Ecuador trip starts with 2:0 win over Emelec
March 2, 2005 (Official Game Summary)
The MetroStars beat Emelec 2-0 in Machala, Ecuador tonight in their first preseason match of the 2005 MetroStars Ecuador Pre-Season Trip. An Amado Guevara penalty kick, and a late goal from Lopez Ederson were the difference in the
contest.
Guevara's penalty was set up when Pascal Nouma was taken down in the box just as an Amado Guevara pass reached him. Guevara was given the ball from Ramon Bailey, who strung a nice series of passes together with rookie defender Chris Corcoran along the left sideline. Once the official signaled for the penalty,
Guevara calmly slid the ball to Emelec goalkeeper Diaz's lower right corner to give the Metros the 1-0 lead.
Trialist Lopez Ederson clinched the victory for the Metro in the 85th minute when he knocked home a lose ball just inside the six yard box. Gilberto played a corner kinck into the box that was not cleanly cleared by the Emelec defenders. Ederson pounced on the loose ball, and was able to drill it into the back of the net for the 2-0 lead.
After the goal, Emelec applied minimal pressure with some long distance shots, but there were none that seriously threatened Zach Wells' goal, giving the second year UCLA product a shutout in the club's first match in Ecuador.
The MetroStars had one true chance in the first half, which came off the left foot of forward John Wolyniec in the 33rd minute. Guevara played a ball over the Emelec defense, which found Wolyniec with one defender to beat. Wolyniec volleyed the bouncing ball, but his shot was deflected just high and wide of the goal.
Emelec did not force Wells to make any saves in the first
stanza, however they did come close to scoring on two occasions when players Estacio and Noboa both missed the goal high on separate occasions.
The crowd of 5,827 was very friendly towards the visitors and applauded the MetroStars on multiple occasions.
Also of note was the 45 minute performance of MetroStars defender Chris Leitch which came exactly three weeks after undergoing successful hernia surgery.
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