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Mathis, 2000
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Ten Best: Metro vs Dallas
October 24, 2011
Even though Metro and Dallas don't have a real rivalry, they've played their share of important and memorable games. From the Burn denying the Metros the trip to their first final in the 1997 Open Cup semifinals, to the 2000 playoff matchup, to... well, see below.
10) April 15, 2007: New York 3, Dallas 0
The two teams were met by cold, freezing rain at Giants Stadium that caused Ronald Waterreus to retreat at halftime due to hypothermia. Metro won in a rout: Jozy Altidore headed in a Clint Mathis corner kick, and then it was Clint himself who re-opened his Metro tally after returning to the club after a three-year absence. Dave van den Bergh scored his first Metro goal, in stoppage time.
9) July 27, 2005: MetroStars 3, Dallas 2
Youri Djorkaeff fought off a nagging injury to lead the team. He fed Ante Razov to put Metro up early, but Dallas responded with two before the break. Mike Magee poached in the equalizer midway through the second, and then the the much-maligned Sergio Galvan Ray turned a pass from Razov into a goal. A week later Djorkaeff would ruin the opener at Pizza Hut Park by scoring twice to draw Metro even.
8) August 23, 2009: New York 3, Dallas 2
Mired in the longest winless streak in league history, and with Juan Carlos Osorio quitting days before, Metro handed over the reigns to Richie Williams. And with Juan Pablo Angel leading the charge, the terror subsided. The Cherubic Assassin scored early; future Metro Dax McCarty evened with a header. Dane Richards got Metro the lead; Kevin Goldthwaite got a stupid red card and former Metro van den Bergh evened it. Then, very late, an unmarked Angel slammed home a rebound, giving himself the team league scoring record in the process.
7) July 10, 1996: MetroStars 3, Dallas 2
What do you know, 3:2 again! A classic from the league's inaugural season started with much-maligned Nicola Caricola heading in a Roberto Donadoni free kick. Donadoni then made a long run up the flank and set up Giovanni Savarese to double the lead. Dallas countered twice, the first from a penalty spot. Metro got the win as it was Tab Ramos' turn to set up Savarese.
6) September 25, 2004: Dallas 0, MetroStars 2
Metro clinched a playoff spot at the Cotton Bowl. John Wolyniec fought off ex-Metro stalwart Steve Jolley to score from a Craig Ziadie cross in the first half. Late in the second, it was Cornell Glen's turn to get the better of Jolley, as the Trinidadian sealed it after a nice run.
5) July 29, 2003: Dallas 1, MetroStars 2
Ex-Metro Brad Davis opened the scoring for Dallas, and Metro looked to be doomed. Then, in the 84th minute, Amado Guevara hit a long shot that ex-Metro D.J. Countess couldn't handle. Magee, the player acquired for Davis, pounced on the ball to even the match. Back then, MLS had overtime to settle ties, and this time it was Magee's shot that Countess let slip through his hands. Wolyniec was waiting on the doorstep and Metro escaped with a win.
4) April 28, 2001: MetroStars 3, Dallas 2
Yes, another 3:2, and what a third! Metro got up early from goals by Petter Villegas and Mark Chung. Then, Mathis took the ball in his own half and raced through towards the net, slicing past Dallas defenders and finally slotting it home. The incredible goal was named MLS Goal of the Year.
3) September 15, 2000: MetroStars 2, Dallas 1
Metro got its first non-shootout playoff victory ever, and it didn't come easy. In the first half, Mathis scored off a corner for the lead. Dallas equalized midway through the second;it could have been worse, but Paul Grafer stopped a penalty kick. Then, in the dying minutes of overtime, Adolfo Valencia took a pass from Mathis, dribbled around a defender, and slotted it home for a fantastic golden goal.
2) September 20, 2000: Dallas 1, MetroStars 2
Five days later, Metro got its first ever playoff series win in the return leg. Mathis got two, first with a volley, the second late after a Valencia pass. Dallas got one back with a penalty kick to make it a tense ending, but Metro prevailed in a two-game sweep. Grafer became the first Metro goalkeeper to win a playoff series.
1) August 26, 2000: Dallas 4, MetroStars 6
What else can be #1? Mathis, who owned Dallas like no other, scored FIVE times, in the 3rd, 26th, 40th, 68th, and 83rd, to set the MLS record for goals in a game as the Metros won a see-saw battle with the Burn. A Metro two-goal lead evaporated before Mathis scored his last two to take back the advantage. Valencia added the insurance goal, as Metro clinched the Eastern conference with a game for the ages. The much-maligned, mustached Alex Comas registered three assists.
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