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Smoldering Fire Dallas defeats Chicago; Moreno leads United over Fusion
Posted: Sunday October 17, 1999 02:37 PM
DALLAS (AP) -- Forward Ariel Graziani scored Dallas' first goal then assisted on the game-winner Saturday as the Burn beat the Chicago Fire 2-1 in the opening game of the best-of-3 MLS Western Conference semifinals. Chicago's defense of its MLS Cup '98 title got off to a rocky start, as the Fire lost its playoff opener after cruising through last year's postseason with five consecutive victories. Graziani scored in the 52nd minute and got an assist on Mark Santel's goal in the 75th minute. Second-half substitute John Ball scored his first MLS goal four minutes later to bring Chicago within 2-1. A closely played first half ended with neither side registering a shot on goal, although Fire midfielder Paul Dougherty, a surprise starter for regular Jerzy Podbrozny, saw his shot in the 11th minute hit the crossbar. Chicago will play to Game 2 on Saturday at Soldier Field. The winner of this series will advance to the Western Conference finals to face the winner of the Los Angeles-Colorado series, which begins Sunday in the Rose Bowl. United 2, Fusion 0Forward Jaime Moreno scored both goals as D.C. United extended its MLS playoff home winning streak to 10 games with a 2-0 victory over the Miami Fusion in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. Moreno drove the middle of the field from the left wing and passed to midfielder Marco Etchevrry. He quickly tapped the ball right back to Moreno, who blasted a shot from beyond the 18 past Fusion goalie Jeff Cassar in the 34th minute. Moreno, assisted by Carey Talley, added an insurance goal in the 88th minute to complete United's first step in their quest for a fourth consecutive berth in the MLS Cup. The victory in the best-of-3 series ended a two-game losing streak for United and snapped a two-game winning streak by Miami, which was 0-4 against D.C. in the regular season. These teams also met last year in the Eastern Conference semis, with United sweeping. United has won seven straight against the Fusion. Game 2 is at Miami on Oct. 24. Moreno, United's most consistently dangerous playmaker throughout the regular season, pressured the Fusion with crossing passes to the front of the goal in the 23rd and 24th minutes. Roy Lassiter failed to convert one of the potential assists with a header that sailed wide left.
Moreno also fired a shot in the 19th minute, which Cassar saved. He hit the left post in the 20th minute, and Cassar stopped another of Moreno's shots in the 23rd minute.
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