3:1 MetroStars New England Faria 2 Valencia Williams 09.07.01 · League

Rodrigo Faria scored two goals to give him team-leading eight, and Adolfo Valencia added a third as the Metros easily took care of New England, 3:1. All four goals in the game were scored in the first half, as the Metros coasted through the second to guarantee them a second straight season over .500.

Faria opened the scoring just five minutes into the game, heading in a Daniel Hernandez corner kick (did anyone notice how the Metros became more productive from set pieces once Hernandez started taking them?) past a diving Jose Fernandez (and this guy starts for Bolivia? He's not much better than Jeff Causey, and we all know how good Jeff Causey is).

Just seven minutes later, New England tied the score, as Andy Williams knocked one in. But in the 27th minute, Faria struck again, converting a Petter Villegas cross. The goal gave Faria the Metro lead for the season with eight, and also tied two other players for MLS all-time rookie record.

Adolfo Valencia finally ended his two-month-long MLS scoring drought by converting yet another Daniel Hernandez corner kick in injury time of the first half.

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