2-minute flurry gives Metro win over LA, 2:1
June 17, 2006
The recipe for Metro victory is found: playing a Los Angeles-based team in an Abbey Okulaja-refereed games at home seems to do the trick. Unfortunately, that will no longer happen this year, but nevertheless, Metro got just their second win, topping the Galaxy 2:1, with all three goals coming in a span of four minutes in the first half. Edson Buddle and Jean-Philippe Peguero scored for New York.
The Metros came out with the same lineup as last week. Amado Guevara, whose injury kept him out from the start a week ago, was not even on the bench tonight. New York started out slow, and almost paid dearly early, as ex-Metro John Wolyniec's touch went past Tony Meaola and off the goal post. But the payment then came in the 25th minute, as Herculez Gomez beat the offside trade to slot home the opening goal.
But the Galaxy lead did not last long. Just two minutes after the score, Youri Djorkaeff sent in a perfect pass that was received on the left flank by Buddle, and the forward, who hadn't scored since opening day, beat Kevin Hartman to tie the game. And in the next minute, a give-and-go between Peguero and Seth Stammler ended with Peguero toe-poking the go-ahead goal past Hartman.
The second half saw LA with most of the action, but this time, Metro held on for the victory. Djorkaeff could have sealed the deal late in the game, but missed wide after a perfect pass from sub Mike Magee left him all alone on Hartman. Metro defense stood tall as LA pressed forward during the dying minutes, and the ball dangerously bounced in New York's penalty area in fourth minute of stoppage, but cleared out of danger.
Well, at least we're better than Alexi Lalas' team.
Lineup: Meola, Jolley, Mendes, Parke, O'Rourke, Lisi, Henderson, Stammler, Djorkaeff, Buddle, Peguero. Subs: Magee, Wynne.
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