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| Wednesday, September 11, 2002 14:13 EST |
Two Perez goals topple Wizards
[Associated Press]
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- John Wilmar Perez scored two goals,
including the game-winner 18 minutes into overtime, as the Columbus
Crew beat the Kansas City Wizards 3-2 in overtime Tuesday night in
the semifinals of the U.S. Open Cup.
Columbus will play host to the Los Angeles Galaxy in the final
on Oct. 24.
"Being down 2-0, we had nothing left to do but attack,'' Crew coach Greg Andrulis said. "It was a dramatic game and we will remember it.''
Perez won it for the Crew after Tony Meola blocked Edson
Buddle's shot, but Buddle collected the rebound and passed to
Perez, who scored from 15 yards out.
"That goal was a blur to me,'' Andrulis said. "I will look
forward to watching it tonight. It got us into the finals at home
and we are thrilled.''
Perez tied it at 2 in injury time after defender Mike Burns'
attempt to clear away a corner kick went to Perez, who volleyed a
hard shot in from 12 yards.
Columbus made it 2-1 in the 76th minute after Kyle Martino
passed to Buddle, who dribbled around two defenders and scored from
9 yards.
Crew defender Chad McCarty scored into his own net two minutes
into the game. Chris Klein sent a cross to Dario Fabbro, who
one-timed a shot from 6 yards out. Goalkeeper Jon Busch made a kick
save that bounced off McCarty's chest and into the goal.
"It was just unlucky,'' McCarty said. "I was running back to
cover a man and I couldn't do anything to avoid it.''
The Wizards went up 2-0 in the 62nd minute when Chris Brown took
a cross from Eric Quill and headed it inside the near post. Brown
had entered three minutes earlier.
"We worked hard, we worked smart, but we didn't finish the
game,'' Wizards coach Bob Gansler said. "We got back on our heels
a bit and that gave them the opportunity to come back.''
The Open Cup dates to 1914 and is the nation's oldest annual
soccer competition. It's open to all affiliated amateur and
professional teams in the United States.
Major League Soccer teams, including the current cup holder, the
Galaxy, have won five of the last seven championships. Los Angeles
advanced to this year's final by beating the Dallas Burn 4-1 on Sept. 3.
The Crew have not lost an Open Cup game at home (6-0-1), and are 12-4 in Cup competition.
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