MLS notes: Zambrano not a gracious loser.

(Wednesday, June 3, 1998) -- Los Angeles Galaxy coach Octavio Zambrano did not take kindly to a second straight loss to expansion Chicago Fire 2-1 in a shootout in the Rose Bowl.

"(Chicago) is one of those teams who play not to lose," he said. "It's different when you play to win. You know, this team hasn't scored many goals (actually 20, ranking No. 6 in the 12-team MLS) this year, and the reason for that is very simple. They rely on countering or perhaps you make a mistake and they capitalize on it."

Los Angeles is a runaway leader in the Western Conference with a 10-2 record, the only setbacks coming against Chicago.

The Galaxy, which plays attacking soccer, can do that because it has have the most explosive team in soccer. The Fire, on the other hand, is an expansion team and must pick its spots.

Coach Bob Bradley wasn't apologizing. "We hung in on a night that wasn't our best before finding a way to win," he said. "We laid off too much, and they had the edge in the first half. In the second, we were able to push up and make it a two-way game."

General manager Peter Wilt fired back strongly. "I'm almost embarrassed for him (Zambrano)," he said, "because after his team's two losses to us, it sounds like sour grapes. An expansion team . . . should not be ridiculed for having the league's best defense (13 goals in 11 games). Apparently, Chicago Fire fans find our style attractive and entertaining as they continue to attend in record (24,510, second in MLS) numbers."

Zambrano said after the first loss 3-1 in Chicago that the Galaxy didn't know much about the Fire, making pre-game preparation difficult.

If Los Angeles isn't more creative against counter-attacking, defensive-oriented teams, it may have problems in the playoffs, where few teams are expected to try to slug it out against a team that has the firepower possessed by the Galaxy with the likes of Cobi Jones, Welton, Mauricio Cienfuegos . . . and now Carlos Hermosillo.

"It's no fun watching everyone run around and play, but there's nothing you can do about it," recovering U.S. wing midfielder Frankie Hejduk (Tampa Bay Mutiny) said about his absence from the national team lineup the last three weeks due to a hamstring. "We're not rushing anything. I'm at 90 percent right now and will be at 100 percent in another week.

"He said he wasn't concerned about his fitness level. I'm not a guy who falls out of shape easily," he said.

Coach Steve Sampson has been strongly considering him as a starter on the right midfield wing, citing his speed and two-way play. But now there are questions since he missed World Cup tune-up games against Macedonia, Kuwait and Scotland.

"Mark Dougherty is playing some exceptional soccer now," Columbus coach Tom Fitzgerald said after the Crew goalie made seven saves in a 4-1 victory against San Jose Clash.

Starter Juergen Sommer, now with the United States national team as a third-string goalkeeper, was 4-3 with a 1.29 goals-against average before departing. Dougherty, a two-year starter with Tampa Bay Mutiny, is 3-2 with a 1.40 goals-against mark.

Columbus managed just four shots on goal, and none were stopped by Clash goalkeeper Andy Kirk, including three by Stern John.

"I think this is the best I've ever played, and the most comfortable I've felt since I've been in the league," New York/New Jersey MetroStars goalkeeper Tony Meola said after his team downed New England Revolution 2-1 in a shootout.

The Revolution played the last 46 minutes down a man when Ivan McKinley was red-carded for a deliberate handball when the game was scoreless. He stopped a sure-goal by Giovanni Savarese, whose subsequent penalty kick was stopped by goalkeeper Ian Feuer.

"We are playing much more disciplined right now," Colorado coach Glenn Myernick said after 3-0 and 2-1 wins against Miami and Kansas City, respectively. The defense had been rocked for 31 goals in the first 11 matches. "We are ensuring that we always have numbers back, we are not taking chances, especially in our half of the field," Myernick said. ". . . we know we can score goals in this league."

The Dallas Burn scored twice in its 2-0 win against Miami Fusion after defender Matt Kmosko was ejected in the 25th minute for elbowing Burn defender Brandon Pollard.

Nine of the 10 players New England has used at midfield have missed games with injuries this season. Most serious loss was Jair, out until September with a broken left ankle.

Edwin Gorter, the creative playmaker, has missed three games with a groin strain and had to leave a match last week with another groin injury.

David Nakhid, a defensive midfielder, missed three games with a sprained ankle.

Lone midfielder who has not been injured is speedy Evans Wise, but his form has dropped after starting five games early in the season.

San Jose's high-scoring Ronald Cerritos said his ultimate goal is to play in the Mexican First Division.

It's not that he's unhappy with the Clash, he told the San Jose Mercury News, but "it's (Mexican First Division) a better level of play, and money-wise it's better. The league in Mexico has been around for a long time. Here, in three years, you can't expect to be the best league. There's no comparison. In time, obviously, the United States (Major League Soccer) will be there financially."

He has six goals and four assists this year. Last season he was fourth in MLS with 12 goals, 10 assists, for 34 points.