Without Further Adu ...
Freddy Adu’s anticipated debut in Major League Soccer is eight days away, but there’s no guarantee that the 14-year-old striker will start for D.C. United against the San Jose Earthquakes.
So how many minutes might Adu play?
“A lot,” first-year Coach Peter Nowak said.
Adu, who spoke to reporters on a conference call Thursday, continued to say the right things leading to the nationally televised April 3 game at RFK Stadium.
“I’m anxious to get out there and play,” the Ghanian-born Adu said. “I’ve been waiting for this for a long time. I just want to get out there and play and have fun.”
Adu said he isn’t concerned about envy from other players in the league even though MLS has promoted his arrival more than any player before him.
“I’m just going out there and playing.... Every time I touch the ball I’m not going to try and take on the whole team because that’s how you get hurt,” Adu said. “So if I take care of business and do what the team game plan is then I’ll be fine.”
Donovan Replaced
Landon Donovan, who sat out the San Jose Earthquakes’ CONCACAF Champions Cup game Wednesday night because of illness, has been replaced on the U.S. national team for an upcoming friendly.
Chris Klein, a midfielder for the Kansas City Wizards, took Donovan’s place for next week’s game at Poland.
Klein has made 15 appearances for the U.S. since 2000.
MLS Notes
The Galaxy signed defenders Scot Thompson and Chris Aloisi to developmental contracts. Thompson, a former UCLA standout, was a 2003 draft pick, but he sat out last season because of a torn knee ligament. In an exhibition game Thursday, Carlos Ruiz scored in the 81st minute, but it wasn’t enough as the Galaxy lost to the Syracuse Salty Dogs of the A-League, 2-1, at Cary, N.C.... Chris Carrieri, the No. 1 pick in the 2001 MLS draft, was waived by the Colorado Rapids. He is expected to join the Rochester Rhinos of the A-League.... The Chicago Fire has moved a home game against the New England Revolution to July 11 so that it can feature a doubleheader at Solider Field with the U.S. national team playing Poland.
UEFA Cup
Teenage goalkeeper David Marshall made several impressive saves to help Glasgow Celtic tie host Barcelona, 0-0, and reach the UEFA Cup quarterfinals.
Celtic won the opener of the total-goals, home-and-home series, 1-0, two weeks ago. Celtic lost to FC Porto in last year’s UEFA Cup final.
Celtic next faces Spain’s Villarreal, which lost, 2-1, to AS Roma but advanced, 3-2, on aggregate.
In other games, Inter Milan beat visiting Benfica, 4-3, to advance into the final eight, Marseille eliminated Liverpool, 2-1, and Bordeaux defeated FC Brugge, 1-0.
Newcastle beat Real Mallorca, 3-0, for a 7-1 aggregate win, Dutch champion PSV Eindhoven advanced with a 3-0 victory over Auxerre, and Valencia topped Genclerbirligi, 2-0, to overcome a 1-0 deficit from the first leg.
Quick Passes
In Wednesday’s late CONCACAF Champions Cup matches, Sparissa of Costa Rica advanced to the semifinals after a 3-0 victory on penalty kicks over Pachuca of Mexico. Another Mexican team, Monterrey, advanced after a 4-1 victory over FAS of El Salvador.... AC Milan defender Paolo Maldini, who is in his 20th season with the Italian club, signed a contract extension through the 2005-06 season. Maldini, 35, has Italy’s record for most national team appearances with 126.... French World Cup player Johan Micoud denied a report in Kicker magazine that he plans to leave Werder Bremen of the German Bundesliga when his contract ends in 2005.
-- Compiled by Jim Barrero
