Lucky Metros escape LA with a tie
September 23, 2001
 |
1:1
|
 |
| Los Angeles |
|
MetroStars |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Coming to Los Angeles as the lower seed, the MetroStars might consider themselves lucky getting out with a tie, removing the Galaxy's home field advantage in the process. The Galaxy peppered Tim Howard with an array of shots, with only another amazing performance by the Metro goalie preventing LA from getting the win. On the other side, the Metro attack was futile, minus the Rodrigo Faria goal midway through the first half.
Faria scored in the 29th minute, striking the ball from outside the box and hitting a low bouncer by the helpless Kevin Hartman. Other than a few scattered attacks, the Metros never had a chance to add a second goal.
LA's constant pressure on Howard paid off in the 63rd, as the Metros failed to clear the ball off a corner kick. After the ball crossed the goalmouth a number of times, Paul Caligiuri knocked it into the net off Danny Califf. Califf might have been offside, but the goal stood.
Gilmar got red-carded soon after the goal, as the Metros went into all-out defense to preserve the tie. Caligiuri got a red card late in regulation to even the teams at ten men apiece. The overtime went much like the rest of the game, with LA applying all the pressure.
The result guarantees a game 3 in LA next Saturday.
Lineup: Howard, Perez, Jolley, Petke, Williams, Hernandez, Chung, Villegas, Gilmar, Valencia, Faria. Subs: Alvarez, Paule, Walsh.
|
