By BRIAN LEWIS
May 17, 2008
The Red Bulls will try to run their unbeaten string to five games against visiting Kansas City tonight (7:30 p.m., MSG), but they will have to do it with star striker Juan Pablo Angel ailing and starting central midfielders Claudio Reyna and Seth Stammler out altogether.
Reyna hasn't played since leaving the May 1 game in Toronto at halftime with a left quadriceps injury. He will join Stammler in missing a second straight game, and Angel will play through a nerve problem in his back.
Coach Juan Carlos Osorio said he has enough central midfielders for the 3-5-2 he prefers at home, with Mike Magee, rookie Luke Sassano and Sinisa Ubiparipovic all options. But defender Carlos Mendes practiced at defensive midfield, and could replace Ubiparipovic, just back from a pulled hamstring.
It's a key game in the competitive Eastern Conference. The top two teams in each conference make the MLS Cup playoffs, along with the next four best records. But the next four best records are from the East, with the Red Bulls (3-1-1, 11 points) just a point ahead of the Wizards (3-3-1) in fourth place.
The Wizards are without midfielders Lance Watson and Roger Espinoza, and defenseman Jonathan Weathers, but stopping them is all about slowing new Argentine signing Claudio Lopez (two goals, one assist).
"Their fullbacks come forward very often, they have pace up front with Claudio Lopez, and they have enough ability in midfield with [Carlos] Marinelli," Osorio said. "They're a good, well-coached team."
