Major League Soccer

Arena allows nine on Cup roster to play in MLS Saturday.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Thursday, June 5, 2003) -- United States men's coach Bruce Arena released eight players from his Confederations Cup roster to their Major League Soccer teams after today's practice so they can play in their league games this weekend.

Another member of the 23-man roster that will head next week to the Confederations Cup in France -- striker\midfielder Landon Donovan of the San Jose Earthquakes stayed with his MLS club and did not report to this week's training camp in the Washington area.

Since Arena can only use an 18-player roster for Sunday afternoon's 1 p.m. match (ESPN2) against New Zealand at UR Stadium in Richmond, Va., Arena decided to allow some players to join their clubs.

Midfielders Bobby Convey (D.C. United), DaMarcus Beasley (Chicago Fire), Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado Rapids), forwards Jeff Cunningham (Columbus Crew) and Clint Mathis (MetroStars), defenders Frankie Hejduk (Columbus Crew) and Dan Califf (Los Angeles Galaxy) and goalkeeper Tim Howard (MetroStars) will return to play in Saturday matches.

After Chicago visits D.C. United Saturday night, Convey and Beasley will make the 90-minute trip back to Richmond for Sunday's friendly against New Zealand. The other players, after playing their MLS matches Saturday, will return Sunday to the Washington area where the national team will train on Monday and Tuesday before departing for France.

The Confederations runs from June 18-29 with the Americans facing Group B opponents Turkey June 19 in Saint-Etienne, Brazil June 21 in Lyon and Cameroon June 23 in Lyon.

"Our original plan was to have two international games this week, in order to give every player a chance to play," Arena said. "This is an opportunity to give our guys as much playing time as possible."

MetroStars defender Eddie Pope will miss U.S. participation in the Confederations Cup and the Gold Cup because of a knee injury -- MetroStars\MLS\Getty Images photo --

SECAUCUS, N.J. -- Hard-luck MetroStars defender Eddie Pope is one player who won't be playing in France or MLS any time soon.

A Monday MRI exam revealed a non-displaced patella fracture in his left knee, an injury that should keep him on the sidelines from six-to-eight weeks.

Pope, 29, played all eight games for the Metros in 2003 and served as captain. A 2002 U.S. World Cup standout and veteran of 57 appearances with the U.S. men, Pope had to come off just before halftime of Saturday's 1-1 draw with Columbus. While he had received a knock just prior to his knee giving out, his injury is one that would not necessarily require contact to occur.

Surgery will not be required.

Pope was acquired along with along with striker Jaime Moreno and midfielder Richie Williams from D.C. United for defender Mike Petke, the fifth overall pick in the draft and a league player allocation.

Meanwhile, Metros forward MetroStars forward John Wolyniec was suspended for two games and fined $500 for an elbow that gave Columbus defender Chad McCarty a concussion Saturday.

The incident was not seen by the game officials, but the oenalty was assessed after league officials in New York viewed game films. On a ball crossed into the Crew box, Wolyniec and McCarty jostled for position with Wolyniec catching McCarty's head with an elbow that also caused a laceration.