Format for CONCACAF Cup Winners Cup Changed
CONCACAF announced Feb. 25 that changes have been made to the format of the 1998 CONCACAF Cup Winners Cup tournament. "Scheduling and
techncial issues make the change of format necessary," said CONCACAF General Secretary Chuck Blazer. "But we can now guarantee good competition and games in all of the competing nations." The six
teams qualified for the finals have been split into two groups. The North Group consists of the Dallas Burn (MLS), Cruz Azul (Mexico) and Necaxa (Mexico), while the South Group contains Olimpia
(Honduras), Platense (Honduras) and Municipal (Guatemala). Each group will have a round-robin format. Dallas will host Necaxa at the Cotton Bowl on March 4 at 7:30 p.m. (CT) and Cruz Azul on March
8 at 2:00 p.m. (CT) The two Mexican clubs will face each other in Mexico City. The two group winners will then play each other at a later date. "With this change in format, we could not have
asked for a more attractive draw for our fans," said Burn GM Billy Hicks. "Not only will they get a preview of the '98 Dallas Burn, but they will also see two of the best teams in all of Mexico."
Mutiny to host Leicester
The Tampa Bay Mutiny will host English Premier League club Leicester City on May 20 at 7:30 p.m. (ET). Leicester, currently in the top half of the Premier
League, is expected to bring most of its top players, including forward Emile Heskey and defender Matt Elliott. However, the Foxes' American keeper Kasey Keller is not expected to play, as he will
likely be with the U.S. national team as it prepares for France '98.
Exhibition Roundup
Colorado continued its impressive run of preseason performances by battling Mexican First
Division club Tecos of Guadalajara to a 1-1 draw Feb. 24. Tecos drew first blood with a 25th minute goal, but the Rapids equalized 13 minutes later when Steve Trittschuh outjumped the opposing
defense to head home from ten yards out.
Feb. 24 in Guadalajara Tecos (Mexico) 1 Colorado (MLS) 1. Rapids Goal: Trittschuh 38.
Colorado lineup: Hahnemann, S.Henderson, Vermes,
Trittschuh, Martinez, DiGiamarino (Nunely, 46), Dos Santos (Paule, 60), Jakins, Paz (Marshall, 55), Harris, Bravo (Boyce, 70). D.C. United rolled to a 3-0 victory over the A-League's Jacksonville
Cyclones Feb. 24. Marco Etcheverry had a goal and an assist to lead the two-time defending MLS champions. A.J. Wood and Lyle Yorks also tallied for D.C.
Feb. 24 in Pensacola, Fla. D.C.
United (MLS) 3 Jacksonville (A-League) 0. Goals: Etcheverry 47, Wood (Etcheverry) 50, Yorks (Olsen) 81.
D.C. United -- Presthus, Kamler, Talley, Llamosa (Cooks, 68), Onalfo, Sanneh,
Etcheverry, Williams, Slivinski (Yorks, 63), Wood, Olsen.
Jacksonville -- Napolean (Hoogerworf, 46), Ortiz, Tostes, Garcia, Atta (Heald, 58), Hall (Chagas, 65), Cerro, Hughes (Ramos, 51),
Guevara, Yama (Burke, 67), Amusu.
Att.: n/a. Dallas routed the Chivas of Guadalajara reserve team 4-1 on Feb. 25, behind goals from Jason Kreis, Darren Sawatzky, Tony Kuhn and Nick
Stavrou. The Burn is scheduled to face Mexican Second Division team Club Oro on Feb. 26 before returning to Texas.
