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Upset special Improved Mutiny seeks to sink Crew in playoffs
Posted: Saturday October 16, 1999 12:49 PM
ATLANTA (CNN/SI) -- Columbus may have finished the regular season 13 points ahead in the standings, but CNN/SI's Michael Lewis is not convinced. Neither Columbus or Tampa Bay ended the season particularly strong; Columbus lost its last two and Tampa Bay four of its last five. Columbus was picked by some to challenge D.C. for supremacy in the Eastern Conference. It didn't happen. DC won all four meetings. But with Stern John again among the goalscoring leaders (18), the Crew clearly improved over their 15-17 record of last year. Their new soccer-only stadium, where they went 10-6, was a help. Tampa Bay, too, clearly improved but was less successful than Columbus in its new home, Raymond James Stadium, going 6-10.
Analysis by CNN/SI's Michael Lewis:Don't let the records confuse you. These teams are a lot closer than you might think. The Crew has been playing inconsistent recently and the Mutiny, bolstered by several mid-season moves, must be considered the most dangerous non-favorite of the post-season. Stern John, who has endured a major scoring slump for the past month, must snap out of his doldrums (he says he has been distracted by transfer talks to Europe) if the Crew has goals of getting past the Mutiny. The Crew is missing something, whether it is motivation or something else that has not surfaced. You have to be worried about its regular-season finale at home -- as it lost a two-goal lead to the Chicago Fire in what turned into a disheartening 3-2 shootout loss. At the beginning of the season, many writers and observers buried the Mutiny at the bottom of the conference. And rightfully so. But thanks to the infusion of playmaking midfielder Carlos Valderrama and forward Raul Diaz Arce, the team has been transformed into a formidable side. Add midfielders Steve Ralston, the first American to lead the league in assists (18), and Mauricio Ramos and forwards Manny Lagos, whose career has been revived since the trade from Chicago, and Musa Shannon, and you have a formidable attack. The verdict: Call it a gut feeling, but this is our first-round upset special. The Mutiny in three games. Regular season -- Crew: 19-13 (2nd place); Mutiny: 14-18 (3rd
place).
Leading scorers (vs. Opponent in 1999)
Columbus Crew Playoff HistoryThe Crew is one of just four MLS teams -- Columbus, D.C. United, Dallas and Los Angeles -- that have advanced to the MLS post-season in each of their four campaigns. Unfortunately for coach Tom Fitzgerald, the road to MLS Cup has always gone through D.C. United, the lone team to represent the Eastern Conference in Major League Soccer's premier event. Overall, the Crew is 6-6 in the playoffs, winning two series and dropping three. Columbus has lost to United in each of the last two Eastern Conference finals. All-Time Playoff Record: 6-6
Columbus Crew Player to WatchCrew forward Stern John has displayed such goalscoring prowess during the last two seasons (44 goals to go along with seven assists) that he has attracted the interest of several top European clubs. Vowing not to contemplate a move until after the Crew's 1999 campaign concludes, John will look to pick up where he left off in last year's playoffs, notching three goals and an assist in five games. Columbus Crew Quick FactsTampa Bay Mutiny Playoff HistoryLast season, Tampa Bay failed to make the playoffs for the only time in the team's four-year history. This year, for the third time in as many playoff appearances, the Mutiny faces the Crew in the first round. Overall, the Mutiny is 2-5 in the post-season, winning just one of three series. The Mutiny's 1996 playoff goalkeeper Mark Dougherty is now with Columbus; he was a key reason the Mutiny has been outscored only 13-11 in playoff games despite the losing record.All-Time Playoff Record: 2-5
Tampa Bay Mutiny Player to WatchThe Mutiny faithful hope the return of Carlos "El Pibe" Valderrama is the key to getting past Columbus and into the Eastern Conference finals. The midfield maestro now has forward Raul Diaz Arce, the league's No. 2 all-time playoff scorer (8 goals, 1 assist), as his target man. Valderrama, whose 63 assists rank second all-time in MLS, ran the show in 1996 when the Mutiny downed the Crew but were swept by D.C. United in the East finals. Look for the electricity of the playoffs to spark Valderrama's creative juices.Tampa Bay Mutiny Quick Facts
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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