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| Sunday, October 24 | |||||
Background: Rematch of last-year's first-round series when the
Fusion played the then-two-time defending league champs
surprisingly tough, falling in two close games.
Regular season: United: 23-9 (1st place); Fusion: 13-19 (4th
place).
Season series: United 4-0.
Schedule Game 1: Oct. 16: At D.C. 2, Miami 0 Game 2: Oct. 24 D.C. 1, at Miami 0, shootout Analysis: In 1998, the expansion Fusion split the season series, being outscored only 9-8, and put a scare into United in the playoffs. This year, Washington outscored Miami 22-13 and the best the Fusion could do was force a shootout on Aug. 21 before losing. D.C. United comes with a little luster from its first three seasons missing, having lost in the semifinals of the CONCACAF Champions Cup, but by almost all accounts they still are the class of the league. D.C. has injuries, with midfielder Marco Etcheverry and defender Carlos Llamosa questionable for Sunday. After a horrible start and coach-player spat that saw the departure of Carlos Valderrama, Miami outdueled New England for final playoff spot. But it scored the second-fewest goals (42) of any of playoff team and allowed the most (59). | ALSO SEE MLS playoffs: Fire open defense of title
Head-to-head: Columbus vs. Tampa Bay
Major League Soccer playoff schedule
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