MLS veteran Dante Washington scored twice, including the gamewinner in the 90th minute, to lead the Virginia Beach Mariners past the Cincinnati Riverhawks, 3-2, in his Mariners' debut Friday night. Also debuting for the Mariners were MLS vets Hamisi Amani-Dove, Roland Aguilera and all-time leading goalscorer Roy Lassiter.
Cincinnati turned around the next night to win in Charlotte, 1-0. In the other match, a battle of Eastern Conference title hopefuls, Charleston won, 2-0, at Richmond.
The opening weekend featured only three games, all played in the South Atlantic region before disappointing crowds of 843, 804 and 1,811.
A-LEAGUE RESULTS:
April 18
Virginia Beach 3 (Washington 24, 90, Aguilera 25) Cincinnati 2 (Piraine 80, Sastoque 87).
April 19
Charlotte 0 Cincinnati 1 (Child 74).
Richmond 0 Charlotte 2 (Jackson 38, Henderson 59).