Chicago Tribune from Chicago, Illinois • Page 28

6 Section 3 Chicago Tribune, Sunday, July 5, 1998 SOCCER IRE 1, BURN 0 Burn efender hot shot again vs. Foltman WtmoNE Staff Writer t4 'DALLAS One down, four to go jna second place, at least, is look-iifds more secure for the Fire. fjThe Fire (13-5) made it 11 in few, overall and three in a row frjerthe Dallas Burn Saturday Sight with a 1-0 victory in front of A fi ii t-t i After dominating the last 35 minutes of the first half, the Fire was back on its heels at times in the second half. Dallas put five shots on goal in the last 45 minutes, but none past Fire goalkeeper Zach Thornton, who notched his league-leading sixth shutout. The best Dallas chance came in the 75th minute, when Mickey Trotman was pulled down just outside the area by defender C.J.

Brown. But the ensuing free kick produced no worries for Thornton and the Fire. The Fire hopes the rest of its trip is as worry-free. sent a perfect chip over the head of Dallas keeper Mark Dodd. "I just saw somebody off to my side and saw the color of his shorts Nowak said of one of the strangest assists in his career.

"Lubos scored a fantastic goal, like last Wednesday and like Jerzy Podbrozny in Boston." Chip goals are becoming commonplace for the Fire. The goal was almost a carbon copy of Kubik's goal in a 4-1 Fire victory over Dallas Wednesday at Soldier "This was a more important goal," Kubik said. "Wednesday's was a 4-1 game. This was the only goal, it was very important" The only goal came from Dallas-killer Lubos Kubik in the 37th minute. It's the third goal for Kubik, all of which have come at the expense of the Burn (9-9).

"Maybe Dallas isn't lucky with me," the Czech-born defender said. It was an odd play that led to the tally. Peter Nowak was dispossessed just outside the Dallas penalty area and was sent to the ground. The ball was played back to Chris Armas who sent it back to Nowak. Although Nowak was still on the ground, he was able to stick out his left leg and touch the ball over to Kubik.

After dribbling a couple of steps to his right, Kubik in a suggy iahiuii duwi. me victory got the monthlong, five-game road trip off to a productive start. me lasi minuies oi me game were played in a heavy rain, which is nothing new for the Fire, five of its eight road games this season have been played in the rain. INSIDE THE FIRE Conference lead's not Impossible Fire's win streak parking interest AP photo There is speculation that the Mutiny, including Jan Erikson, left, and Musa Shannon, may not be a Tampa resident much longer. around league ky Bob Foltman i ii ijagwimiuN i.u.hi iiiii'imu ij mm' i i.m i uim.m.imup(i iui Sr" I illilMsiiiilllii; llllill INSIDE MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER Mutiny could walk plank in Tampa Bay Falling attendance fuels speculation jRiBUNE Staff Writer 1 1 DALLAS The Los Angeles Gal-axy are not out of reach.

For that 'ijnatter, neither are the Fire, Dallas Burn head coach Dave Dir 'said. "I don't think the Galaxy is tout of reach for the Fire," Dir said efore Saturday's match with the ifire. "They're playing the best soccer right now." I The Fire entered Saturday's imatch nine points behind first-Jplace Los Angeles. The Galaxy ijieat visiting Kansas City 2-0 Saturday. Dallas finished the night 24 points behind Los Angeles and 18 behind the Fire for second place, Dir is not ready to concede Either position.

you start with us, the other fcur teams in the conference taside from the Fire and Los have lost some key components," Dir said. "Chicago and Los Angeles are not out of reach. Most of the teams in this league piece together four or five game winning streaks, that's 15 points right there." Knock on wood: So far this season tlie Fire has avoided any major injuries, that's one reason why it has been successful, Dir said. "'They've had everyone healthy and they haven't missed a beat," he said. "They haven't had any adversity.

We'll see what kind of qjam they have when they have a fciugher stretch." shopping: Frank Klopas Remembers the last U.S. Open Cup AP photo Dallas Burn defender Jorge Rodriguez shoves aside Fire forward Jerzy Podbrozny in a battle for control of the ball during Saturday night's game. The Fire's 1-0 victory ran its winning streak to 1 1 games. line set off ripples of activity. Eight teams had to waive players and three trades were made in order to get to the 20-man limit Tampa Bay was the busiest club.

New coach Tim Hankinson picked up defendermidfielder Jorge Salcedo from the Fire and midfielder Paul Dougherty from the MetroStars. Hankinson was very familiar with his newest players. "Dougherty has outstanding skill and will add another dimension to our midfield," Hankinson said. "He is also a tremendous fighter, and that's the kind of players we need at this time." "Our time is now," Mutiny General Manager Nick Sakiewicz said. "I'm tired of watching boys play boys.

It's time we got some men out there." Class to the end: If Salcedo thought he got a raw deal with the Fire, he certainly didn't let on. "It's hard to leave here," said By Bob Foltman Tribune Staff Writer Questions are surfacing again as to whether the Mutiny will make it in the Tampa Bay market. The Mutiny entered the weekend with a 4-13 record, and its attendance has dropped every year since its debut as a charter member of Major League Soccer in 1996. This season, the Mutiny is averaging 8,025 tickets disbursed, but only 4,459 have been used. One rumor floated earlier in the season was that the Walt Disney Co.

would eventually take over the team and move it to Orlando. The MLS All-Star Game is being held in Orlando this season. "All I can tell you is we're committed to having the tenacity and patience to stick it out," Commissioner Doug Logan said of the Tampa market. "At the end of the day I think we will have an extraordinarily successful team there." Get a move on: it was moving time for several players last week as Wednesday's MLS roster dead- ation to be able to play Saturday. Even though his contract was up in Germany, it still takes a about a week to finish up the paperwork.

"Coming to Dallas is definitely what I wanted," Deering said. "I could have gone to either D.C. United or Dallas. I said I would really want to come to Dallas. It's worked out perfect." Deering entered the match in the 59th minute and gave the Burn a bit of a spark, getting one shot off in his 31 minutes of action.

the competition. Amateur and lower division clubs compete in the opening rounds. "It's good that we don't have to travel," Klopas said. "The game is going to be as tough as we make it. We've got to be prepared and focused." Coming home: U.S.

national team member Chad Deering made his Dallas Burn debut Saturday night The Piano, Texas, native had' played in the German Bundesliga the last eight years. Deering was given a one-game clearance from the German Feder USISL San Francisco Bay Seals. "We played the Bay Seals and lost because the guys thought the game would be easy," Klopas said. "We flew out to San Francisco and guys went shopping." That shouldn't be a problem Monday as the Fire face the Chicago Stingers in its opening match of the U.S. Open Cup.

The match is considered a "road" contest for the Fire, even though it will be at the Stingers facility in Arlington Heights. The tournament is entering the third round, which is when MLS teams enter match he played. It was last year air a member of the Kansas City Wizards. Kansas City traveled to Francisco to taKe on tne sa present The Mayor's Office of Special Events and The 41st Annual EH IK1 ETTDZijv. if" Salcedo, who played his soccer for UCLA and also made MLS stops in Los Angeles and Columbus.

This is a very good thing here. Bob Bradley is a very good coach and they made you want to be involved with things here. The Fire is a team that can legitimately challenge for a championship." As soon as Hankinson took over the Mutiny coaching position, he started inquiring about Salcedo's availability. "Hankinson called a couple of times, and left some very positive messages," Salcedo said. "That's something that you like to hear." No thanks: Scratch New England Revolution coach Thomas Ron-gren off the list of potential national team coaches.

"I'm flattered to have been mentioned, but I won't seek the job and I wouldn't take it," said Ron-gren, who was one of former coach Steve Sampson's assistants. "I have a job to finish here in New England. My contract runs through 1999, and there's work to be done." There sure is, the Revolution has lost nine in a row and has the worst record in the league at 4-11 and 10 points. One up: Colorado defeated Mexican First Division club Leon 1-0 in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup qualifying. "We showed that we can play on the international level," Colorado coach Glenn Myernick said.

"This is our first game ever in an international tournament, and we did not freeze up. We came out 00 Saturday, July 25, 1998 Monroe Harbor Free Admission Grant Park Symphony Orchestra -featuring Latin inspired orchestral pops Petrillo Music Shell Lighted Boat Parade -Travels along the lakefront from the Shedd Aquarium at Roosevelt Rd. to the Chicago Yacht Club at Monroe St. PM PM PM Fireworks ShOW -Takes place in Monroe Harbor. Turn your radios to 101.9 FM, The Mix listen to "summer themed" musk synchronized perfectly to the magnificent fireworks show Venetian Night has expanded to include 10 days of nautical-related events and celebrations.

CH1C-ICO MM. BUTWCT For more information call the Mayor's Office of Special Events hotline at (312)744-3370 TTY: (312) 744-2964 Find us on the Internet at www.ci.chi.il.uVWMSpKialEmnts mvoirc omct or SPECIAL EVEttTS CHICAdd uuu um mm and played like the team we are and proved that the Rapids can compete on that leveL" Interesting approach: Colorado goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann had a dominating performance in his goal box in the Rapids' 3-1 victory over D.C. United last week. He attributed his performance to his new look. "That's why I shaved my head," he said.

"So I kind of look like a convict and people don't want to go there." FIND IT HERE cEliLlsi I Ik EDi.