TAMPA, FLA (August 26, 2001) – The Tampa Bay Mutiny 4-18-2, 14 pts., 4th Central Division) played sturdy defense against a desperate New England Revolution (7-12-6, 27 pts., 3rd Eastern Division) team and managed a 0-0 overtime draw at Raymond James Stadium Sunday night.

The tie was the second of the year for the Mutiny, and didn’t help the Revolution’s playoff chances as New England fell to four points behind Dallas for the eighth and final playoff spot. The Mutiny entered the match knowing its 2001 playoff hopes were finally dashed thanks to the Burn’s 3-0 victory over Kansas City Saturday night at the Cotton Bowl.

Tampa Bay welcomed back defender Chad McCarty, out since the season opener April 7 at Dallas due to a broken left ankle. The Mutiny also saw a new addition to its starting 11, defender Diego Sonora, a three-time MLS All-Star and MLS Cup winner in 1999 with D.C. United. Sonora, who played a full 90 after arriving from his native Argentina the day before, helped solidify Tampa Bay’s struggling defense as did McCarty, who played central defense alongside Steve Trittschuh, also added his physical and emotional play for 47 minutes before being forced to leave with irritation to his left ankle. Goalkeeper Adin Brown was awarded his second clean sheet of the season.

Both teams had stellar opportunities to pull off the win, but neither was able to capitalize. Mamadou Diallo missed a penalty kick in the 21st minute as he drilled his chance right at Rev’s ‘keeper Jose Fernandez. Diallo was awarded the opportunity after being taken down in the box by Fernandez on a breakaway. Just over 10 minutes earlier, Diallo put one away past Fernandez on a breakaway, but was deemed offside by the far official. Replays showed otherwise.

In the 15th, Diallo had another opportunity, but his wide-open header was cleared by Mauricio Wright with Fernandez well off his line.

New England had its chances as well, hitting the post three times in the match, once by Wolde Harris in the 61st, again in the 74th when Cate struck the right post after beating Adin Brown on a breakaway and yet again in the 75th as William Sunsing struck iron instead of net.

Both teams got riled in the 63rd when New England’s Joey Franchino took offense to Josh Keller’s rush on Fernandez, who had mishandled Keller’s shot. Both teams jostled back and forth, with Franchino and Eric Quill taking particular exception, and both were ejected by referee Gerry Corrie. Quill’s red, the first of his career, will force him to miss Wednesday’s game against Dallas. Diallo also received a caution in this match, and dependent upon the number of points assessed, could be absent from the Burn game as well. That decision will come from the MLS office Monday.

In overtime, each side had two chances to end the match. Devin Barclay’s 93rd-minute cross handcuffed Steve Ralston, who was unable to finish right in front of the Rev net. Diallo’s 95th minute blast went just wide of the near post and Barclay again in the 99th fired right into the gut of Fernandez. Just before Corrie’s whistle blew to end the contest, Harris put a beautiful fake on Trittschuh, sending the Mutiny captain to the turf. Harris wheeled and fired, but was just wide of Brown’s net.

The Mutiny will try and put more playoff pressure on Dallas on Wednesday, August 29. The match will start at 7:00 p.m., and can be heard on WWBA AM 1040 (English) and WAMA AM 1550 Amor (Spanish). An audiocast of the match will be available on the web at www.wwba1040.com.

Tampa Bay Mutiny v New England Revolution
Sunday, August 26, 2001 * Raymond James Stadium * Tampa, Fla.

----------------1-------2------OT1-----OT2------F
MUTINY----------0-------0-------0-------0------0
REVOLUTION------0-------0-------0-------0------0

Scoring Summary: None.

Lineups: TB: Adin Brown, Diego Sonora, Chad McCarty (Joe Addo 47’), Steve Trittschuh, Eric Denton, Danny Pena, Josh Keller (John Maessner 91+), Jair (Devin Barclay 70’), Steve Ralston, Mamadou Diallo, Eric Quill. TOTAL SHOTS:12; SHOTS ON GOAL:6; FOULS:14; OFFSIDE:9; CORNER KICKS:5; SAVES: Brown 2; CAUTIONS: Trittschuh 42’; Diallo 68’; Pena 82’; Addo 90’; EJECTIONS: Quill 63’; POSSESSION PERCENTAGE: 52%.

NE: Jose Fernandez, Leo Cullen, Rusty Pierce, Yari Allnut, Mauricio Wright, Jay Heaps, Andy Williams (Wolde Harris 25’), Joe Franchino, Leonel Alvarez, Cate, William Sunsing (Nick Downing 99+). TOTAL SHOTS: 15; SHOTS ON GOAL: 2; FOULS: 13; OFFSIDE 7; CORNER KICKS: 6; SAVES: Fernandez 6; CAUTIONS: None; EJECTIONS: Franchino 63’. POSSESSION PERCENTAGE: 48%.

Referee: Gerry Corrie. Assistants: Robert Fereday, Chris Kenney, Reggie Rutty. Attendance: 11,315. Weather: Sunny, humid, 86 degrees at kickoff.