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TAMPA, Florida (Ticker) -- The Tampa Bay Mutiny gained a measure of revenge against the Columbus Crew as Raul Diaz Arce and Steve Ralston had two goals apiece in a 5-1 rout in the season opener for both teams. The loss was Columbus' worst on the road. The Crew eliminated Tampa Bay from the 1999 playoffs, shutting out the Mutiny in a pair of games. Mark Dougherty and the Crew had not allowed a goal to Tampa Bay in 222 minutes, dating to the final regular-season meeting of 1999. The Crew had the better chances in the first 10 minutes but the Mutiny controlled play the rest of the way. Diaz Arce notched the opening goal of the game in the 26th minute, finally ending the Mutiny's drought against Columbus at 247 minutes. Carlos Valderrama dribbled through a pair of Columbus players and played a lead pass to Ralston on the right wing. Ralston picked out Diaz Arce in the middle of the box. Manny Lagos was a threat down the left side all night as Tampa Bay exposed the Crew's revamped defense on the flanks. Lagos notched his first goal in the 29th minute to make it 2-0. Ralston picked up his first goal in the 33rd minute off a nice 1-2 setup from Diaz Arce and Lagos at the top of the box. Ralston later added an assist. Columbus pulled within 3-1 near halftime as newcomer Dante Washington ran onto Rob Smith's through ball into the box. He juked Tampa Bay goalkeeper Scott Garlick to break the shutout. Washington was originally drafted by the Crew in 1996 before being traded to Dallas three games into the season. He returned to Columbus in 2000 following a draft day exchange with Dallas and Colorado. Ralston and Diaz Arce capped the scoring with goals two minutes apart in the second half.
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