Metros, champions of Europe
May 26, 2001
Too bad this one doesn't count in the standings. The MetroStars, facing almost exactly the same team that won the European Cup just three days ago, came out with a decisive 2:0 victory. Clint Mathis and Alex Comas scored for the Metros to defeat German powerhouse Bayern Munich.
The game started predictably, with most action taking place in the Metro half of the field. But after a few chances by Bayern could not find the back of the net, the Metros started to counter-attack. Mathis had the first good chance of the game, after making his best and blasting the shot wide after a bad pass by Comas. Then, in the 36th minute, he stole the ball from Michael Tarnat and chipped the ball over Bernd Dreher to give the Metros the lead they will not relinquish.
Just seven minutes later, Alex Comas, who had a magnificent game after so many awful ones, heading in a pass from Mark Chung.
Paul Grafer went in for Tim Howard at the half, but even that couldn't help Bayern to get on the board. Comas, Chung, Richie Williams, and Rodrigo Faria all had chances to make the margin greater. But at the end, a 2:0 scoreline was as perfect an ending as could have been.
For those who said that Bayern just played on Wednesday and flew from Munich, the Metros just played on Thursday and flew from Kansas City. And while they were missing Oliver Kahn and Bixente Lizarazu, they still brought a star-studded lineup: Steffan Effenberg, Paulo Sergio, Ciriaco Sforza. And those stars couldn't even score on Paul Grafer.
Take that, Bayern. Take that, Germany. Take that, Europe.
Metros 2, Bayern 0.
P.S. No one is saying that we are now on par with the best of the world. But hell, this was a nice win.
|