Mutiny bent on dashing Clash (original) (raw)

Published Sept. 18, 1996|Updated Sept. 16, 2005

When the Mutiny takes on San Jose tonight at Spartan Stadium, it will not be the same team the Clash scored against in 30 seconds and defeated 4-0 June 30.

Things have changed dramatically since then.

When the teams met in San Jose, Tampa Bay was on a two-game losing streak and clinging to first place in the Eastern Conference. Now the Mutiny is the hottest team in Major League Soccer, winners of four straight and conference champion.

Tampa Bay's hot streak came out of necessity. The Mutiny had lost four of its past five when it met New England at the end of August. First place was not clinched, and neither was the home-field advantage.

Tampa Bay changed defensive schemes, moving a midfielder to the back line. The result: two goals against in the past four games, opposed to 2.5 per game during the five-game slump.

"Now that we're getting close to the playoffs, it's not about winning pretty; we just have to win games," said defender Frank Yallop, the most recent MLS Player of the Week, a first for the Mutiny. "We've tightened up recently. We're not as free-flowing as we used to be. That's just because we've got to win games."

Defender Cle Kooiman says the improved defense has taken pressure off the offensive players.

"Defensively we haven't done that well all year," Kooiman said. "With the system that we played in the last few games, it's turned the whole situation around. We have guys up front with huge talent, guys that are going to put the ball in the net. But if we're giving up three goals per game, that puts a lot of pressure on those guys to score four just to win. Now we're giving up zero or one goal, and we know our guys up front can score."

Though the defense has been a key during this stretch, the addition of midfielder Frankie Hejduk also has helped. Hejduk, a member of the U.S. Olympic team who joined the Mutiny Aug.

3, has increased his productivity steadily in the eight games he has played.

Hejduk, who has a goal and two assists, rivals forward Roy Lassiter in speed. With the resurgence of Hejduk and the presence of Carlos Valderrama, Steve Ralston, Martin Vasquez and Lassiter, the Mutiny has a formidable attack.

"It amazes me how much ground he covers during a game," Mutiny coach Thomas Rongen said of Hejduk. "He's been an integral part of what we've done lately."

Hejduk said it was just a matter of getting comfortable with his new teammates.

"It takes a while to find each other's strengths and weaknesses," Hejduk said. "Like in the first couple of weeks the guys were giving me the ball right at my feet. But I like it out in front of me where I can run to it. They know that now, and it's worked out."

With confidence in its defense and an added attack, the Mutiny could be one of the most dangerous teams in the league. San Jose is fourth in the Western Conference but could finish first.

The Clash needs a win to improve its playoff chances. The Mutiny wants a win to prove things have changed since the last time they met.

"This is a revenge game, at least in my eyes," Kooiman said. "If you lose 4-0 anywhere, that's a slap in the face. I hope we step on the field ready to play. I think the last time not all of our players were ready."

D.C. 3, NEW ENGLAND 2: Diaz Arce scored with a minute to play in regulation as the host United clinched second _ behind the Mutiny _ in the Eastern Conference. Joe-Max Moore gave the Revolution (9-16) a 1-0 lead in the 39th minute. The United (14-16) took the lead on goals by Eddie Pope and Raul Diaz Arce in the 58th and 62nd minutes. Moore tied it with an unassisted goal in the 78th minute.

_ Material from the Associated Press was used in this report.