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MLS SCOREBOARD: Preview
Today's Scoreboard
Miami at D.C.
Posted: Monday July 30, 2001 03:31 PM
Miami Fusion
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Washington DC United
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WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- The Miami Fusion will try to continue their recent mastery of D.C. United on Wednesday night when the Eastern Division foes battle at RFK Stadium.

The Fusion have won their last two meetings with United and five of their last six contests.

In the first of their four-match season series on May 30, Fusion captain Jim Rooney netted the winner to lead Miami to a 2-1 victory over D.C. United.

The last meeting between these clubs at RFK Stadium came in the 2000 season finale on September 9. Diego Serna recorded his league-leading third hat trick of the campaign as the Fusion set a team scoring record in a 6-2 rout of D.C. United.

The Fusion, who own the league's best record this season, matched their team record for most goals scored in a game in the 6-2 road victory over the Dallas Burn on June 2.

July was not kind to Miami, winning just once in five matches (1-2-2). In their last match before the All-Star break on July 21, Rooney finished off Alex Pineda Chacon's feed in the 42nd minute, but Miami failed to hang on and settled for a 1-1 home draw against Eastern Division foe New England.

Wednesday's match marks the first of Miami's four-game, 15-day road trip, the club's longest of the season.

United needs a strong run during their final nine games of the season if they do not want to miss the playoffs for the second consecutive season. The capital club has won just once in the last seven matches.

In their last match before the All-Star break on July 21, Carey Talley negated his equalizer by scoring an own-goal with four minutes left as United suffered their second straight defeat, 2-1 at the MetroStars.

United's Bolivian stars, forward Jamie Moreno and All-Star midfielder Marco Etcheverry, have feasted on the Fusion. Moreno has collected six goals and five assists in 11 career games against Miami. Etcheverry, the MLS assists leader with 11, has tallied a goal and nine assists in 10 lifetime games against the Fusion.

U.S. international Carlos Llamosa will make his first visit to RFK Stadium as a member of the Fusion. The defender, who helped United win the MLS Cup in 1997 and 1999, was acquired by Miami on February 3 in exchange for Brian Kamler and the fourth overall pick in the 2001 draft, which was used to select New Zealand international Ryan Nelsen.

Both Kamler and Nelsen are expected to be in United's starting lineup on Wednesday.

United coach Thomas Rongen needs just one more victory to tie ex-Dallas boss Dave Dir as the winningest coach in MLS history with 81.


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