Season 10: Beware of the Bogeyman

as in the number of goals he has scored against them in 25 games in his 10-year MLS career. In fact, no player has scored more goals against any one team than Moreno has, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. That's almost a fourth of Moreno's career 82 goals.

Next on the list Real Salt Lake's Jason Kreis with 14 goals in 28 games vs. the Kansas City Wizards, followed by retired forward Roy Lassiter (14 in 23 vs. the MetroStars), Jeff Cunningham (13 in 24 vs. the Chicago Fire), Clint Mathis (13 in 16 vs. FC Dallas) and Moreno again (13 in 25 vs. the Columbus Crew).

If the 31-year-old Moreno has a secret to his success against United's Eastern Conference rival, he isn't saying. He isn't certain himself why he piles up the goals against the MetroStars, who host United at Giants Stadium this Sunday at 6 p.m. ET.

It is nothing personal.

"I don't know. I don't know if there is an answer for that," Moreno said. "As a forward, you just try to do your job every game. Obviously, I haven't been able to score every time I've played. It's just one of those things against the MetroStars that I've been scoring the most goals. It's not because I try hard but because it happens."

The commensurate professional, the 5-foot-10, 178-pound Moreno said that he is more concerned about winning than scoring goals.

"Every time I step onto the field my mentality is to do well, help my team and try to score if I can," he said. "If it happens, good. In my mind, the most important thing is the team and the result."

Moreno has four MLS Cup rings -- from 1996, 1997, 1999 and 2004. His first goal against the MetroStars came on the road to the very first MLS Cup in the first game of the first round of the 1996 playoffs.

John Harkes sent a short corner kick to Raul Diaz Arce, who sent the ball to Marco Etcheverry at the far post. Etcheverry found Moreno, who headed it past goalkeeper Tony Meola to give United a short-lived 2-1 lead before the MetroStars prevailed 3-2 in a shootout.

Moreno, always the competitor, didn't remember the goal. But he did rememeber that he had to sit out Game 3 of the best-of-three series due to a red card he incurred in Game 2 for taking a swing at defender Nicola Caricola.

"One of the bad moments I had in my career," he said.

Pressed to talk about one memorable goal vs. the MetroStars, Moreno said it was the 85th-minute score -- off a Freddy Adu feed -- in the second game of last season's Eastern Conference semifinals that clinched the series for United.

"It was like game over," Moreno said. "For me, goals stand out when there is a final or like when you (qualify) for a final. I scored a couple of good goals in the final. Those goals are the most important for me. Those goals stand out more than anything else."

So, it wasn't very surprising that Moreno listed his goals in MLS Cups '97 and '99 as memorable goals. Internationally, he listed scores against Mexico in the Copa America semifinals and against Colombia in a World Cup qualifier for his native Bolivia.

His most memorable goal last season? Easy -- in United's season opener against the San Jose Earthquakes in his first game back with D.C. after struggling through a disastrous 2003 season for the MetroStars due to a pair of herniated disks in his back. Moreno was named MLS player of the week.

"The header was special," he said.

The defending champions have gotten off to a mediocre start. D.C. finds itself in fifth place in the Eastern Conference with a three wins and three draws in 10 games after last week's scoreless tie with San Jose. Moreno's team improvement list includes winning more road matches and making less mistakes.

"That's the key right now," he said. "We're always going to create chances. We need to stop them."

Moreno leads United with four goals (and two assists), but he is far from satisfied.

"I know that there's more to give," he said. "I'm working on it like everybody else. I'm confident we're going to start picking it up."

Here's some more bad news for the MetroStars: Moreno isn't considering retirement any time soon.

"As long as they let me. Of course, I'm going to retire at my best level. People remember the good players. I hope it won't be too soon because I feel like I can give more to this country. I'm having a little fun right now."

Moreno will try to have some more fun against the MetroStars on Sunday.

Michael Lewis writes about soccer for the New York Daily News and is editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has covered MLS since its inception, including the league's unveiling at the 1994 World Cup draw in Las Vegas. He can be reached at SoccerWriter516@aol.com. Views and opinions expressed in this column are the author's, and not necessarily those of Major League Soccer or its clubs.