D.C. draft pick Armstrong opts for Europe Stephen Armstrong, D.C. United’s second pick in the 2000 MLS SuperDraft and the 13th player selected overall in the draft, informed D.C. United and MLS today that he has chosen to pursue a professional career in Europe and will not be signing a contract with MLS. Armstrong had been negotiating with Swedish club Vastra. “D.C. United and the league were informed today by Stephen Armstrong and his agent that he is choosing to try his hand in Europe and will be going on trial with clubs there,” said D.C. United president and general manager Kevin Payne. “In all likelihood he will not be joining D.C. United this year. We will retain his rights until the 2002 college draft. While we wish Stephen luck, we are hopeful that he will decide for the 2001 season that D.C. United is the best place for him to continue his professional soccer career.” Armstrong was a finalist for the Missouri Athletic Club Player of the Year award and was a candidate for the Hermann Trophy as a senior at Butler University this year. The left-sided midfielder amassed 43 goals in 77 matches during his collegiate career at Butler. Armstrong was a three-time first team All-Mid Continent Conference and All-Mideast Region selection, and tallied over 100 career points and scored 20 or more points in four consecutive seasons at Butler. The Cape Town, South Africa, native has also played for the South Africa under-23 national team. Crew’s Cunningham signs long-term deal Columbus forward Jeff Cunningham has signed a long-term contract with MLS. No terms of were disclosed. “I’m pleased to know that this league and the Crew organization feels confident that I can contribute to the long-term success of Major League Soccer,” said Cunningham. “The Crew organization is head and shoulders above the rest, and this is where I want to be. My goal is to help bring a championship to Columbus.” Cunningham has one assist this season, in seven appearances, but has been plagued by hamstring and groin problems. The third-year forward has 20 goals and six assists in 60 career regular season games. The former University of South Florida star also has three goals and one assist in seven playoff matches. “Jeff is an integral part of our plans for not only this season, but for the future,” said Crew head coach Tom Fitzgerald. “We are very happy that Jeff wants to continue his development as a player in Major League Soccer and with the Columbus Crew.” Carrera joins Crew as assistant coach Former Columbus midfielder Marcelo Carrera has joined the Crew coaching staff as a part-time assistant coach. Carrera, 36, will join full-time assistant Greg Andrulis and part-time assistant Nick Roberts on Fitzgerald’s coaching staff. The Argentine midfielder was one of the original members of the Black and Gold after being drafted in the 10th round of the 1996 MLS Inaugural Draft. He played three seasons with the Crew, appearing in 70 games, including playoffs, garnering eight goals and eight assists. “Coaching is something that I enjoy doing and to be able to coach for the team that I played for is very exciting,” said Carrera. “Even though I have attended numerous games the past couple of years and am still very close to the players and coaching staff, to now be officially a part of the Crew family again is a big thrill.” Carrera will also serve as an interpreter for the Crew’s three Spanish-speaking players — Argentine Mario Gori, Colombian John Wilmar Perez and Bolivian Roland Aguilera. Gori had previously translated orders from Fitzgerald to Perez and Aguilera, but that wasn’t easy when Gori was playing. Crew hosts Hamburg Columbus will play its first-ever international match at Crew Stadium next Wednesday, May 24, when German Bundesliga power Hamburg SV visits Crew Stadium at 7:30 p.m. Matthaeus out German star Lothar Matthaeus will miss the May 20 game against Tampa Bay because of yellow card accumulation. Matthaeus has picked up yellow cards in each of the MetroStars’ previous three games. He is scheduled to travel to Germany after the weekend to play in his Farewell Match in Munich on May 26. Matthaeus will then join the German national team for Euro 2000 and won’t return to the Metros for at least another month. Roma replaces Milan Italian Serie A club Roma replaced AC Milan as the opponent for Portuguese club Benfica in a doubleheader with the MetroStars-Tampa Bay game on May 20 in Giants Stadium. Earlier, Milan had replaced Parma as Benfica’s opponent. Earthquakes take on Persepolis San Jose will play Iranian club Persepolis at Spartan Stadium on May 31 at 7:30 p.m. Persepolis, also known as Pirouzi, is the former club of Earthquakes midfielder Khodadad Azizi.