Metros score early, hold off DC, 3:2
April 1, 2000 (Official Game Summary)
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Comas
Kelly
Valencia
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Moreno
Agoos
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The MetroStars' Colombian strikers generated three goals as the Metros outlasted D.C. United 3-2 in their home opener Saturday night at Giants Stadium. Adolfo "El Tren" Valencia and Alex Comas each had a goal and an assist as the MetroStars downed the defending MLS champions for the first time since May of 1998. A crowd of 27,322 fans enjoyed the MetroStars home opener, which featured the home debut of Lothar Matthaus. Matthaus played in a defensive midfield role in a revamped Metros lineup. Valencia headed home a Mark Chung free kick from six yards out to put the MetroStars firmly in command at 3-0 in the 56th minute. Chung was deep in the left corner, and found "El Tren" free directly in front of D.C. goalkeeper Tom Presthus. Brian Kelly finished off an impressive sequence for the MetroStars in the 23rd minute to make it 2-0. Ramiro Corrales stopped a United attack near midfield and sent Chung through the center of the field. A nice one-two combination between Kelly and Chung brought the ball to the top of the box for Alex Comas, who freed Valencia into the box. Presthus made a diving stop on "El Tren", but the rebound lay in the goalmouth for a charging Kelly to slot home for his first goal of the season. Comas got the MetroStars on the board early, sending Valencia into the box on a perfect through ball from the right wing. United defender Carey Talley took Valencia down, garnering a penalty shot for the Metros. Comas promptly stepped up and buried the penalty past D.C. goalkeeper Tom Presthus to make it 1-0. The Colombian veteran has two goals in his first two MLS games. United's Jeff Agoos earned a yellow card for dissent while arguing the foul. D.C. got one back in the 62nd minute after Matthaus took Richie Williams down in the box. Jaime Moreno stepped up and buried the penalty kick to make it 3-1. Agoos then made it 3-2 in the 84th minute off a 22-yard free kick. Matthaus served as the MetroStars captain, with Thomas Dooley out with a right hamstring pull. The Metros were also without creative midfielder Tab Ramos, nursing a hamstring injury that will likely sideline him for at least one more game.
Lineup: Ammann, Petke, Khakpour, Shak, Corrales, Matthaus, Villegas, Chung, Kelly, Comas, Valencia. Subs: Perez, Walsh.
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