Washington, D.C. (April 17, 2009) - With a dramatic 91st minute assist in D.C. United’s 1-1 tie against the New England Revolution tonight, Jaime Moreno became the first player in MLS history to record 100 goals and 100 assists. His pass in stoppage time to set up Ben Olsen’s goal, gave the Bolivian forward his100th assist. Coupled with his unmatched 122 goals in League play, the feat is yet another accomplishment in Moreno’s long and storied career in Major League Soccer.
No stranger to making history, Moreno became the League’s leading goal scorer in 2007, netting his 109th goal against New York on 8/22/07. Last season, Moreno again set an impressive mark, tallying ten goals and ten assists to join the retired Preki as the only two players to have ever accomplished this feat in four seasons during a career.
Moreno began his career in the nation’s capital in 1996, coming over after a three-year stint with Middlesbrough in the English Premier League. He contributed five goals in 16 League and Cup matches, playing a part in United’s inaugural MLS Cup victory at the end of the 1996 season. Over the course of the next few years, Moreno was one of United’s most consistent attacking threats and quickly established himself as one of the League’s best players. He won the Golden Boot in 1997 by scoring 16 goals, a total he duplicated the following year.
Moreno’s production dipped slightly - by his standards - after the turn of the century. He led all United scorers with 12 goals and seven assists to win his first team scoring title in the 2000 season. Knee and back problems began to plague him over the next few years, limiting his goal scoring production. After a one-year stint with New York, the Bolivian returned to the Black-and-Red in 2004. Despite having potentially career-ending back surgery before the season started, Moreno worked hard to stay healthy and played in 27 matches. He tallied seven goals and 14 assists as he led United to a record fourth MLS Cup.
While many players fade with age, Moreno seemed to get better. He matched his highest goal output in 2005 with 16 - something he hadn’t done since 1998 - and was named to the MLS Best XI for the fourth time in his career. He hit the goal-scoring century mark in 2006, the same year that he was named as part of the All-Time Best XI to celebrate the 10th season of MLS, also chipping in 11 goals and ten assists that year. The legendary striker is a seven-time MLS All-Star.
His impressive professional career is accompanied by a lengthy international career with Bolivia. Prior to his 2008 retirement from international play, Moreno represented his home country a total of 48 times while a member of United, appearances that included numerous World Cup Qualifiers and competing in the Copa America and the Confederations Cup. Overall, Moreno has 75 career caps, scoring a total of nine goals.
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Doug Hicks,
dhicks@dcunited.com
, (202) 587-5448,
Boris Flores,
bflores@dcunited.com
, (202) 587-5452,
Kyle Sheldon,
ksheldon@dcunited.com
, (202) 587-5450 or
Cristina Cruz,
ccruz@dcunited.com
, (202) 587-5440
