Floodgates open as Metros, Quakes put up 4s
July 2, 2003
|
 |
Guevara
Magee
Mathis 2
|
Ching 2
Lagos
Donovan
|
|
|
|
|
If it was Tim Howard's last home game as a Metro, it was definitely a weird way to go out. Howard allowed four goals, but the Metros matched that with four of their own, to tie San Jose. The MetroStars haven't beaten this franchise since they were the Clash in 1998. Clint Mathis scored two goals, including one in second half injury time that seemed to give Metros the win, only to be denied by a Landon Donovan reply a minute later.
It was Mathis who created the first goal of the game, taking a long pass from Howard in the 7th minute and taking the ball all the way up field. Clint then crossed to Amado Guevara, who knocked it in past Pat Onstad for his first goal as a Metro from the field of play.
Eight minutes later, San Jose equalized as Howard saved Brian Ching's shot, but the ball was judged to cross the line. Ching then gave San Jose the lead in the 34th minute as the Metro defense left Howard out to dry, with the Metro goalie chasing Earthquake forwards in the box and leaving the net empty for an easy score.
Mike Magee leveled the score just two minutes after, as Ricardo Clark headed down a Metro free kick in the San Jose box, Magee pouncing on it for his fifth goal of the season. And two minutes from halftime Mathis made it 3:2 with a sublime redirection of a Guevara pass.
The Metros came out lethargic in the second half, and ex-Metro Manny Lagos did the inevitable, leveling the score in the 78th minute off a corner kick. In the 85th minute, another ex-Metro, Ramiro "you suck" Corrales, who already was subbed out of the game, was shown the exit for whipping a towel at Guevara as the latter attempted to retrieve the ball next to the visitor's bench.
The scuffle gave the game five minutes of injury time, and Mathis hit a perfect strike into the net, giving the Metros a 4:3 lead after the clock stroke 90. Unfortunately, almost immediately Donovan tied the game as the Metro defense broke down yet again.
Both teams had numerous scoring chances in overtime, but neither could convert. Timmy, if this is indeed your last game, thank you!
Lineup: Howard, Bartolomeu, Forchetti, Arena, Ziadie, Clark, Williams, Lisi, Guevara, Magee, Mathis. Subs: Moreno, Gaven.
|
