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Rematch D.C. sinks Crew, advances to face L.A. in MLS Cup
Posted: Saturday November 13, 1999 08:21 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) -- For a while, it seemed this just might be the year the Columbus Crew would finally break its RFK Stadium hex -- and keep D.C. United out of Major League Soccer's championship game. Then the game started. Roaring back from an embarrassing Game 2, United dominated Saturday's decisive Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals. Marco Etcheverry scored on a 25-yard free kick and had three artful assists, setting up Jaime Moreno once and Roy Lassiter twice in United's 4-0 victory. "Someday we'll break that streak," said Crew coach Tom Fitzgerald, whose team has never won at RFK in 13 tries. "I thought 13 was our lucky number. In front of their fans, they're tough to beat. We know that better than anybody." United will play the Los Angeles Galaxy in MLS Cup '99 on Nov. 21 at Foxboro, Mass. In the league's inaugural title game in 1996, United beat Los Angeles 3-2 in overtime at Foxboro. "I'm very happy we're going to the finals," said Etcheverry, who then winked and added: "It's not my first time." Columbus forced the deciding third game with a 5-1 victory at home last weekend, but they didn't manage a shot on goal Saturday until the 89th minute. It's the third consecutive year the Crew has lost to United in the conference finals. United has never lost a playoff game at home, going 12-for-12 in four years. D.C. has played in the MLS Cup every year since the league's inception, winning the first two before losing last year to Chicago. "We had no champagne in the locker room," United coach Thomas Rongen said. "We had some beers. They want the big one." Etcheverry, the league's career assists leader, set up Moreno in the 17th minute and Lassiter in the 34th and 53rd before a raucous crowd of 21,451. Etcheverry scored inside the left post in the 86th. Etcheverry and Moreno worked the give-and-go to perfection in the penalty area, with Etcheverry giving the one-touch back to Moreno for a 10-yard, left-footed shot and his fourth goal of the playoffs. On the second goal, Etcheverry chipped a 30-yard pass down the right side ahead to Lassiter, who outraced defender Mike Lapper to the goal before tapping his left-footer past goalkeeper Mark Dougherty. Lassiter was more spectacular with his second goal, an 8-yard bicycle kick off a header from Moreno after the ball was played into the area by Etcheverry. Tom Presthus got the shutout for United, but he didn't have much to do. The United defense was impenetrable, with the best play coming when Carlos Llamosa stripped Brian West from behind on a breakaway in the box. Presthus got just two late saves, but he also had an assist: He passed the ball to Etcheverry to start the ball downfield for Lassiter's first goal. "I'm disappointed... I really thought this was our year," said Crew forward Jeff Cunningham. "I'm very disappointed, but at the same time, I'm kind of shocked. They were a better team than us today." Crew players sat dejected in the locker room as United was awarded their fourth consecutive Eastern Conference championship trophy. "They did to us today what we did to them last week," Fitzgerald said. "If you play the game long enough, you have to realize that you have to come to play everyday. Today was their game in their stadium... The other day was our game in our stadium. "What am I going to say to them?" Fitzgerald said of his players. "I don't have to tell them anything they don't already know." At least one player in the lockerroom, Trinidadian forward Stern John, won't be back for another try with the Crew, as rumors have MLS sending him to Europe for a sizable transfer fee. "This is hard for me right now," said John. "I feel like my job here is not done yet. I thought we had a great chance to go to the finals, but we fell short again." "Nobody was clicking out there today," John said. "We just came out flat."
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