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US: MLS Wrap- September 17 [Sun Sep 18th, 2005]
MetroStars 5, New England Revolution 4
The MetroStars came up with a big win on Ukrainian Heritage Day at Giants Stadium, in the first match of a home and away series with the New England Revolution.
The Red and Black took an early lead, as Metros captain Youri Djorkaeff crossed to a wide open Mike Magee, who drilled a shot off the hands of Revs ‘keeper Matt Reis in the seventh minute. Twenty-two minutes later, New England would even the score on a set piece by Joe Franchino that found the head of Shalrie Joseph in the box.
The Metros started the second half much like the first, as Amado Guevara found a streaking Djorkaeff, who only had Reis to beat before placing it into the back of the net in the 51st minute.
Guevara added to the lead in the 59th minute on nice exchange from Tim Ward and Ante Razov, only for Joseph to head a Marshall Leonard pass home three minutes later in a chaotic sequence for the Revs.
In the 71st minute, Clint Dempsey tied the score once again as a Pat Noonan cross for Taylor Twellman was headed back to Dempsey for the volley. Moments later New England took the lead as Twellman was the beneficiary of a beautiful ball from Joseph in the 74th minute.
Mike Magee beat Revs defender Michael Parkhurst to equalise for the third time in the 76th minute after Michael Bradley found him with a quality long pass.
Finally, Youri Djorkaeff broke the tie for good in the 86th minute with a sharp angle shot that snuck in at the inside post, giving the MetroStars the 5-4 win.
DC United 2, Colorado 0
DC United took a bit of revenge on the Rapids after a 1-0 loss in Denver two weeks ago.
United dominated possession, but were unable to score in the first half. The game changed on the hour mark when Joe Cannon re-aggravated an abdominal muscle and Byron Foss made his first MLS appearance.
Just five minutes later Christian Gomez curled in a free kick from the left side after newly acquired Jovan Kirovski was whistled for taking down Jaime Moreno. Foss was able to get his hands on the shot, but could not parry the ball off target. Moreno sealed the game in the 80th minute with his league-leading thirteenth goal.
The play started with a string of passes from the Black-and-Red; Santino Quaranta found Dema Kovalenko at the top of the penalty box where the Ukrainian slotted a pass to Moreno. United’s captain faked a shot to free himself and curled the ball past Foss just inside the far left post.
The match was a physical one as well: the teams combined for 44 fouls, nine yellow cards, and the two coaches had to be separated after Alain Nkong fouled Quaranta in front of United’s bench.
Columbus 1, Chicago 2
Chicago used a pair of goals from Chris Rolfe to earn an important three points in the tight Eastern Conference standings. The Dayton product started quickly, putting the Fire ahead after just five minutes.
Justin Mapp’s free kick found Samuel Caballero’s head and he nodded the ball back to Rolfe. The rookie’s first shot was stopped by Jonny Walker, but he was unable to cover up the rebound and Rolfe put away the rebound.
Columbus almost tied the match at the half-hour mark, but Zach Thornton was able to parry aside Eric Vazquez’s long range attempt. The Crew did equalise just ten minutes from time when Kyle Martino put Knox Cameron, who had just stepped on the field, in alone on Thornton and Cameron was able to slot the shot past the onrushing keeper.
The lead would not be for long as just four minutes later Andy Herron found Rolfe on the back post and the Rolfe was able to barely stay onside while sliding to put the dagger in the Crew’s playoff chances.
Chicago moved into third place in the East, while Columbus are now 13 points out of the playoffs with just six matches remaining.
Kansas City 2, Los Angeles 2
A pair of goals in the last ten minutes averted a third straight home loss for the Wizards, this time to a Galaxy side missing five regular starters. Los Angeles almost opened the scoring just three minutes into the match, but Joseph Ngwenya’s header went right at keeper Bo Oshoniyi.
The home side’s best chance in the first half came when Josh Wolff found a streaking Scott Sealy, but the Trinidadian’s shot did not find the frame. Chris Albright finally found the back of the net in the 26th minute, after poorly chesting down a Landon Donovan corner kick he was able to beat two defenders to the ball and easily beat Oshoniyi.
Another Donovan corner kick ten minutes later found Herculez Gomez wide open at the back post after Oshoniyi’s attempt to catch the cross failed. The Wizards came out of the locker room at halftime with a furious pace, but would not be able to get on the score board until ten minutes from time.
Chris Klein curled a cross to the back post where Davy Arnaud viciously headed in Kansas City’s first goal of the night. Just five minutes later the Zards equalised when former Galaxy member Sasha Victorine’s blast hit the crossbar, but the rebound fell to striker Josh Wolff who headed in his eighth goal of the season.
The Galaxy almost stole the full three points in stoppage time, but Oshoniyi was able to save Cobi Jones’s bid.
Chivas USA 1, San Jose 2
San Jose were another late winner as they scored a pair of goals in the final ten minutes to knock off lowly Chivas.
The two sides picked up where they left off from last week’s 3-0 win by the Quakes, an affair that saw five Goats booked. Each team had a good look at goal in the first half, but neither Juan Francisco Palencia nor Alejandro Moreno could find the frame.
Chivas came out with a purpose in the second half and tallied their first goal just seven minutes later. San Jose defender Wade Barrett brought down Francisco Mendoza and Chivas captain Ramon Ramirez curled a shot just inside the right post, past a diving Pat Onstad.
San Jose had several quality chances in the next twenty minutes, but keeper Brad Guzan was up to the task each time. Finally, in the 82nd minute, a Dwayne De Rosario corner kick was flicked on by Eddie Robinson to a wide-open Danny Califf.
The Maryland player finished the goal, but paid a price as Ezra Hendrickson’s attempted clear resulted in a kick to Califf’s head.
Juan Pablo Garcia tried to put Chivas back in front five minutes later, but his shot was punched away by Onstad.
Two minutes into stoppage time the Quakes netted the winner as Brian Mullan’s cross found Alejandro Moreno’s head and he was able to beat Guzan.
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