brutal semifinal clincher -- and proceeded to lose to the underdog Fire, which came in fully rested. Two of Chicago's most important players, Armas and Razov, played 90 minutes for the U.S. on Wednesday night, and how well they recover for the MLS Cup will have a huge impact on the game. The Wizards, meanwhile, had only one player in Columbus (Meola) and he didn't see any action.

Edge: Kansas City

Prediction

Expect fireworks. In the first meeting between these two teams this year, K.C. won 4-3. "Chicago took the second game 3-2. For a European playing in his first year Stateside, Stoitchkov sure has picked up the American playoffs system quickly, and he's peaking at the right time. Look for "The Dagger" to bag a goal or two, and for the Fire to win in a thriller.

Chicago 3, Kansas City 2

And finally, with the conclusion of the MLS season, Inside U.S. Soccer (hot-stove version) will be turning into a monthly column. But fear not: Though I'm making my annual jump to the college basketball beat (look for weekly Web mailbags), I'll be keeping one eye firmly fixed on fútbol. Thanks to Garth Lagerwey for being the go-to guy this season, and thanks to you readers for your interest, to say nothing of your participation. (Who knew that dozens of people would bother to write in and advise me to shave my head?)

Until we meet again in Barbados next month ...

Sports Illustrated staff writer Grant Wahl covers soccer and is a regular contributor to CNNSI.com.

 

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