TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- Steve Trittschuh and Mamadou Diallo scored
late goals as the Tampa Bay Mutiny beat the undermanned Los Angeles
Galaxy 2-0 on Saturday night.
Carlos Valderrama set an MLS record with his 20th assist of the season on
Diallo's league-leading 18th goal in the 87th minute. Trittschuh
opened the scoring in the 81st minute.
Los Angeles (10-7-7) played without six starters because of
national team commitments. The absent players included Cobi Jones,
Luis Hernandez, Greg Vanney and Mauricio Cienfuegos.
Starting goalkeeper Kevin Hartman also missed the contest after
spraining his left knee in practice Thursday.
The Galaxy lost two more starters during the game. Zak Ibsen
(pulled hamstring) and Simon Elliott (flu) both departed before
intermission.
With the victory, the Mutiny (12-9-2) took over sole possession
of first place in the Central Division. Tampa Bay has a three-point
advantage over the Chicago Fire.
The Mutiny continued a season long trend of misfiring on penalty
kicks when Steve Ralston was stopped by goalkeeper Matt Reis in the
74th minute. Tampa Bay has converted just two of seven attempts
this season.
Diallo picked up a yellow card in the first half and will serve
a mandatory one-game suspension for exceeding yellow card point
limits when the Mutiny face Chicago on Aug. 2.