Lassiter Haunts Former Team in Opener
Roy Lassiter had two goals against his former team and Carlos Llamosa and Jaime Moreno scored four minutes apart early in the second half as D.C. United defeated the Tampa Bay Mutiny, 5-2, before 16,872 at Tampa, Fla., on opening night of the MLS season.
Lassiter, traded from Tampa Bay to D.C. United last season, made the score 3-0 in the 66th minute and added his second goal in the 86th. He has 20 goals in 26 games with D.C. United.
“I had a real good feeling before the game,” D.C. United Coach Thomas Rongen said. “The core of our players have been together and they were ready to play. There was a lot of emotion in the locker room.”
Jefferson Gottardi scored Tampa Bay’s goals in the 67th and 88th minutes.
New York-New Jersey 3, Miami 2--The MetroStars got two goals from Eduardo Hurtado in regulation and three saves from goalkeeper Mike Ammann in the shootout to win before 13,648 at Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
The MetroStars outscored the Fusion, 2-1, in the five-round shootout after the teams played to a 2-2 tie after 90 minutes. It was the MetroStars’ first victory in an opener in four seasons.
The MetroStars played the last eight minutes with 10 men after defender Arley Palacios was red-carded for a tackle from behind on Mario Gori.
Dallas 4, Kansas City 0--Burn midfielder Jason Kreis recorded the season’s first hat trick, scoring three second-half goals before 17,112 at Dallas.
After a scoreless first half, Kreis assisted on Mickey Trotman’s winner in the 53rd minute. Trotman returned the favor two minutes later, and Kreis added goals in the 80th and 84th minutes.
Kreis has seven goals and four assists in 12 games against the Wizards.
Chicago 3, San Jose 1--After the Clash held a 1-0 lead at the half, the Burn scored three times in the final three minutes for the victory at San Jose. Former UCLA player Ante Razov scored the tying goal in the 57th minute and the third goal in the 80th for the Burn.
