Vermes vs DC United, 1996

MetroFanatic takes a closer look at every game played in the Metros' not-so-successful playoff history. The totals: five wins (one by shootout), seven losses (one by shootout), one tie, 22 goals scored, 25 allowed. The key numbers: four series lost, and only one won.

1996:
Game 1 - Metros 2, DC Scum 2, (SO 6-5): After Metros come back twice to tie in regulation (Antony De Avila and Giovanni Savarese), a historic shootout ensues, with Tony Meola stepping up before two field players do. Then, in the 11th frame, the limping captain Peter Vermes puts one through shootout specialist Jeff Causey to give the Metros the win.

Game 2 - DC Scum 1, Metros 0: Fresh off their incredible victory, the Metros cannot score in DC, and Marco Etcheverry's lone goal proves to be the margin.

Game 3 - DC Scum 2, Metros 1: The game will always be remembered for the Rob Johnson foul on Marco Etcheverry with just two minutes left. The Metros tied the game on a De Avila goal just three minutes earlier, but Raul Diaz Arce's penalty kick sends DC Scum to the semifinals.

1998:
Game 1 - Columbus 5, Metros 3: In a preview of things to come under just-hired genius Bora Milutinovic, the Metros allow the four goals in the game's first 38 minutes, coming back late to make it closer than it ever was.

Game 2 - Metros 1, Columbus 1, (SO 2-3): Tab Ramos scores on a free kick in the 13th minute, but Stern John answers nine minutes later. Having not lost a shootout all year, the Metros find a lousy place to start, as Mike Petke misses in the 5th frame and Metros get swept.

2000:
Game 1 - Metros 2, Dallas 1: After Clint Mathis opens the scoring and third-string goalie Paul Grafer stops a Dallas penalty kick, the Burn does manage to tie the game in the 67th minute. But Adolfo Valencia scores in the dying seconds of overtime to send the ecstatic crowd into a frenzy.

Game 2 - Dallas 1, Metros 2: The Metros finally advance past the first round, with Mathis continuing his dominance of Dallas to score both goals. Grafer becomes the answer to a trivia question as the first Metro goalie to win a playoff series.

Game 3 - Chicago 3, Metros 0: Grafer shows he can't be the answer as Chicago scores three, dominating the Metros in every facet of the game.

Game 4 - Metros 2, Chicago 0: Fresh off their worst game of the year, the Metros play their best. Mike Ammann's early return from his gruesome injury inspires the defense and Mark Chung and Valencia score to even the series.

Game 5 - Chicago 3, Metros 2: Chicago takes an early lead with goals by C.J. Brown and Hristo Stoitchkov, and all seems lost until Valencia scores in the 32nd and 36th to tie the game. The Metros then seem to take the lead, but Valencia's third gets called back on a questionable offside call. With two minutes left in the game, Ante Razov seals Metros' fate, winning the game for Chicago.

2001:
Game 1 - LA 1, Metros 1: Rodrigo Faria scores against the run of play in the 29th minute, but the Metros can't hold on to the lead as Paul Cagliuri ties the game in the 63rd, guaranteeing the series will go to three games.

Game 2 - Metros 4, LA 1: Sasha Victorine scores just four minutes in to give LA the lead, but an inspired second half gives the Metros their biggest playoff win ever. The four-goals-in-eleven-minutes assault starts in the 72nd, as Faria, Mark Chung, Faria again, and Valencia destroy the horrible Kevin Hartman.

Game 3 - LA 4, Metros 2: Needing only a tie in advance, the Metros fail as Victorine scores in the 21st and 33rd to give LA a two-goal lead. Petter Villegas plays the game of his life, scoring two goals, but an Adam Frye tally off a corner kick in between the Metro efforts gives the Galaxy the regulation win it needed. In the ensuing overtime, Mauricio Cienfuegos' free kick deflects of Chung to send the Metros home.