Fusion Gets First Win On Cullen’s Big Shot

Leo Cullen scored the game-winning goal in the fifth shootout round, giving the expansion Miami Fusion their first victory, a 1-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Mutiny in front of an announced crowd of 6,036 on Thursday night.

Cullen, Henry Gutierrez, John Maessner and David Vaudreuil each scored against Mutiny goaltender Thomas Ravelli in the Fusion’s 4-2 win in the shootout.

Midway through the first half, Miami’s Kris Kelderman found Diego Serna in the left side of the penalty area with a diagonal pass from midfield.

The Fusion’s offense was hindered by the absence of playmaker Carlos Valderrama, who played Wednesday in the Colombian National Team’s 0-0 tie against Yugoslavia. The Fusion was outshot by its opponent for the first time 1998, 15-7.