MIAMI (AP) -- Preki had a goal and three assists as the Miami Fusion extended their unbeaten streak to 11 straight games with a 4-3 victory over the Columbus Crew on Saturday night.
Playing in the Orange Bowl for the first time in their four-year MLS history, the Fusion (11-1-2) gained control with three goals in a 13-minute span late in the first half.
After falling behind 4-1, the Crew (4-5-4) got within a goal on
Brian Maisonneuve's goal in the 89th minute.
Both teams played without several starters who are either
competing on World Cup national qualifying teams or serving
suspensions.
Preki's fourth goal of the season tied it at 1-1 in the 29th minute. Preki then assisted on goals by Jim Rooney in the 36th minute, Diego Serna in the 42nd and Alex Pineda Chacon in the 55th.
Columbus opened the scoring on Dante Washington's fifth goal of
the season in the 28th minute. Edson Buddle had the Crew's second
goal, scoring in the 55th minute off a corner kick.
Miami is 9-0-2 in its last 11 games.
The Fusion were without five starters as Carlos Llamosa, Chris
Henderson and Nick Rimando will play for the U.S. National Team on Sunday in Mexico. Tyrone Marshall played for the Jamaican national
team at Trinidad and Tobago on Saturday, and Ivan McKinley served a
yellow-card accumulation suspension.
Missing for Columbus were U.S. National Team player Brian McBride and Ansil Elcock of the Trinidad and Tobago national team. Jeff Cunningham sat out because of a mandatory red-card suspension.