Metro beats DC on an own goal, 2:1
July 21, 2001 (Official Game Summary)
A late own goal by Carey Talley allowed the MetroStars to slip by DC United by a score of 2-1 Saturday afternoon at Giants Stadium. Talley scored the equalizer in the second half of play, erasing the MetroStars' early lead, before accidentally redirecting Rodrigo Faria's shot into the back of his own net in the 86th minute of play.
The MetroStars jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the sixth minute, as midfielder Billy Walsh finished off the rebound of a brilliant Mark Chung attempt. Coming off a Petter Villegas corner kick, the ball fell to Chung at the far top corner of the box. Chung took a wicked one-touch volley shot that rocketed toward goal, forcing 'keeper Mike Ammann to make a desperate leaping save. In the confusion in front of the net, Walsh alertly slipped in and nodded home the loose ball, earning his third goal of the season.
The Metros took a hit in the middle of the second half, however, losing Roy Myers to a knee injury caused by an inadvertent midfield collision with DC United's Ryan Nelsen. Steve Shak made his ninth appearance of the year in his stead, entering the field in the 28th minute.
Following the halftime break, United drew even with a Talley goal in the 59th minute. Marco Etcheverry drew a foul on the edge of the box, setting up a United free kick in dangerous territory. Etcheverry's driven cross found Talley at the far post, but goalkeeper Tim Howard was able to get a hand on the attempt. The determined Talley recovered the ball immediately for the second effort, forcing the ball into the back of the net for the equalizer.
DC United missed two golden opportunities to take the lead during the last third of the game. In the 64th minute of play, Bryan Namoff broke in alone on Howard. Howard, coming out to challenge the shot, held his ground to force Namoff to shoot wide. Howard stopped the far post shot with an outstretched right leg to snuff out the chance.
Namoff again missed the potential game winner, this time in the 84th minute of play. Forward Chris Albright played a beautiful give-and-go with Namoff, flicking the ball over his head and into space for an onrushing Namoff. Namoff's ran onto the ball in full stride with a clear shot at goal, but his attempt went over the crossbar.
The MetroStars made United pay for their mistakes in the closing minutes of regulation time. Rodrigo Faria slipped into space behind the United defense in the 86th minute to receive a wonderfully slotted ball through the midfield. Faria evaded the recovering defense and took a shot on goal that seemed destined to roll wide of the goalmouth. Talley, attempting to slide back to clear the ball from danger, however, misplayed the ball directly in front of net. The ball rattled around Talley's ankles and was redirected over the goal line before Ammann could recover.
Lineup: Howard, Perez, Petke, Jolley, Hernandez, Walsh, Williams, Chung, Villegas, Myers, Faria. Subs: Valencia, Alvarez, Shak.
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