GALAXY TODAY

Opponent--Dallas Burn.

Site--Cotton Bowl, Dallas.

Time--Noon PDT.

TV--Univision (Channel 34).

Radio--KTNQ (1020).

Records--Galaxy 12-16, Burn 15-13.

Record vs. Burn--1-1

Galaxy update--Los Angeles’ magic number for clinching its second consecutive Major League Soccer playoff berth is two. Any combination of Galaxy regulation victories or San Jose Clash losses totaling two would eliminate San Jose (11-18). Even if it loses to Dallas today and again Friday night when the teams play at the Rose Bowl, the Galaxy can make the playoffs by defeating the Clash at San Jose on Sept. 21. Los Angeles ends its regular season with a home game against the first-place Kansas City Wizards (20-9) on Sept. 28. The Wizards are the Galaxy’s likely first-round playoff opponent. Midfielder Mauricio Cienfuegos will miss today’s game while playing for El Salvador in its crucial World Cup ’98 qualifying match against Canada in San Salvador. Also absent will be defender Paul Caligiuri, who was red-carded in Wednesday night’s 2-0 victory over the Colorado Rapids at the Rose Bowl. The Galaxy, led on offense by Welton with 10 goals and three assists, is averaging 1.59 goals a game and yielding 1.48. The all-time series stands at 3-3.

Burn update--Dallas did itself and the Galaxy a big favor Friday night by defeating San Jose, 1-0. The victory earned the Burn a playoff berth and solidified its hold on second place in the Western Conference. Dallas leads third-place Colorado (13-15) by four points. The victory also decreased the fifth-place Clash’s chances of catching the fourth-place Galaxy. The Burn’s chances of overtaking Kansas City are slim, however. The Wizards have a five-point edge. Dallas is led offensively by former U.S. Olympic and sometime U.S. national team forward Dante Washington (12 goals and six assists), Mexico’s Damian (nine goals, six assists) and Jason Kreis (seven goals, six assists). The defense is anchored by goalkeeper Mark Dodd (1.58 goals-against average). Swiss World Cup ’94 star Alain Sutter is the playmaker in midfield. The Burn, which is 12-0 when Washington gets a goal or assist, is averaging 1.9 goals a game and giving up 1.6. Dallas is 8-6 at home; the Galaxy is 4-10 on the road.