2:0 New York Columbus van den Bergh Goldthwaite 04.05.08 · League

Juan Carlos Osorio did what ten others before him have failed at: get a three-point victory in his opening match as Metro head coach. He did so with the help of Dave van den Bergh; the Walking Dutchman, who was rumored to be on the outs during the preseason, started and scored the earliest goal in Metro history less than a minute in. He then assisted on the second, Kevin Goldthwaite's first as a Metro. That was all New York needed, as the inept Crew attack could not break through.

Metro's first lineup of the season saw Jon Conway in goal, Goldthwaite, Jeff Parke, and Chris Leitch in the three-man backline, Seth Stammler and Sinisa Ubiparipovic in defensive midfield, Claudio Reyna in the middle, van den Bergh and Luke Sassano on the wings, and Juan Pablo Angel partnering Oscar Echeverry upfront. Sassano and Echeverry made their Metro debuts. Jozy Altidore missed the match with a bruised knee.

Just 46 seconds into the match, van den Bergh put his name into Metro history. After Ubiparipovic (whose last name was finally squeezed onto a jersey) stole the ball from Guillermo Barros Schelotto in midfield, the Dutchman pounced on it, took a few steps, and curved a low shot into the left side of the net. Then, in the 8th minute, Angel made a terrific play to keep a van den Bergh corner kick in play, and the ball landed in traffic in front of the net. From there, the much-maligned Goldthwaite got his foot on it for his first Metro goal. A few minutes later, Angel and Echeverry almost had another one for Metro, but Crew keeper stopped Angel's initial shot, and then parried Echeverry's poorly-taken rebound.

At the half, Danleigh Borman made his Metro debut, coming on for Ubiparipovic. Seven minutes after the break, New York had a chance to go up another goal after former Metro Danny "Knuckles" O'Rourke brought down Echeverry in the box. But Angel, automatic from the spot last year, had his attempt saved by Hesmer.

Tonight, Metro did not need the third. The defense was solid, with the back three, together with Stammler in front, thwarting everything the feeble Crew attack could throw at them. Parke's second yellow, in the 81st minute, reduced Metro to ten, but would have a larger effect next week as #60 will be forced to miss the upcoming match.

So far so good for Osorio... but it's only one game.

Lineup: Conway, Goldthwaite, Parke, Leitch, Stammler, Ubiparipovic, van den Bergh, Sassano, Reyna, Echeverry, Angel. Subs: Borman, Wolyniec, Magee.