3:2 DC United MetroStars Gomez 2 Petke Wolyniec Clark 10.17.04 · League

This game might not have been that important, but the situation was eerily similar to last year's, and we all know how that went. With only home field advantage on the line in the last regular season game against the upcoming playoff opponent for the second year in a row, the Metros once again lost the questionable benefit, dropping to DC Scum 3:2. John Wolyniec and Ricardo Clark scored for the Metros.

Unlike last year's finale, Bob Bradley did not rest most of his starters. In fact, all regulars except for road-weary Amado Guevara began the game, and Guevara did come in at halftime. Sergio Galvan Rey kept his place on top, and Mike Magee and Joselito Vaca returned to the lineup after injuries.

The Metros scored first, in the 14th minute, as Eddie Gaven passed the ball from the goalline to Wolyniec, who redirected it with his head over the overmatched Nick Rimando. But the Metro advantage lasted all of nine minutes, as Christian Gomez first tied it and then gave DC the lead six minutes later.

Ricardo Clark, who almost tied the game with a great shot that Rimando saved late in the first half, did tie it by hitting a rocket from outside the box in the 50th minute. Unfortunately, ex-Metro Mike Petke rose high on a corner kick to give DC another goal in the 64th. That was it for scoring, but Craig Ziadie got a costly second yellow taking down the punk Freddy Adu in the 68th. With Tenywa Bonseu still nursing an injury and Ziadie now suspended, the Metros will have a gaping hole at right back for the first playoff game. Later in the half, the Scum was up to its dirty tricks as Ryan Nelsen punched Gaven in the face... No card was given.

And that first playoff game is next Saturday, at home to the same Scum. Home field advantage... who cares? Or not?...

Lineup: Walker, Leitch, Pope, Parke, Ziadie, Clark, Vaca, Magee, Gaven, Galvan Rey, Wolyniec. Subs: Guevara, Arena, Brenes.