The U.S. national team will compete in the 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup. The eight-team tournament is set to be played in Mexico during the first two weeks of January, 1999. With Mexico as host, the U.S., runner-up in the 1998 CONCACAF Gold Cup, receives an invitation. The other participants will be Asian champion Saudi Arabia, African champion Egypt, defending Confederations Cup champion Brazil, South American runner-up Bolivia, a team from Europe (to be appointed by UEFA) and the Oceania champion (to be determined at the Oceania Cup in Brisbane, Australia this fall.)

March 30 in Beaverton, Ore. USA U-23s 3 Canada U-23s 1. Goals: Bower 26, 40, Cherundolo 42; Bent 23. USA -- Napoleon (Brown, 46), Corrales, Parra, Hooper, Chulis, Cherundolo, Otero, Whitfield, Bower, Wolff, West. Canada -- Vohalis, Clarke, Parker, Cameron, McCauley, Bent, Stalteri, Aristodemo, Kindel, Jordon, DeRosario. Yellow card: USA -- Whitfield 39. Referee: Juan Barone (USA). Att.: n/a.

March 31 in Milan Inter Milan (Italy) 2 Spartak Moscow (Russia) 1. Goals: Zamorano 45, Ze Elias 89; Alenichev 47. Inter Milan -- Pagliuca, Sartor, Bergomi, Colonnese, West, Winter (Cauet, 73), Ze Elias, Djorkaeff (Recoba, 62), Zanetti, Zamorano (Kanu, 80), 10-Ronaldo. Sp. Moscow -- Filimonov, Gorlukovich, Ananko, Khlestov, Romaschenko, Kechinov, Alenichev, Titov, Tsymbalar (Melyoshin, 46), Yevseyev, Shirko (Robson, 72). Att.: 57,803. March 31 in Madrid Atletico Madrid (Spain) 0 Lazio (Italy) 1. Goal: Jugovic 33. Atl. Madrid -- Molina, Andrei, Prodan, Santi, Aguilera, Vizcaino, Lardin (Nimny, 72), Pantic (Paunovic, 86), Bejbl, Vieri, Caminero. Lazio -- Marchegiani, Favalli, Negro, Chamot, Grandoni, …

Sunday, March 15

• D.C. United at Miami 4:00 p.m.

Saturday, March 21

• Columbus at Tampa Bay 7:30 p.m.
• Chicago at Miami 7:30 p.m.
• Kansas City at D.C. United 8:00 p.m.
• Colorado at Dallas 8:30 p.m.
• San Jose at Los Angeles 10:00 p.m.

Thursday, March 26

• Miami at Tampa Bay 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 28

• MetroStars at Los Angeles 10:30 p.m.
• Colorado at San Jose (Stanford Stadium) 10:30 p.m.

Sunday, March 29

• Columbus at Dallas 3:00 p.m.
• New England at D.C. United 5:00 …

Columbus has announced that Argentine defender Ricardo Iribarren has been cleared to return to the United States. Iribarren, who joined the Crew in July of 1996, was forced to miss the entire 1997 season due to visa problems. He appeared in 16 games for Columbus during the inaugural MLS season, scoring one goal (a spectacular bicycle kick) and assisting on two others. "We have been anxiously awaiting the return of Ricardo," said Crew head coach Tom Fitzgerald. "He was a great player for us in the first year, and, now that this is a reality, we can begin to shore …

SCORING Player (Team) GP G A P Jones (Los Angeles) 2 2 3 7 McBride (Columbus) 2 2 1 5 Wynalda (San Jose) 2 2 1 5 Johnston (Kansas City) 1 2 0 4 Lozzano (San Jose) 2 2 0 4 Machon (Los Angeles) 2 1 2 4 Washington (Dallas) 2 2 0 4 Wegerle (D.C. United) 3 2 0 4 Welton (Los Angeles) 2 2 0 4 Etcheverry (D.C. United) 3 0 3 3 Harkes (D.C. United) 3 1 1 3 Hurtado (Los Angeles) 2 1 1 3 Kamler (D.C. United) 3 1 1 3 Kreis …

March 29 in New Haven, Conn. Colombia 1 Paraguay 1. Goals: Comas 11; Benftez 42. Colombia -- Calero, Santa, Bermudez, Lopez, Moreno, Perez, Rueda, Valderrama, Aristizabal, Comas (Tellez, 61), De Avila (Morantes, 61). Paraguay -- Tavarelli, Sarabia, Rivarola, Rojas, Arce, Caniza (Paredes, 62), Enciso, Morales (Gonzalez, 58), Acuna (Aguilera, 87), Benitez, Yegros. Referee: Kevin Terry (USA). Att.: 25,236.

TAMPA BAY 0 MIAMI 1 (SO) March 26 in Tampa, Fla. Tampa Bay 0 Miami 0 (Miami wins shootout 4-2). Tampa Bay -- Ravelli (6), Yallop (5), Eriksson (5), Duhaney (6), Houser (6), Hejduk (6), Ralston (5), Kinnear (5), Gilmar (5), Ziober (5), Lassiter (5). Subs: Prampin (5) for Ziober in 62nd minute, Shannon (5) for Kinnear in 77th. Miami -- Cassar (7), Cullen (5), Webber (6), Kooiman (7), Kelderman (5), Gutierrez (6), Serna (5), Kmosko (6), Vaudreuil (5), Herrera (5), Tamashiro (6). Subs: Stebbins (5) for Serna in 46th minute, Maessner (5) for Kelderman in 73rd. Shootout: Miami -- …

Results March 29

• Dallas 2 Columbus 1
• D.C. United 2 New England 1 (SO)

Standings EASTERN GP W L P GF GA D.C. United 3 3 0 7 6 3 Columbus 2 1 1 3 3 3 Miami 3 1 2 1 0 4 New England 1 0 1 0 1 1 MetroStars 1 0 1 0 2 3 Tampa Bay 2 0 2 0 1 2 Shootout records: D.C. United 1-0, Miami 1-0, Columbus: 0-0, MetroStars 0-0, New England 0-1, Tampa Bay 0-1. WESTERN GP W L P GF GA …

March 28 in Portland, Ore. USA U-23s 0 Canada U-23s 0. USA -- Napolean, Parra, Cherundolo, Corrales, Chulis, Quill (Hooper, 46), Otero, Whitfield, Bower, Wolff, West (Brown, 79). Canada -- Franks, Clarke, Skinner, Parker, McCauley, Bent, Stalteri, Aristodemo, Kindel, Jordan, DeRosario (Mathot, 79). Yellow cards: USA -- Parra 11, Cherundolo 23; Canada -- Parker 30. Red card: USA -- Cherundolo 87. Referee: Tim Weyland. Att.: 1,590.

March 27 in Jacksonville Jacksonville (A-League) 1 Kansas City (MLS) 1 (Jacksonville wins shootout 3-1). Goals: Spiller (Chagas) 80; Marino (Rodriguez) 50. Jacksonville -- Clifford, Atta, Guevara, Cerro, Ortiz, Burke, Dominiak, Ramos, Novarini, Tomaro. Subs: Spiller, Sanchez, Heald, Kozic, Chagas. Kansas City -- Snitko, Uderitz, Okafor, McKeon, Bliss, Tinsley, Klein, Chung, Johnston, Rideout, Wright. Shootout: Kansas City -- Takawira (wide right), Marino (wide left), Debrito (goal), Rideout (high); Jacksonville -- Atta (goal), Ortiz (goal), Ramos (wide right), Chagas (goal). Referee: Ray Grimm. Att.: 1,553.

Results March 28

• Los Angeles 3 MetroStars 2
• San Jose 2 Colorado 3 (SO)

Standings EASTERN GP W L P GF GA D.C. United 2 2 0 6 5 2 Columbus 1 1 0 3 2 1 Miami 3 1 2 1 0 4 New England 0 0 0 0 0 0 MetroStars 1 0 1 0 2 3 Tampa Bay 2 0 2 0 1 2 Shootout records: Miami 1-0, Columbus: 0-0, D.C. United 0-0, MetroStars 0-0, New England 0-0, Tampa Bay 0-1. WESTERN GP W L P GF GA …

John Dullaert Nashville, Tenn. Who are the top keepers in the world today and how does Kasey Keller rate? Ridge Mahoney: Kasey is undoubtedly one of the top keepers in the world, but it's difficult to assess just how good he is until he plays in a World Cup. Yet, his showings in the Copa America indicate he can compete at the highest level. He's done quite well in the Premier League, and had a very good performance at the Olympics. If he has a good World Cup -- and he'll have to play well …

Chicago Fire -- D C.J. Brown (sprained ankle) is probable; MF Manny Lagos (knee tendinitis) is questionable; MF Diego Gutierrez (knee surgery) is on injured reserve. Colorado Rapids -- D Chris Martinez (strained abdominal muscle) is questionable. Columbus Crew -- D Thomas Dooley (strained calf) and D Ansil Elcock (separated shoulder) are probable. Dallas Burn -- GK Mark Dodd (broken finger) is on injured reserve. D.C. United -- D Jeff Agoos (sprained foot) is probable; D Eddie Pope (foot surgery) and MF Tony Sanneh (strained hamstring) are questionable; D Danny Care (torn meniscus) is doubtful; GK Mark Simpson (knee infection) …

Results March 26

• Tampa Bay 0 Miami 1 (SO)

Standings EASTERN GP W L P GF GA D.C. United 2 2 0 6 5 2 Columbus 1 1 0 3 2 1 Miami 3 1 2 1 0 4 MetroStars 0 0 0 0 0 0 New England 0 0 0 0 0 0 Tampa Bay 2 0 2 0 1 2 Shootout records: Miami 1-0, Columbus: 0-0, D.C. United 0-0, MetroStars 0-0, New England 0-0, Tampa Bay 0-1. WESTERN GP W L P GF GA Chicago 1 1 0 3 …