Djorkaeff, Ibrahim clean up Crew, 3:0
May 28, 2005
One is 18. The other is 37, more than twice as old. But despite the age difference, Abbe Ibrahim and Youri Djorkaeff seem to be a forward combination that is clicking. Both scored their first Metro goals as the MetroStars had another easy road victory, 3:0 over the pathetic Columbus Crew. Zach Wells saved a penalty kick to preserve the shutout.
With Tim Ward's injury and Jeff Agoos still out, Tim Regan moved to the left back spot, and Carlos Mendes took over in the middle of the defense. Mark Lisi couldn't pass a late fitness test and was replaced by Mike Magee in the midfield. Ibrahim, back from his suspension, got the start up front for benched John Wolyniec.
Djorkaeff, who took two long shots earlier in the first half, had his persistence pay off in the 38th minute. He took a pass from Eddie Gaven and unleashed a rocket from outside the Columbus box and into the upper left corner of the net.
Two minutes into the second half, it was Gaven's turn, coming off a Metro counter-attack. Ibrahim, with his back turned to the net, slotted a ball to Eddie, a play reminiscent of the last goal in the Chicago victory when Amado Guevara played the provider. Once again, Gaven had an easy time of it, and put it past the useless Bill Gaudette for a two-goal lead. Michael Bradley got an assist on the play, his first point as a Metro.
Midway through the second half Wells almost played goat and then played hero in the span of two minutes. First, he dropped the ball off a Columbus cross, leaving Edson Buddle a completely empty net to shoot at. Thankfully, the Crew striker decided to do his best Eduardo Hurtado imitation and shot wide... Way wide. Then, on a counter-attack of their own, the Columbus earned a penalty kick through ex-Metro Cornell Glen. Kyle Martino stutter-stepped, and was denied by Wells' outreached hand.
With the result all but sealed, Ibrahim's hard work finally paid off. Abbe got his in the 89th minute, taking a perfect chip at the penalty park from substitute Wolyniec, who was in the farthest-from-net left corner of the box. Ibrahim hit it off Gaudette and into the net to set the final margin.
Interestingly, Ante Razov sat on the Crew bench, not dressed to play, and was smiling as the Metros were winning...
Lineup: Wells, Regan, Parke, Mendes, Leitch, Bradley, Magee, Guevara, Gaven, Djorkaeff, Ibrahim. Subs: Wolyniec, Flores, Stammler.
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