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United shuts out Crew in shootout
Posted: Wednesday July 07, 1999 11:44 PM
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- The Columbus Crew outshot D.C. United by a substantial margin and appeared to have the edge in play for much of the game. But the result was the same as it usually is when the teams get together -- a United victory. Columbus led 14-7 in total shots and 6-3 in shots on goal, but United won 2-1 in a shootout Wednesday night to remain unbeaten in three Major League Soccer games against the Crew this year. All three victories have been by one goal. United increased its series lead against the Crew to 15-5, including an 11-4 mark in the regular season. The three victories this season are mainly responsible for United's seven-point lead over the second-place Crew in the Eastern Conference. The one point for the shootout win gave United 30 points, while Columbus has 23. Jeff Agoos and Brian Kamler scored for United in the shootout, while Columbus was held scoreless in four tries as it had a four-game winning streak halted. Columbus is 5-2 and United 3-2 in shootouts this season. United had lost 2-1 to San Jose in a shootout in its last game, and coach Thomas Rongen was pleased with the way his team rallied in a similar situation, especially after Carlos Llamosa was ejected in the 75th minute for tackling from behind.
"I am happy about the way we stuck together when we got the red card," Rongen said. "It was a very gutty performance from our team. ... The guys were warriors today." Crew coach Tom Fitzgerald sounded upbeat despite losing. "The fans got their money's worth tonight," he said. "It was a physical game in which we fought like crazy and so did they. ... It's just hard to swallow when you play well and don't win." A.J. Wood opened the scoring for United in the 27th minute on assists by Geoff Aunger and Roy Lassiter. It appeared to some fans that Wood had used his left arm to control the ball, and the signal that the goal counted was greeted with scattered booing. A header by Stern John in the 56th minute tied the score at 1-1 on assists by Brian Maisonneuve and Jason Farrell. The score appeared to have caught United goalkeeper Tom Presthus off guard by bouncing in an unexpected direction. John has scored in four straight games, with six goals in that stretch. It was a rough game, with 34 fouls being called, 20 of them against United. Seven players received yellow cards and at the end of regulation, both teams engaged in a pushing and shouting match, with Fitzgerald and Rongen yelling at referee Noel Kenny and each other. "It's no biggie," Rongen said. "Tom and I go way back, so there's no hard feelings. It was in the heat of things and was a little out of character for me, but it felt good to blow off steam."
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