Unbeaten streak lives as Metros tie Crew, 1:1
May 31, 2003
The MetroStars stretched their unbeaten streak to seven, needing a second-half Clint Mathis penalty kick to tie Columbus, 1:1. Mathis' goal came in his fifth straight game, breaking his own Metro record. Eddie Pope missed the entire second half and overtime with a sprained left knee.
Richie Williams and Joey DiGiamarino regained their places in the starting lineup after missing last week's game due to injury and suspension, respectively. Kenny Arena played his first substantial minutes of the year coming on at halftime for Pope.
Columbus' goal came in the 34th minute after ex-Metro Ross Paule found Jeff Cunningham at the edge of the box. For some reason, the entire Metro defense froze and Cunningham's shot beat Tim Howard to the far post.
In the 64th minute, Metros scored the equalizer as Mathis sent in a perfect pass to Amado Guevara in the box. Guevara took too long to shoot, but once Jon Busch saved his shot, he brought down Guevara when the latter was trying to reclaim the ball. Mathis easily put one in from the spot.
A few minutes later, a clear hand ball in the Columbus box was not called, leaving the game tied through regulation. Crew thug Chad McCarty was not carded for trying to take off Howard's head as the referee often lost control of the game. John Wolyniec, who came in overtime, had the best chance of the extra period, but whiffed on a Jose Galvan through ball.
The winning streak might be over, but you got to take a hard-fought road point.
Lineup: Howard, DiGiamarino, Jolley, Pope, Ziadie, Clark, Williams, Lisi, Guevara, Magee, Mathis. Subs: Arena, Galvan, Wolyniec.
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