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Meola vs. Chivas USA, 2005
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Ten years of regular season finales (Part 2)
October 10, 2006
September 7, 2001: MetroStars 3, New England 1
The regular season finale was supposed to be in New England on September 15th, so little did we know what would happen in the week between that scheduled game and this one, which ended up being the finale. Rodrigo Faria scored two and Adolfo Valencia had another, pushing Metro to the #6 seed that the abrupt end of the regular season saw them carry into the playoffs.
September 21, 2002: New England 3, MetroStars 0
The all-time choke that was the end of the 2002 season culminated with a disaster in New England. Needing a tie to clinch a playoff berth but paying without suspended Clint Mathis and Tim Howard, Metro laid down to the Revs, as Taylor Twellman converted a PK just five minutes in and the final margin was set by the half. However, Metro still had a chance to back into the playoffs the next day, but couldn't after Chicago beat Columbus.
October 25, 2003: New England 5, MetroStars 2
With little difference between finishing second or third in the East and knowing that these teams would face off in the playoffs no matter what, Bob Bradley elected to rest his starters, with Paul Grafer backstopping the scrubs. Mark Lisi and Jacob LeBlanc had the Metro goals.
October 17, 2004: DC United 3, MetroStars 2
A situation similar to the previous year, but this time being settled in DC after six years of scheduled finishes in New England. This time, Metro needed a tie for a second seed, but after John Wolyniec opened the scoring and Ricardo Clark tied the game at twos, it was ex-Metro Mike Petke who gave DC the win as Metro once again finished third.
October 16, 2005: Chivas USA 0, MetroStars 2
In a regular season finale which Metro will try to emulate this year, a win and only a win would catapult them over Kansas City for the East's final seed. Everyone's favorite son, Michael Bradley, headed in his first and last Metro goal, Tony Meola shed off years of pounds in one afternoon to play the game of a lifetime, and Amado Guevara sleepwalked through the match only to score the final goal that sealed Metro's ticket to the postseason.
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