MetroStars Earn First Victory of 2003

COLUMBUS, Ohio - MetroStars forward Mike Magee became the youngest forward in club history to score a goal (18 years, 236 days) as the MetroStars (1-1-1, 4pts) registered a 1-0 road win against the Columbus Crew (2-1-1, 7pts) on Saturday afternoon. With the result, home teams are now 1-4-6 to start the 2003 MLS regular season campaign.

The game-winning goal came in the 59th minute on a corner kick taken from the left side by Clint Mathis. His service into the box was deflected to defender Steve Jolley, who misfired on a shot toward goal. But the ball fell to Magee, who was quick to fire the ball into the roof of the net from inside the six-yard box. It was his first career tally and the first goal in the run of play by the MetroStars this season.

Neither team was able to create many scoring opportunities in the first half as the clubs lacked a creative spark and urgency in the attacking half. Both back lines were composed and organized with the Crew finding it especially difficult to get behind the visitors' defenders and unable to establish any flank play. The MetroStars gained an upperhand toward the end of the half and Crew goalkeeper Jon Busch was the busier of the two 'keepers.

The MetroStars' cause was not helped by the fact that forward Jaime Moreno was forced to leave the match with a strained lower back in the 22nd minute. He was replaced by Magee. Also, Honduran playmaker Amado Guevara missed the match for the Metros due to national team duty as Honduras qualified for the CONCACAF Gold Cup with a 2-0 win against Trinidad and Tobago on Friday night.

Midfielder Freddy Garcia gave the Crew a jolt to start the second half (54th min) with a thundering 25-yard, left-footed blast which Metros goalkeeper Tim Howard was forced to parry. Five minutes later it was the MetroStars who went up 1-0 on a set piece as Magee converted inside the six-yard box.

Going down a goal for the first time this season, Crew Head Coach Greg Andrulis brought right winger Brian West into the match and the home team's attack picked up the pace. In the 68th minute Jeff Cunningham fired a shot which hit the outside netting. The pressure by the Crew continued and in the 74th minute Brian West and Brian McBride had two consecutive efforts at goal. However, Eddie Pope, the MetroStars captain and Man of the Match, and the Metros back line held sturdy for the rest of the game as the Crew were shut out for the first time in 2003.

With the victory, MetroStars Head Coach Bob Bradley set a new MLS record as he registered his 83rd all-time win as a head coach, breaking a tie with Thomas Rongen, former coach of D.C. United and the New England Revolution.

The road team has now won the last seven matches in the series between the Crew and MetroStars and it is the eighth consecutive match between the two clubs to be decided by a goal.

The Crew next travel to Kansas City for a match against the Wizards on Saturday, May 3 (8:00PM ET - HDNET). On the same day the MetroStars return home to host the Colorado Rapids (7:30PM ET - MSG) at Giants Stadium.

Man of the Match: Eddie Pope (MetroStars)

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BOX SCORE

Scoring Summary:

MET -- Mike Magee 1 (59th min)

MetroStars -- Tim Howard, Chris Leitch, Steve Jolley, Eddie Pope, Craig Ziadie, Ricardo Clark, Clint Mathis, Richie Williams, John Wolyniec, Joey DiGiamarino, Jaime Moreno (Mike Magee 22) (Jacob LeBlanc 86).

Substitutes Not Used: Joseph Addo, Paul Grafer, Tim Regan.

TOTAL SHOTS: 9 (Clint Mathis 2); SHOTS ON GOAL: 3 (3 tied with 1); FOULS: 12 (Joey DiGiamarino 4); OFFSIDES: 1 (John Wolyniec 1); CORNER KICKS: 5 (Clint Mathis 5); SAVES: 7 (Tim Howard 7)

Columbus Crew -- Jon Busch, Frankie Hejduk, Mike Clark, Brian Dunseth, Eric Denton (Diego Walsh 84), Ross Paule (Brian West 65), Brian Maisonneuve, Kyle Martino, Freddy Garcia, Jeff Cunningham, Brian McBride.

Substitutes Not Used: Nelson Akwari, Edson Buddle, Duncan Oughton, Tom Presthus, Daniel Torres, Jake Traeger.

TOTAL SHOTS: 14 (Freddy Garcia 5); SHOTS ON GOAL: 7 (Freddy Garcia 4); FOULS: 14 (Brian Maisonneuve 4); OFFSIDES: 2 (Kyle Martino 1, Brian McBride 1); CORNER KICKS: 6 (Freddy Garcia 4); SAVES: 2 (Jon Busch 2)

Misconduct Summary:

MET -- Richie Williams (caution) 10

CLB -- Brian Maisonneuve (caution) 31

Referee: Michael Kennedy

Referee's Assistants: Richard Eddy; Bahij A. Salman

4th Official: Elias Bazakos

Weather: Sunny, 61 degrees

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