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Fusion fells Forest Nottingham club falls 3-2 on late strike by Vargas
Posted: Thursday July 13, 2000 12:39 PM
ATLANTA (CNNSI.com) -- Nelson Vargas provided the game-winning goal in the 88th minute as the Miami Fusion rallied from a 2-0 deficit to defeat English club Nottingham Forest in an international friendly at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The game marked the debut of the Fusion's two newest acquisitions -- 18-year-old rookie midfielder Kyle Beckerman and South African international Ivan McKinley. Colombian striker Diego Serna sparked the home team with a goal and two assists. Playing on a wet pitch under overcast skies, the Fusion fell behind early when Forest forward Jack Lester scored in the third minute. Midfielder Marlon Harewood delivered a cross from the right side despite slipping on the wet turf, allowing Lester to slide the ball past Fusion goalkeeper Garth Lagerwey from eight yards out. The visitors added to the lead in the 16th minute as defender Jon Olav Hjelde headed in a corner kick from Alan Rogers. "This was a game against a class team with all the history in the world behind it. It was our chance to measure ourselves, and we hope South Florida is proud and the result will be beamed around the world," said Miami coach Ray Hudson, an Englishman who once played for Newcastle. "They played a lot of players, as did we, and our guys came through. I'm just proud of the squad. All of the young players that got thrown in responded magnificently." The Fusion fought back with forward Roy Lassiter tallying a goal just five minutes later. Forest defender Gary Jones knocked the ball away from Serna and right to Lassiter, who was inside the six-yard box. Lassiter fired a left-footed blast just inside the near post for the goal. Serna then provided the equalizer in the 37th minute off a nifty assist from Jay Heaps. Midfielder Martin Machon started the play with a long through-ball to Heaps, who eluded the goalkeeper at the top of the box and chased the ball to the end line before finding an open Serna on the right side of the six-yard box. The Fusion used six substitutions and lost midfielder Jeff Bilyk to ejection in the 81st minute. But the home side went ahead in the 88th minute, as Vargas gathered in a deflected cross from Serna and fired the game-winning goal past Forest goalkeeper David Beasant. "Unfortunately the word 'friendly' is not appropriate for a game like tonight," Vargas said. "I think Nottingham is a top-notch squad. They came out very professional and were very tough. Some people may have thought it was rough, but it's a man's game and no one in the world plays the game of soccer more like a man than the English." Beckerman, a Project-40 signee acquired by the Fusion in an MLS Lottery Draft two weeks ago, came on in the 29th minute in his first Fusion appearance. McKinley provided 90 solid minutes in his first appearance after coming to South Florida from the New England Revolution in a trade for forward Eric Wynalda. "Ray just said go out there, release Roy and Diego, and have fun," Beckerman said. "It was great that my parents were here to see my first game. It was everything that I ever wanted and a great experience." Lineups:Miami (4-4-2) -- GK-#26 Garth Lagerwey, D-#7 Brian Kamler, D-#22 Ivan McKinley, D-#12 Jeremy Aldrich (D-#4 Tim Sahaydak 54), D-#6 Jay Heaps (M-#27 Keith Beach 59), M-#14 Jim Rooney (C) (M-#23 Jeff Bilyk 37), M-#20 Henry Gutierrez (M-#19 Kyle Beckerman 29), M-#8 Nelson Vargas, M-#5 Martin Machon (F-#16 Welton 46), F-#17 Diego Serna, F-#9 Roy Lassiter (M-#24 Maurizio Rocha 60). Nottingham (4-4-2) -- GK-#1 Dave Beasant, D-#2 Riccardo Scimeca (C), D-#4 Gareth Edds (M-#16 Andy Gray 46), D-#5 Jon Olav Hjelde, D-#6 Chris Doig, M-#3 Alan Rogers (F-#14 Dougie Freedman 66), M-#7 David Prutton, M-#9 Gary Jones (M-#12 Gareth Williams 56), M-#10 Andy Johnson (M-#18 Matthieu Louis-Jean 64), F-#8 Jack Lester, F-#15 Marlon Harewood. Referee: Reggie Rutty; Assistants: Adam Nehme, Brian Poeschel; Fourth Official: Nestor Correa
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