2:3 MetroStars Miami Walsh Valencia Williams Welton Serna 09.12.00 · Open Cup

Colombian striker Diego Serna netted the game-winner and an assist as the Miami Fusion advanced to the U.S. Open Cup final with a convincing 3-2 win over the MetroStars at Mitchel Athletic Complex in Long Island. The Fusion will take on the Chicago Fire in Soldier Field on October 21 for the opportunity to bring South Florida its first sports championship of the millenium.

Forward Andy Williams gave the Fusion an early lead on a spectacular 11th minute goal. The Jamaican National Team standout picked up a pass from defender Tim Sahaydak near midfield and dribbled past three defenders before drilling a 32-yard looping shot that found the lower left corner.

The Metros nearly painted a very different picture in the third minute, but Sahaydak acrobatically cleared a shot by Adolfo Valencia off the goal line. Valencia nearly struck again in the 33rd minute on a short header that bounced off the left post after a lightning-quick save by Fusion 'keeper Nick Rimando.

The home team finally broke through in the 40th minute when defender Billy Walsh calmly collected a pass by midfielder Tab Ramos and placed it past Rimando from 15 yards out.

Serna and Brazilian forward Welton combined for two second-half goals in a two-minute span. In the 61st minute Serna, dribbling freely down the right side of the field on a breakaway, floated a pass to Welton who one-timed the ball past Metro's goalkeeper Paul Grafer. The two South Americans switched roles in the 63rd minute, with Welton feeding Serna for another breakaway goal to give the Fusion a 3-1 lead.

The MetroStars pushed forward the balance of the game, getting one back in the 83rd minute on a goal by Valencia. On the other side of the pitch, the Fusion could not convert on a handful of clear opportunities off the counterattack.

Lineup: Grafer, Petke, Matthaus, Jolley, Walsh, Ramos, Myers, Villegas, Chung, Comas, Valencia. Subs: Mathis, Gomez.