After 14 years, 40 games and 110 minutes, United Soccer Leagues ended a game without a winner. Since ousting the shootout as a way to resolve games that were tied after regulation and overtime in the offseason, no games through the first three weeks of the schedule in any of the three USL menÆs leagues required the “everybody wins” method of conclusion. In fact, before Week 4 only three games in the A-League, D3 Pro League and PDL even required a sudden-death overtime period. Each of those was decided though, with two of the three lasting 17 minutes after regulation before a victor was crowned. The A-League encounter between Toronto and Pittsburgh April 29 should have been decided as well. The season-opener for both teams, played in Bethel Park, Pa., in front of 4,223 fans, seemed destined for extra time as the first half ended scoreless with each team drudging up just two shots. When Pittsburgh defender Tenywa Bonseu finally opened the scoring in the 70th minute on a penalty kick, the Lynx fought back and leveled the score just two minutes later. Bonseu, a First Team All-League defender in Æ99, converted from the penalty spot after Jaman Tripoli was brought down in the box by Toronto defender Milan Kojic. David DiPlacido took a pass from Brian Ashton and slipped a rising shot under the crossbar and out of the reach of goalkeeper Randy Dedini to tie the game. Through two 10-minute overtime periods, each team compiled four shots, but the best opportunity came from John Jones. In the 103rd minute, Toronto was whistled for a second foul inside the area, resulting in another penalty kick for Pittsburgh. With 12 yards and a goalkeeper standing between Jones and a season-opening victory, TorontoÆs Theo Zagar came up with a save to preserve a road point for the Lynx. Coincidentally, two more USL games ended in ties the same night, both in the PDL. In 19 A-League matches this season, there has been one tie and 11 have been decided by one goal, while three have gone into overtime. In 20 D3 Pro League games, there have been three overtime contests and nine one-goal contests. With the pair of draws, the PDL has seen four of its 15 games reach overtime and seven one-goal decisions. Diallo spoils Battery upset bid: Charleston Battery forward Jon Akin gave the A-League club a one-goal advantage against MLS’s Tampa Bay Mutiny early in the second half of the May 1 exhibition match. But, up-and-coming forward Mamadou Diallo struck twice in the final 12 minutes to lead the Mutiny to a 2-1 victory at Blackbaud Stadium. The soccer-specific facility was the site of the BatteryÆs historic win over D.C. United in the third round of the 1999 U.S. Open Cup and 4,408 spectators were hoping for another upset when Akin struck in the 48th minute on an assist from Haitian Gilbert Jean-Baptiste after a scramble in the Mutiny penalty box. Diallo, who has three goals in six MLS appearances this year, equalized from the penalty spot in the 78th minute. The Senegalese striker added the winner with overtime looming on the horizon on a diving header after a feed from former Minnesota Thunder forward Amos Magee. Both goals were scored on Charleston backup keeper Josh Campbell, who replaced starter Dusty Hudock in the 65th minute. The match was the third of 14 official exhibitions between A-League and MLS clubs this year. Thus far, MLS leads 3-0. The Atlanta Silverbacks (1-2) play host to the Central Conference-leading Dallas Burn in the next interleague exhibition on May 16. This week: The first full weekend of the A-League schedule has 15 games on the slate, including the defending champion Minnesota Thunder opening their season Friday in El Paso. The defending Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup champion Rochester Raging Rhinos open their 2000 season Saturday when they play host to the Toronto Lynx. On Sunday, the Thunder battles San Diego in a rematch of the 1999 Western Conference Championship series. Friday, May 5, 2000 24 — Connecticut @ Boston 7:30 25 — Richmond @ Charleston 7:30 26 — Minnesota @ El Paso 9:35 90 — US Pro-40 @ Orange County 10:30 Saturday, May 6, 2000 27 — Hershey @ Hampton Roads 7:30 28 — Richmond @ Atlanta 7:30 29 — Connecticut @ Long Island 7:30 30 — Montreal @ Pittsburgh 7:35 31 — Toronto @ Rochester 7:35 32 — Tennessee @ Milwaukee 8:00 34 — Seattle @ Vancouver 10:00 35 — Orange County @ Bay Area 10:30 36 — Minnesota @ San Diego 10:35 Sunday, May 7, 2000 37 — Hershey @ Raleigh 6:00 38 — Vancouver @ Seattle 8:00 All times listed are Eastern MLS callup: Seattle Sounders defender Craig Waibel was called into action by the Colorado Rapids over the weekend. He played five minutes as a substitute in a 5-0 thrashing at the hands of league-leading Kansas City. On the move: The Montreal Impact has signed defender/midfielder Nicola Corneli. The 24-year-old Canadian is the 16th player from the Montreal NPSL roster to sign with the A-League club. à The Minnesota Thunder released midfielders Khary Stockton and Hugo LaReservee. à The Vancouver 86ers have re-signed midfielder Chris Franks, goalkeeper Didar Sandhu and midfielder Carmen DÆOnofrio, along with former Canadian international Kevin Holness. à The Seattle Sounders re-signed midfielder Dick McCormick and signed former Tennessee Rhythm forward Craig Tomlinson and midfielder Darren Sawatzky, who spent last season with MLSÆs Colorado Rapids. National team duty: Richmond Kicker twins Darrell and Derrick Etienne, who both play for the Haitian national team, will represent the country in its World Cup qualifiers against Trinidad & Tobago on May 7 and 20 à Minnesota Thunder midfielder Brian Winters played 17 minutes in a 3-0 victory over Honduras and 26 minutes in a 0-0 tie with Canada in helping the U.S. U-23 team qualify for a spot in the Olympics. Notable: In three consecutive one-goal losses, the Indiana Blast has been outshot, 37-18, in their first three outings this season. à Orange County Waves midfielder Jason Boyce has three game-winning assists this season. He leads the league with eight points and four assists. à The Hampton Roads Mariners have outshot opponents, 17-7, in the first half this season. à The Connecticut Wolves opened their season with consecutive losses on a grueling six-game road swing before their home opener on May 19. à Tennessee Rhythm rookie goalkeeper Brian Covey, the teamÆs territorial draft pick, began his career by allowing an Indiana goal just 17 seconds into the match, but recovered to shutout the Blast for the next 105 minutes before Danny RebuckÆs overtime winner. à The Seattle Sounders tied the PDLÆs Seattle Sounders Select, 1-1, in a preseason game before 1,437 fans at Interlake High School in Bellevue, Wash. McCormick scored on a penalty kick in the 89th minute for the Sounders. Earlier in the week, Seattle knocked off local club Liga Hispana, 6-0 à The Vancouver 86ers defeated Victoria United, a local club team, 3-1, in a preseason contest behind two goals by Canadian U-23 midfielder Alfredo Valente and one by Jason Jordan. Off the field: The Indiana Blast, together with the W-LeagueÆs Blaze, will play host to their second annual “Kickoff Party” May 7 from 4-6 p.m. Central at Kuntz Stadium. The event features interactive events, tips from players, mini-scrimmages and a local competition of New York Life MLS Dribble, Pass & Shoot. The BlastÆs Amateur Select team will play a Central Indiana Amateur Soccer Association match on the adjacent field. à Orange County Coach Erik Kirsch and several Waves players will be featured on the television program “Coaches Corner” on Cox Communications later this month. The program features interviews and highlights from previous games. The network is also planning live broadcasts of several Orange County home games. à The Tennessee Rhythm has negotiated its first major cross-promotional deal with a local media outlet, entering into partnership with The Tennessean newspaper for discounted advertising, website promotion and feature coverage in the paperÆs KidZone section, which appears twice weekly. The Tennessean, the largest daily newspaper in the state, is also sponsoring the RhythmÆs Player of the Game award after each home match. à Jordan Caler of Library, Penn. kicked out the first ball at the Pittsburgh Riverhounds season opener . Through the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Western Pennsylvania, Caler recently received his wish to go to Disney World. The wish was made possible by donations made to the Riverhounds KidsFest area last season à The Bay Area Seals have announced the completion of two major media sponsorship deals and an advertising partnership. The new sponsors are The Daily Review/ANG Newspapers, a Seals official corporate sponsor and exclusive print media sponsor, and InterLane Media, while the advertising partnership is with PennySaver.