1:0 MetroStars New England Guevara 10.22.05 · Playoff

Amado Guevara scored the lone goal of the match and the MetroStars played a perfect defensive game, shutting out top seed New England 1:0 to claim their first playoff victory since 2001. The defense, so autrocious as recent as three weeks ago, was outstanding, stiffling the once-potent Revolution attack.

Mo Johnston made one change from the team that clinched the playoff berth; the team stayed with 3-5-2 as promised, with Seth Stammler in left midfield for Tim Regan, his first pro start in midfield. The game started fast-pased. After some good early chances, with Matt Reis denying Eddie Gaven and the crossbar stopping Sergio Galvan Rey, the play slowed down. But in the 34th minute, off a Stammler throw-in, Youri Djorkaeff laid off a seemingly harmless ball to Guevara on the left flank. The Honduran took a long low shot that went through the Rev defense, beat Reis to the short side, and gave Metro the lead.

And that was all the Metros needed. For the Revs could do nothing -- nothing -- to penetrate the Metro defense. Carlos Mendes, Jason Hernandez, and Jeff Agoos -- yes, Jeff Agoos -- were all terrific on the backline, Stammler and Gaven clamped down on the wings (Stammler was especially effective, completely shutting down Steve Ralston), and Michael Bradley and Mark Lisi closed off central midfield. Tony Meola, who had to stand on his head last week, did not have to make a single tough save. The shutout was only the second in Metro playoff history, the first being Mike Ammann's clean sheet over Chicago in 2000.

The Metros could have extended the lead in the second half, but Guevara couldn't convert after beating the offside trap to walk in on goal. Nevertheless, the Metros take the lead -- be it the slimmest of leads -- into New England for the return leg.

Who knows?...

Lineup: Meola, Agoos, Mendes, Hernandez, Stammler, Bradley, Lisi, Guevara, Gaven, Djorkaeff, Galvan Rey.