Metros come back to burn Dallas, 2:1
July 5, 2000 (Official Game Summary)
The MetroStars extended their unbeaten streak to six games and their Eastern Division lead to six points with a 2-1 victory over the Dallas Burn at Giants Stadium on Wednesday night. Goalkeeper Tim Howard allowed his first goal in 2000, but made five saves to improve to 2-0-1 in the MetroStars' goal. The MetroStars (10-7-2) took command of the game in the 59th minute. Billy Walsh controlled a loose ball after a sloppy Ricardo Iribarren clearing attempt at the top of the box and blasted a shot towards goal. The ball deflected off Burn midfielder Lazo Alavanja in the box past goalkeeper Matt Jordan to make it 2-1. Walsh now has two goals in 13 games. After Dallas (7-11-3) opened the scoring in the 24th minute, the MetroStars got the equalizer in the 31st minute. Clint Mathis, the MLS Player of the Month in June, collected a loose ball at the top of the arc and curled a shot past Jordan for his eighth goal. Mathis has five goals in 10 games with the MetroStars. Dallas struck first, as midfielder Ted Eck registered his third goal of the season in the 24th minute. MetroStars defender Mark Semioli attempted to clear an Oscar Pareja cross in front of his own goal. Eck intercepted the errant clear at the six-yard line and one-timed a shot past Howard to make it 1-0. Howard had not allowed a goal in 203 minutes of action this season. The Metros backup 'keeper had posted shutouts in his first two starts of the season in place of Mike Ammann. Ammann is suffering from a mild back strain. The MetroStars were also without the services of defender Lothar Matthaus (back strain) and midfielder Mark Chung (bruised heel). Leading scorer Adolfo Valencia (ankle contusion) appeared in just the final 14 minutes of the game. Defenders Mike Petke and Steve Jolley performed very well on the MetroStars back line, keeping top scorers Ariel Graziani and Jason Kreis in check. Graziani did have an excellent chance in extra time at the end of the first half. The Ecuadorian striker blistered a shot off Howard that glanced off the post from in tight on the left-hand side. Howard saved three points for the Metros in the 86th minute, leaping to tip a Kreis drive just over the bar off a free kick from 24 yards out.
Lineup: Howard, Jolley, Petke, Hernandez, Semioli, Walsh, Ramos, Villegas, Myers, Mathis, Comas. Subs: Corrales, Valencia, Shak.
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