2:3 Miami MetroStars Chacon 2 Faria Villegas Hernandez 08.25.01 · League

A Daniel Hernandez free kick with two minutes left in the game gave the Metros an improbable victory in Miami, 3:2. Down for most of the match, the Metros needed two goals in the last six minutes of the game to pull it out, giving them their third win over the league-leaders this season and clinching a playoff berth in the process.

Miami opened the scoring just nine minutes into the game, with Alex Pineda Chacon taking a pass from Diego Serna to give the Fusion an early 1:0 lead. Miami had most of the possession for the rest of the first half, with numerous chances coming their way, only to be denied by Tim Howard once and again.

The Metros began to pick up their play late in the half, and opened the second half with a lot of offensive pressure as well. Petter Villegas, a terror on the right wing, found Rodrigo Faria with a perfect cross just three minutes into the period to tie the game.

The teams exchanged chances throughout the second half, but it was Miami who scored to take the lead with only 12 minutes left, Chacon out-jumping Orlando Perez in the box to head the ball in. But while this looked like another road loss, in the 84th minute, the inspired Villegas hit a low knuckler from just outside the box past the unexpecting Nick Rimando to tie the game. And at the brink of extra time, after a Llamosa foul about 30 yards from goal, Hernandez blasted a free kick over the seven-man Miami wall to give the Metros the incredible victory.

Lineup: Howard, Petke, Jolley, Perez, Williams, Hernandez, Alvarez, Chung, Paule, Villegas, Faria. Subs: Gilmar, Semioli.