4:2 MetroStars New England Walsh Valencia Shak Mathis Baba Harris 06.17.00 · League

The MetroStars rattled the Eastern Division-leading New England Revolution 4-2 Saturday afternoon at Giants Stadium, closing the gap in the Division standings. MetroStars forward Adolfo Valencia recorded the equalizer in the 41st minute of play before assisting on rookie Steve Shak's game-winner in extra time of the first half. The game-winning tally was Shak's first career MLS goal.

The MetroStars jumped to a 1-0 lead in the 20th minute on a 30-yard Billy Walsh blast. Veteran defender Thomas Dooley passed the ball into the Metros' midfield, where Clint Mathis flicked the ball to an unmarked Walsh. Walsh took advantage of the open space by unleashing a blistering shot that blazed past Revolution goalkeeper Jeff Causey for Walsh's first goal of the 2000 season.

New England wasted no time in taking control of the game, beginning with an Imad Baba penalty kick goal in the 24th minute of play. Five minutes later, Baba generated the go-ahead goal by feeding forward Wolde Harris. A prolonged Revolution assault forced MetroStars 'keeper Mike Ammann to make several spectacular saves. Ammann's deflection of a Baba shot landed on the feet of Harris at the edge of the six-yard box, and the Jamaican striker slotted the ball home in the 29th minute.

MetroStars forward Adolfo Valencia added to his team-leading goal total in the 41st minute, beating two defenders before finding the back of the net. Valencia received the ball at the top of the box when defender Mike Petke intercepted a Revolution clearance attempt. The big Colombian waited for Brian Dunseth and Mauricio Ramos to converge before he turned, slit the defense, and tallied his eighth MLS goal.

The MetroStars reclaimed the lead in the closing seconds of the first half when rookie Steve Shak's deft touch put the ball past Causey. Midfielder Mark Chung hammered a 61mile per hour shot that rang off the goalpost and caromed back into play. Shak, the first overall pick in the 2000 SuperDraft, ran onto the loose ball and deftly touched it just inside the near post.

Mathis recorded the insurance goal in the opening minutes of the second half, curling a wicked free kick over the Revolution wall from just outside the penalty area. Mathis' kick beat the wall cleanly, curving toward the near post before dipping violently. Causey could not react to the unexpected blast, and the ball crossed the goal line untouched.

With the win, the Metros (7-7) have captured the same number of wins in 14 games as the team recorded in the entire 1999 season.

Lineup: Ammann, Dooley, Jolley, Petke, Shak, Chung, Walsh, Ramos, Hernandez, Mathis, Valencia. Subs: Perez, Comas, Corrales.