TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- Manuel Lagos scored two goals and Tampa Bay's defense did the rest as the Mutiny edged Dallas 2-1 Saturday night to reclaim first place in MLS' Central Division.
Tampa Bay (13-10-2) has 41 points, three more than second-place
Chicago, which plays the MetroStars on Sunday. Tampa Bay held sole
possession of first for three weeks before losing to Chicago 1-0 on
Wednesday.
The win was Tampa Bay's third in four games this season against
Dallas, which fell to 10-12-4, last in the Central.
Carlos Valderrama, the league-leader with 22 assists, and Steve
Ralston had a hand in both Tampa Bay scores.
On Lagos' first goal, which came in the 20th minute, Valderrama
took a pass from Ralston, then found Lagos open in the flat near
the penalty area. Lagos scooted by one defender and fired a shot
past Dallas goalkeeper Matt Jordan.
Lagos scored again in the 46th minute from close range after
taking a pass from Valderrama 10 feet from the left post. His shot
went over Jordan's head into the back of the net.
Tampa Bay goalkeeper Scott Garlick stopped nine shots, including
one late in the first half that hit the top post and deflected into
the stands.
Garlick's sole mistake came during injury time in the second
half, when Aleksey Korol scored after taking a 40-yard pass from
Lazo Alavanja.
The Mutiny played without forward Mamadou Diallo, the league's
leading scorer, for the second consecutive game. Diallo was
suspended for Saturday's game and fined $1,000 for entering the
referee secure area and confronting referee Misail Tsapos moments
after the Mutiny's loss to Chicago, a game he missed and watched in
street clothes because of a yellow card point accumulation.