Union, Independence Previews

MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER

Colorado Rapids (7-6-10) at

Union (8-4-7)

7:30 p.m. Friday at PPL Park.

TV: Fox Soccer Channel.

Last MLS game: The Union won, 3-0, at New England on July 17. Colorado played New England to a 2-2 draw on Saturday, allowing the equalizer on a penalty kick in the 90th minute.

Outlook: The Union played the Rapids to a 1-1 draw in Colorado on June 4 as Danny Mwanga scored the equalizer in the 66th minute on a spectacular goal. . . . Colorado's Conor Casey, who has a team-high six goals, is out with a left Achilles tear. . . . Colorado midfielder Jeff Larentowicz, a graduate of Chesthut Hill Academy, has started all 23 games and has four goals and one assist. . . . The Union are tied for first with Columbus in the Eastern Conference but have two games in hand. . . . Carlos Ruiz leads the Union with six goals, while Sebastien Le Toux has a team-high seven assists.

- Marc Narducci

WOMEN'S PROFESSIONAL SOCCER

Atlanta Beat (1-10-4) at Independence (9-3-3)

6 p.m. Sunday at Widener University.

TV: FOX Soccer Channel.

Last game: The Beat battled visiting magicJack to a 0-0 tie on Saturday at Kennesaw State University Soccer Stadium. The Independence won, 1-0, at Boston Wednesday to get back on track after host Sky Blue ended their six-game winning streak Saturday with a 2-0 victory.

Outlook: The Beat is at the bottom of the WPS standings. However, to look past them would be a mistake. Delran's Carli Lloyd and Heather Mitts are back from U.S. national team duty. The Independence's three national team players - Nicole Barnhart, Lori Lindsey, and Amy Rodriguez - are finding their pace with the rest of the team after an extended absence. . . . Atlanta is 0-6-1 on the road, and the Independence is 5-1-1 at home.    - Bill Iezzi

EndText