|
 |   |
|
EVENTS Fantasy Central Inside Game Multimedia Central Statitudes Your Turn Message Boards Email Newsletters Golf Guide Cities Work in Sports
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE |
Crew cut Miami remains in playoff race with 4-1 win over Columbus
Posted: Thursday October 14, 1999 08:03 PM
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) -- Edwin Gorter scored two goals and the Miami Fusion remained in contention for an MLS playoff bid with a 4-1 victory over the Columbus Crew on Sunday night. Henry Gutierrez and Jay Heaps also scored for the Fusion in the first half. Gorter closed the scoring with his second goal in the 89th minute. Columbus' only goal was Jeff Cunningham's penalty kick in the 83rd minute. The victory moves the Fusion (12-19) into fourth place in the Eastern Conference with 26 points, one more than New England. Miami closes its season at home Saturday against Colorado, while New England finishes at D.C. United on Saturday. The top four teams in each conference advance to the playoffs.
Columbus (19-12), which already has clinched second place in the Eastern Conference and a playoff spot, played without starters Brian McBride, Brian Maisonneuve and Mike Lapper as head coach Tom Fitzgerald rested them for the postseason. The Fusion took advantage of the depleted roster, especially in the first half. Gorter scored his third goal of the season in the 22nd minute when Miami defender Brian Kamler sent him a crossing pass just inside the right penalty area. Gorter took two dribbles and unloaded a left-footed shot, which goalkeeper Matt Napoleon deflected with one hand but couldn't stop from going in the net. Miami continued applying pressure and took a 2-0 lead in the 34th minute when Gutierrez took a pass from Jim Rooney, dribbled to beat Crew defender Todd Yeagley and blasted an 18-yard shot for his sixth goal of the season. In the 42nd minute, Heaps scored his third goal of the season. Gorter fed Eric Wynalda with a pass deep inside the left box. Wynalda headed the pass toward the right goal post, where a streaking Heaps knocked it in.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
