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Season-saving burst Wizards score three times in first half to defeat Fusion
Updated: Thursday September 27, 2001 10:52 AM
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Onandi Lowe, Matt McKeon and Francisco Gomez scored first-half goals as the Kansas City Wizards beat the Miami Fusion 3-0 on Wednesday night to force a third game in the first-round playoff series. "It was the proverbial one for all and all for one," Wizards coach Bob Gansler said. "The guys knew the only option was to win, and they decided to exercise their option." Game 3 is Saturday in Miami, where the Fusion beat the Wizards 2-0 last week in the opening game of the series. If the teams tie in the third game, they will go to a 20-minute sudden-death mini-game. If neither team scores in the mini-game, the series, will be decided by penalty kicks. Lowe opened the scoring in the 25th minute and played a key role in the second goal. As Miami's Pablo Mastroneni attempted to control a long, lofting pass, Lowe got around the midfielder and headed unimpeded toward goal. Mastroneni took down Lowe from behind inside the box, earning an ejection, a suspension for the next game, and a penalty kick for the Wizards. McKeon put the penalty kick into the left side of the net to put the Wizards ahead 2-0. "Onandi can be as good as any forward in this league," Gansler said. "Sometimes he frustrates his teammates, sometimes he frustrates his coaches. Tonight, he really frustrated the opponent." Deep into first-half injury time, the Wizards were awarded a free kick from 30 yards. Gomez's hard shot sailed past goalkeeper Nick Rimando for the third goal of the half. Miami had a goal disallowed in the 82nd minute. Diego Serna had knocked the ball in after a scramble in front of the goal. Kansas City's Nick Garcia went down in the box as the goal was scored after being elbowed in the mouth by Serna. Serna was given a red card for violent conduct. Both Serna and Mastroneni will sit out the third and final game in Miami. "We were struggling from the second goal on," Fusion coach Ray Hudson said. "But the goal taken away from Diego and the sending off left our guys in disbelief. It's bizarre. We certainly will miss Pablo and Diego on Saturday." Summary Scoring: KC --Lowe (McKeon, Gomez) 24
MIAMI FUSION--Nick Rimando (Jeff Cassar 46), Ivan McKinley, Carlos Llamosa (Brian Dunseth 46), Pablo Mastroeni, Ian Woan (Tyrone Marshall 43), Jim Rooney, Ian Bishop, Chris Henderson, Alex Pineda Chacon, Preki (Lazo Alavanja 46), Diego Serna
KANSAS CITY WIZARDS--Tony Meola, Chris Klein, Nick Garcia, Peter Vermes, Mike Burns, Kerry Zavagnin, Matt McKeon, Francisco Gomez (Mo Johnston 46), Gary Glasgow (Chris Brown 21), Roy Lassiter (Andrew Gregor 60), Onandi Lowe
Referee: Alex Prus; Assistant Referees: Richard Huber, George Gansner
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