Even before the opening whistle, there were some interesting sub-plots to the second match-up of 2000 between these two clubs. Metros midfielder Tab Ramos made his first start since back on July 10, 1999, when the Metros played in Chicago against the Fire. He helped the Metros control the ball much of the first half.

For the Crew, they received a bit of bad luck before the match, when starting 'keeper Mark Dougherty strained his hip in pre-game warm-ups and was not able to start. In addition, starting forward Dante Washington was involved in a car accident on Friday and was subsequently not able to play. In his place, the red and black faced off against former teammate Miles Joseph who was traded on Wednesday, and now found himself among the starting eleven for the Crew.

After playing to a scoreless tie in the first half, the Metros finally broke through midway through the second half. In the 60th minute, Adolfo Valencia staked the Metros to a 1-0 lead. After running onto a through ball from Ramiro Corrales, Valencia made a touch on the ball in traffic to put it behind 'keeper Matt Napoleon who had come off his line to break-up the play. Valencia then ran onto the ball just in front of a wide-open goal and touched the ball into the back of the net for his second goal of the season.

In the 69th minute, Valencia stretched the Metros lead to 2-0. Lothar Matthaus, who started the play in the middle, passed the ball up to Petter Villegas who broke in on a two-on-one with Valencia. Villegas passed the ball to Valencia just outside the box, who then proceeded to make a few touches on the ball before blasting home the goal high and to the left side of Napoleon.

Scoring Summary:
MET-Valencia (2) (Villegas) 60'; MET-Valencia (3) (Villegas, Matthaus) 69'

COLUMBUS CREW-Matt Napoleon; Mike Clark (capt) (Aguliera, 71'), Mario Gori, Todd Yeagley, Mike Duhaney, Kevin Hartman; John Perez, Robert Warzycha, John DeBrito (Jason Farrell, 79'); Miles Joseph (Cunningham, 64'), Brain West, Brain McBride. TOTAL SHOTS: 11 ( Gori, Perez, McBride, 2); SHOTS ON GOAL: 1 (McBride); FOULS: 11; OFFSIDE: 4 ; CORNER KICKS: 5; SAVES: Napoleon 4; CAUTIONS: Duhaney 58' DeBrito 78'; EJECTIONS: none; POSSESSION PERCENTAGE: 51%

METROSTARS--Mike Ammann; Steve Jolley, Mike Petke, Daniel Hernandez, Ramrio Corrales; Mark Chung, Lothar Matthäus (capt), Petter Villegas (Shak, 92'), Thomas Dooley; Tab Ramos (Billy Walsh, 80'), Adolfo Valencia. TOTAL SHOTS: 20 (Valencia, Villegas 5); SHOTS ON GOAL: 6 (Chung 3); FOULS: 10(Chung 3); OFFSIDE: 1 (Villegas); CORNER KICKS: 6; SAVES: Ammann 1; CAUTIONS: Matthaus 78', Jolley 78'; EJECTIONS: none; POSSESSION PERCENTAGE: 49%

Referee: Paul Tamberino; Referee's Assistants: Craig Lowry, John Paul Spicer; 4th Official: Douglas Palomaki. Attendance: 16,711; Weather: Sunny, Warm, 83F,Clear.

Courtesy MetroStars