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Meola sets shutout mark

Henderson, Preki goals lead Wizards over Fusion 2-0

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Posted: Sunday August 29, 1999 06:16 PM

KANSAS CITY, Missouri (AP) -- Tony Meola recorded his U.S. Major League Soccer-record 19th career shutout as the Kansas City Wizards beat the Miami Fusion 2-0 on Sunday.

Meola, the former U.S. national team star playing his second game since returning from a serious knee injury, broke a tie with Los Angeles' Kevin Hartman for the league record.

Chris Henderson opened the scoring in the 30th minute, rocketing a right-footed shot from outside the box past Garth Lagerwey and into the net. Yugoslavia-born Preki made it 2-0 in the 65th minute, nailing a left-footed shot to Lagerwey's left after he was given space at the top of the penalty box.

"We were dead [because of the noon start and travel]," said Fusion coach Ivo Wortmann. "But it's no excuse. I think Kansas City played much better and deserved to win, but it's tough like this."

Fusion captain Edwin Gorter was not pleased with his club's performance.

"It was probably one of our worst games this season, but with all respect, we played three games in eight days," said the Dutchman, who started the game at sweeper and moved into the midfield. "What you saw today was a tired team on the field."

Lagerwey said the Fusion's loose defense left him in a "shooting gallery."

"We've been under a lot of pressure the last three or four games and it's something we need to correct to be successful," he said. "We are real content at this point to sit in our 18 and let the ball be passed around us, and when you have good shooters like Henderson, Preki and Johnston who can hit those long shots, you can't do that."

Wizards defender Scott Vermillion, who picked up a second assist on Henderson's goal, left the game in the 35th minute after an aerial collision with Fusion midfielder Tyrone Marshall. Vermillion suffered a broken nose and a potential sinus injury when Marshall's elbow hit him in the face.

Kansas City (8-17, 20 points) remains in sixth place in the Western Conference. The Fusion (10-16, 22 points) remains in fourth place in the Eastern Conference.

 

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