Bravo’s Performance Lifts Rapids

Paul Bravo continued his mastery of his former team by scoring a goal five minutes into the game and leading the Colorado Rapids to a 2-0 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday night in front of 14,570 at Denver.

Colorado (11-11-3), which moved into the No. 6 playoff spot, added a second score in the 13th minute on an own goal by San Jose defender John Doyle.

Goalkeeper David Kramer, who joined the Rapids from the Earthquakes (5-12-8) before the season, made four saves for the shutout.

The goal for Bravo, another former San Jose player, marked the second consecutive game in which he has scored after going 10 consecutive games without a goal.

Bravo, who was traded to Colorado in 1997, now has 10 goals and nine assists in 15 games against his former team.

Colorado did suffer a significant setback, losing midfielder Anders Limpar to a strained left calf in the first half. Limpar is scheduled for an MRI exam on Monday, but could be out four to six weeks.

The Rapids played most of the game with a man advantage after San Jose’s Travis Mulraine was ejected for a dangerous tackle on Lance Key in the seventh minute.

Columbus 1, New England 1--Wolde Harris scored in the 88th minute to pull the Revolution to a tie with the Crew in front of 19,809 at Foxboro, Mass.

Robert Warzycha scored for Columbus four minutes earlier, getting his sixth goal of the season on a free kick from 22 yards out on the left side.

Columbus (10-11-5) has lost only once in its last seven matches.

Harris scored his 12th goal of the year on a pass from William Sunsing in the penalty area.

The Revolution (9-10-6) is winless in its last three matches at home.

Columbus goalie Mark Dougherty robbed New England twice, knocking away a shot by Harris in the 38th minute and a 12-yard drive by Jose Luis Morales in the 40th minute.

Tampa Bay 2, Dallas 1--Manuel Lagos scored two goals and the Mutiny defense did the rest as Tampa Bay (13-10-2) edged Dallas (10-12-4) in front of 10,327 at Tampa, Fla., to regain first place in the Central Division.

Tampa Bay has 41 points, three more than second-place Chicago, which plays the MetroStars today.

Carlos Valderrama, the league-leader with 22 assists, and Steve Ralston had a hand in both Tampa Bay scores.

The Mutiny played without forward Mamadou Diallo, the league’s leading scorer, for the second consecutive game. Diallo was suspended for Saturday’s game and fined $1,000 for entering the referee secure area and confronting referee Misail Tsapos moments after the Mutiny’s loss to Chicago.

Miami 3, Washington 1--Diego Serna’s goal two minutes into the second half broke a 1-1 tie and helped the Fusion (8-11-5) defeat D.C. United (6-14-6) in front of 5,877 at Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Roy Lassiter secured Miami’s victory with a goal in the 90th minute as Miami broke United’s season-best two-game winning streak.