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For Cup, MLS Eyeing Home-Field Advantage
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ยท Montreal has dropped its expansion bid, leaving Miami, Atlanta, St. Louis, Ottawa, Vancouver, B.C., and Portland, Ore., in contention for two teams in 2011. A decision is expected by late March.
Been Here Before
Columbus will make its first MLS Cup appearance Sunday, but for midfielder Brian Carroll, the trip to Home Depot Center for a championship game has stirred memories.
Carroll, a West Springfield High graduate, started for United in the 2004 final in Carson, a 3-2 victory over Kansas City, and was a three-year starter for his hometown club until losing his job to Clyde Simms late last season.
Exposed in the expansion draft, Carroll was claimed by San Jose and then traded to Columbus, where he regained his form, started all 30 regular season games as well as three playoff matches, and sat out only eight of 2,970 minutes.
Though teammate Guillermo Barros Schelotto was named MLS's most valuable player, many in the Columbus organization credit Carroll for bringing stability to the lineup.
"I looked at it as a new start, a new transition," said Carroll, 27, whose younger brothers, Jeff and Pat, were on United's roster this year. When he was acquired by the Crew, "I talked to [Coach Sigi Schmid] and he thought we would have a good mix of experience and young players, and as we have grown throughout the season, he has proven to be correct. We were able to put together a decent year and now hopefully we can top it off as a great year."
Crew reserve defender Ezra Hendrickson was also on United's 2004 championship roster, his only year with D.C. and the fourth of his six MLS clubs in 12 seasons. Columbus has two former University of Maryland stars: starting midfielder Robbie Rogers (six goals, three assists) and reserve forward Jason Garey (three goals). General Manager Mark McCullers is a former assistant stadium manager at RFK Stadium. . . .
The U.S. national team's first game in 2009 will be Jan. 24 against Sweden at Home Depot Center, 2 1/2 weeks before the final round of World Cup qualifying begins. The Americans will learn their 10-game qualifying schedule Saturday morning.
