0:1 Kansas City MetroStars Gaven 09.10.05 · League

The MetroStars scored off an Eddie Gaven shot late in the first half and the defense held up for the second, earning the team's first 1:0 victory in over a year. Tim Regan's ejection left the Metros with ten for the last 35 minutes, but they battled to preserve the previous three points. Tony Meola was great in the nets, earning his first Metro shutout since 1998.

The MetroStars made just one change from last week's lineup; Ante Razov came back to take his starting spot from Abbe Ibrahim. Kansas City had most of the play early in the game, and had two terrific chances to open the scoring. But first, Meola made a terrific save, and then, Jeff Agoos backtracked on a Scott Sealy breakway, calmly getting the ball out of danger after it went past Tony.

As the half went forward, the MetroStars began to attack more. A perfect long ball from Youri Djorkaeff split half the Wizard team and found Razov, who hit it directly into Oshoniyi. Then, two minutes from the break, Mike Magee was fouled in the Wizard half, and Amado Guevara sent a free kick into the scramble in the box. Tim Ward came up with the ball and sent it back to Gaven, who shot it back through traffic. The ball bounced off Sasha Victorine and into the net, originally ruled an own goal but later changed to Gaven.

The Metros' best chances of the second half both came through Gaven; early in the period, he was taken down in the box by Jose Burciaga, but no foul was called. Late in the session, he hit a sizzling long shot across the box, just missing the net.

The game changed in the 65th minute, when Regan, who was just carded two minutes before, was shown a second yellow for a tackle from behind. The Metros immediately bunkered and Kansas City began to send attacks and waves. But the inspired play of Meola, back to his old stomping grounds, and the Metro defense, led by the terrific Carlos Mendes, kept the lead through regulation and then the agonizing how-did-they-come-up-with-that-number four minutes of stoppage time. Meola had to come up with a couple of clutch save late.

Besides Gaven, Meola, and Mendes, Michael Bradley and Mike Magee played extremely well.

Lineup: Meola, Ward, Agoos, Mendes, Regan, Bradley, Magee, Guevara, Gaven, Djorkaeff, Razov. Subs: Leitch, Lisi, Ibrahim.