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MetroStars 2, New England 1

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ (Saturday, April 7, 2001) - The MetroStars defeated the New England Revolution tonight, 2-1, on a 92nd minute goal by Adolfo Valencia before a crowd of 30, 753 at Giants Stadium.

Both sides went scoreless in the first half before Clint Mathis scored in the 61st minute. New England midfielder Leonel Alvarez fouled midfielder Mark Chung outside the box resulting in an awarded free kick by referee Ricardo Valenzuela from 20 yards out.

Mathis, who opened up the game at forward with Adolfo Valencia and Alex Comas, sent a free kick that deflected off of Andy Williams into the back of the net for the 1-0 lead.

The Revolution tied the game 12 minutes later on a goal awarded to Alvarez. The Colombian midfielder took the ball down the right flank and sent a sharp cross into the box that simultaneously met MetroStars goalkeeper Tim Howard and Revolution midfielder Johnny Torres, who collided in front of the goal. TV replays appeared to show that the ball hit off of Howard and rolled into the goal before the goalkeeper could retrieve it.

The MetroStars won the game in dramatic fashion on Valencia's late goal, the fifth game -winning goal of his MetroStars career.

Mathis had headed a ball outside the box to the center circle, finding Mark Chung, who fired a 19-yard blast that hit the left post. The ball rebounded past Revolution goalkeeper Jeff Causey and found an open Valencia, who dove and easily headed the ball home from the six-yard box to bring the second-largest opening day crowd in MetroStars history (30,753) to its feet.

The MetroStars outshot the Revolution 14-6 and played well without the services of striker Alex Comas, who left the game in the 28th minute with a sprained left knee.

The MetroStars return to action next Saturday, April 14, at 9:00 p.m. ET when they travel to Colorado to face the Rapids in a game televised on the MSG Network.

NOTES: Acting New Jersey Governor Donald DiFrancesco, who kicked out the ceremonial first ball, and actress Julia Stiles and her family were among the celebrities attending the game....The MetroStars will donate one dollar for every fan in attendance at the game-totalling $30,753-to the El Salvador Earthquake Relief Effort.

Scoring Summary:

MET--Mathis (unassisted) 61

NE --Alvarez (Sunsing) 73

MET--Valencia (Chung, Mathis) 92+

N.E. REVOLUTION--Jeff Causey, Alan Woods, Mauricio Wright, Brian Dunseth, Joe Franchino, John Harkes (Jamar Beasley 71), Andy Williams (Eric Wynalda 65), Johnny Torres, Leonel Alvarez (Shaker Asad 87), Wolde Harris, William Sunsing. TOTAL SHOTS: 6 (Alvarez 2, Harris 2, Torres 2); SHOTS ON GOAL: 4 (Alvarez 2, Harris 2); FOULS: 24 (Torres 5); OFFSIDE: 2; CORNER KICKS: 5; SAVES: Causey 1; CAUTIONS: Sunsing 45, Franchino 49+, Alvarez 60; EJECTIONS: none; POSSESSION PERCENTAGE: 45%

METROSTARS--Tim Howard, Daniel Hernandez, Steve Jolley, Mike Petke, Richie Williams, Tab Ramos, Mark Chung, Petter Villegas, Adolfo Valencia, Clint Mathis, Alex Comas (Pedro Alvarez 28). TOTAL SHOTS: 14 (Valencia 5); SHOTS ON GOAL: 4 (Valencia 2, Mathis 2);
FOULS: 25 (Alvarez 5); OFFSIDE: 0; CORNER KICKS: 6; SAVES: Howard 2; CAUTIONS: Comas 28, Ramos 33, Mathis 43, Hernandez 80, Alvarez 94+; EJECTIONS: none; POSSESSION PERCENTAGE: 55%

Referee: Ricardo Valenzuela; Referee's Assistants: Craig Lowry, Nathan Clement

Attendance: 30,753; Weather: Overcast, 46 degrees, Overcast

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