Metros clinch playoff spot, beat Dallas' cows, 2:0
September 25, 2004
Ex-Metro Steve Jolley was victimized on both goals as the MetroStars clinched a playoff spot, beating Dallas 2:0. John Wolyniec and Cornell Glen scored for the Metros, as they played a perfect defensive game in the cavernous empty Cotton Bowl.
With Gilberto finally back from injury and Ricardo Clark returning from his yellow card suspension, Bob Bradley sat Pablo Brenes and Fabian Taylor, leaving Wolyniec as the lone man on top. Craig Ziadie also stepped into the starting lineup for the injured Tenywa Bonseu.
Dallas had most of the ball early on, but the Metros settled down. And in the 30th minute, Amado Guevara found Craig Ziadie on the right flank. The Jamaican crossed from almost the endline onto the onrushing Wolyniec, who had Jolley on his back. The ex-Metro proved no match for the current one, as Woly banked it in for his ninth of the year. Dallas could have tied it just before the half; as Jonny Walker made a huge save with his hand, the ball dropped to Brad Davis with nothing but an empty net in front of him. The other Dallas ex-Metro shanked the shot wide.
Gilberto, still not fully fit, was replaced by Cornell Glen at the half, but the Metros still played a great defensive game. Dallas had very few dangerous opportunities, as Eddie Pope stood up to play his best game of the year. The Metros' best chance of the half came in the 85th minute when Wolyniec was taken down on a breakaway in the Dallas box, but no foul was called. The Metros did put the game out of reach in injury time. Cornell Glen got the ball close to the midfield at the left sideline, and with Jolley grabbing and pushing him, fought the ex-Metro off. The Trinidadian was off to the races, and beat Jeff Cassar to seal the win.
So just like last year, a 2:0 win with three games left clinches a playoff spot. Let's just hope this year's stretch run improves on the previous one.
Lineup: Walker, Leitch, Pope, Parke, Ziadie, Flores, Clark, Guevara, Gaven, Magee, Wolyniec. Subs: Glen, Brenes, Arena.
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