By Will Kuhns, Senior Editor

GOAL OF THE WEEK: Jason Kreis' gamewinner in the 89th minute against Chicago came as a result of a fine passing combination between Ronald Cerritos and Ryan Suarez, but was topped off by Kreis' classy turning finish from about 10 yards. With an assist in the game as well, Kreis reclaimed the top spot on the career points list with 218, three ahead of Kansas City's Preki.

FUMING IN FUTILITY: In a 0-0 tie with Kansas City, D.C. United's goal-less streak stretched to 531 minutes — the longest such drought in a single season by any MLS team. The Wizards went without a goal for 637 minutes between Sept. 5, 1998 and April 4, 1999.

United's frustration boiled over in the 90th minute when referee Noel Kenney called back a successful penalty kick by Marco Etcheverry, ruling that United players had entered the box early.

Wizards goalkeeper Tony Meola saved Etcheverry's re-take attempt to preserve the tie. Meola also saved Jaime Moreno's penalty kick early in the second half, and with five other saves, was named MLS Player of the Week.

United, however, left steamed about the rare ruling by Kenney.

''That's why our league is a joke,'' United midfielder Richie Williams said. ''I've never seen that call before in my life.''

SCHEDULE CRUNCHING: Close analysis of the remaining five weeks of the season reveals that Los Angeles, Chicago and New England seem to have the most favorable schedules. Los Angeles has the most games left (8); Colorado, Kansas City and Columbus have the fewest (6) while the other six teams have seven games each. Of the teams with seven games left, Chicago and New England each have just one against one of the top three teams in points.

Colorado appears to have the toughest stretch run, with three of its six against the top three, while D.C. United and the MetroStars have four road games and three games against the league's top three.

AKWARI SIGNS. Defender Nelson Akwari, a 20-year-old veteran of U.S. U-17, U-20 and U-23 teams, has signed a Project-40 contract and joins the MetroStars after being selected by the team in a lottery draft.

Akwari becomes the seventh member of the U.S. U-17 team that finished fourth at the 1999 U-17 World Cup to join MLS. The others are: DaMarcus Beasley (Chicago Fire), Landon Donovan (San Jose Earthquakes), D.J. Countess (Dallas Burn), Bobby Convey (D.C. United), Kyle Beckerman (Colorado Rapids) and Seth Trembly (Colorado Rapids).

Akwari played two seasons at UCLA.