COLUMBUS CREW 1, METROSTARS 1 (OT)

COLUMBUS, OHIO - A second-half penalty from Clint Mathis canceled out a first-half goal from Jeff Cunningham, and MetroStars snatched a 1-1 draw against the Columbus Crew to run their unbeaten streak to seven matches and maintain their lead atop the Eastern Conference.

The MetroStars (5-1-2) saw their club record-equaling winning streak stopped at five games, but were still pleased to come away with a point against a Columbus team (3-3-3) that was desperate for a victory - and played like it from the start in a match that had a playoff feel, both in intensity and in the weather.

Coming into the match having taken just four points from their last five matches, Columbus Crew coach Greg Andrulis rang in the changes. He brought Chad McCarty and Daniel Torres into the back four, but more importantly, moved Kyle Martino to the right side of midfield and brought Ross Paule into the center.

The Crew also looked to get on top from the beginning, and had MetroStars pinned into their own end for most of the early exchanges. But the game's best chance early on came to the visitors, Amado Guevara testing Jon Busch with a curling free kick from some 25 yards out, the Crew 'keeper doing well to tip over at the corner of his left post and bar.

But when MetroStars felt like they had weathered the early storm, Columbus began to find some openings. Brian McBride had two good chances, putting one effort over the bar from the top of the box, then flashing in for a header on a corner kick, though putting right at Metro 'keeper Tim Howard.

Cunningham was at the center of all of the Crew's dangerous movements, and he deservedly put the home side ahead in the 34th minute. Freddy Garcia played the ball forward to Ross Paule, who slipped square to Cunningham at the top of the area. The Jamaican international cut back to his left and drove a low rolling shot past Howard inside the far post.

Cunningham then nearly doubled the Crew lead a few minutes later when he was sent in alone behind the Metro backline, Howard coming off his line quickly to tip Cunningham's shot wide at the top of the area.

MetroStars coach Bob Bradley was forced into a major reshuffle at halftime when defender Eddie Pope was forced off after suffering a sprained right knee. Kenny Arena came on, and in short order, Cunningham gave he and Steve Jolley a torrid time, forcing Howard into a pair of close range stops with a third deflected just wide.

But then Bradley brought on Argentinian midfielder Jose Galvan, and his introduction changed the game. The MetroStars immediately began to put Columbus on the back foot, and right after Busch saved well at close range from Guevara, the Honduran won a penalty kick.

Mathis played Guevara into the area, and though Garcia and Busch quickly tackled the ball away, Guevara was quicker to the rebound. As he wheeled

back away from the byeline, Busch slid into him, and referee Jair Marrufo made no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Mathis sent Busch the other way, scoring a goal in a club-record fifth consecutive match.

Almost straight away, the Crew went to the other end, and as Cunningham burst between Jolley and Arena he went to the ground. Despite concentrated appeals for a penalty, Marrufo ruled the foul occurred just outside the area, and the resulting freekick went to nothing.

The Metros had the best chances of the final minutes, Mike Magee twice in good position to grab the match-winner. First he brought down a deflection at the corner of the six only to screw his shot wide, then after dribbling through a couple of defenders in the area sent a tame shot at Busch. The only real chance of overtime came when Jolley got free for a clear header on a corner kick, but Busch was well positioned to make an easy save to ensure terms stayed level.

The next MetroStars match keeps the team on the road, traveling to Kansas City to take on the Wizards (7 p.m. CT; HDNet).

Source: MetroStars.com

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