Chicago Fire
The Fire tied Atlas of the Mexican First Division 2-2 on Feb. 26.
Peter Nowak had both Chicago goals, one on a penalty. The Fire outshot Atlas and led 2-0 until the final eleven minutes. Chicago also named former New Orleans Storm (nee Riverboat Gamblers) head coach
Mike Jeffries and former Colorado Rapids defender
Denis Hamlett as assistant coaches.
Feb. 26 in Guadalajara Atlas (Mexico) 2 Chicago (MLS) 2. Fire goals: Nowak 59, (pen.) 68.
Chicago lineup — Thornton, Bates, Lewis, Okaroh (Brown, 46), Kotschau (Gramenz, 46), Salcedo (Lekics, 72), Holocher (Wolff, 46), Armas, Nowak, Lagos (Marsch, 72), Snow.
Miami Fusion
Miami midfielder
Carlos Valderrama broke a bone in his right hand during practice this past week and will wear a cast for the next four to six weeks while working out with the team. He is not expected to miss any regular-season games. MLS has confirmed that the Colombian international will be available for the Fusion’s March 15 match against D.C. United and its March 21 match against Chicago. Miami edged Florida International in an exhibition match 1-0 last week, as Fusion midfielder
Nelson Vargas squared off against his brother Danny, who plays for the Golden Panthers.
New England Revolution
Salvadoran striker
Raul Diaz Arce scored a pair of goals to lead New England to a 2-1 victory over the USISL’s Pensacola Barracudas on Feb. 28. Pensacola took the early lead through
Louis Fraga in the 18th minute, but Diaz Arce equalized just three minutes later. He scored the gamewinner seven minutes from time off assists from Herrman Trophy winner
Johnny Torres and new Dutch signing
Edwin Gorter.
Feb. 28 in Pensacola, Fla. Pensacola (USISL) 1 New England (MLS) 2. Goals: Fraga (Fonseca) 18; Diaz Arce (Gorter) 21, Diaz Arce (Torres, Gorter) 83.
New England lineup — Causey (Coufal, 46), Michallik, Mohammed, Goulooze, Coye (Jachym, 76), Wise (Van Saun, 46), Nakhid, Gorter, Torres, Rocha (Keegan, 46), Diaz Arce (Jair, 89).
Tampa Bay edges Kansas City
Steve Ralston scored in the 85th minute to lift the Tampa Bay Mutiny to a 2-1 exhibition win over Kansas City on Feb. 28. The Mutiny took a 1-0 lead in the 78th minute, when
Roy Lassiter struck after a fine pass from rookie
Josh Keller. Kansas City evened the match five minutes later, when former Mutiny member
Goran Hunjak knocked home a loose ball from 18 yards out. But the Mutiny prevailed thanks to former Florida International star Ralston. After a foul on Mutiny Project-40 forward
Eric Quill, Brazilian midfielder
Gilmar touched the restart to Ralston, whose 25-yard blast beat Wizards’ keeper
Mike Ammann to the far post.
Feb. 28 in Bradenton, Fla. Tampa Bay (MLS) 2 Kansas City (MLS) 1. Goals: Lassiter (Keller) 78, Ralston (Gilmar) 85; Hunjak 83.
Tampa Bay — Ravelli, McCarty, Yallop (Frye, 63), Houser, Moore, Ralston, Garcia (Shannon, 46), Keller, Bell (Quill, 56), Lassiter, Gilmar.
Kansas City — Ammann, Uderitz (Sabanadzovic, 46), McKeon, Bowers, Bliss (Dancy, 66), Johnston, Tinsley, Chung, Klein (Hunjak, 73), Takawira, Rideout (Marino, 34).
Att.: n/a.
