The Columbus Crew and the Tampa Bay Mutiny played a pair of exhibition matches over the weekend, with the teams drawing 1-1 on March 7 and Columbus prevailing 2-1 on March 9.
In the March 7 game, played at the University of Tampa, Roy Lassiter scored just three minutes into his preseason debut. Midfielder Marco Ferruzzi crossed from the right side of the penalty box, and Giuseppe Galderisi headed the ball down and to the far post, where Lassiter knocked it home.
Columbus equalized in the 36th minute on a penalty kick by Brian McBride after Tampa’s Frankie Hejduk was whistled for a handball in the box.
The Crew rolled to a 2-1 victory two days later against a Tampa team that lacked Lassiter (U.S. national team camp), Frank Yallop (Canadian camp), and several starters who were making a promotional appearance at Miami’s Calle Ocho festival.
Brian Maisonneuve scored both Columbus goals — in the 15th minute (off an assist from Brian McBride), and the 22nd minute. Marco Ferruzzi’s 25-yard shot in the 70th minute was Tampa’s only tally.
March 7 in Tampa
Tampa Bay 1 Columbus 1. Goals: Lassiter (Ferruzzi, Galderisi) 3; McBride (pen.) 36.
Tampa Bay — Budnick, Hejduk, Yallop, Backman, DuHaney, Ferruzzi, Vargas, Diffley, Frye, Galderisi, Lassiter. Subs: Guevara, Dos Santos, Shannon, Heald.
(Columbus lineup n/a.)
March 9 in Clearwater, Fla.
Columbus 2 Tampa Bay 1 Goals: Maisonneuve (McBride) 15, Maisonneuve 22; Ferruzzi 70.
Tampa Bay — McCaughey, Diffley, Backman, Frye, DuHaney, Ferruzzi, Guevara, McKinley, Wise, Dos Santos, Shannon. Subs: Budnick, Hejduk, Heald.
(Columbus lineup n/a.)