METROSTARS 1, LOS ANGELES GALAXY 0

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – JUNE 21, 2003 A second half goal by 18-year-old rookie Mike Magee lifted the MetroStars (6-3-2, 20 pts) to a 1-0 victory against the Los Angeles Galaxy (2-5-5, 11pts) on Saturday at rainy Giants Stadium. For the MetroStars the win was their League-leading sixth of the season, while the loss kept the defending MLS Champion Galaxy winless on the road in 2003 (0-5-4).

For the first quarter hour of the match it was the MetroStars who threatened to blow the game wide open, but a combination of poor marksmanship and quality goalkeeping by the Galaxy’s Kevin Hartman kept the score level. In the fourth minute Mark Lisi misfired from directly in front of the goal, wasting a terrific service from Magee. Seven minutes later, Wolyniec created his own opportunity, flipping the ball over Alexi Lalas and sprinting past Tyrone Marshall only to see Hartman come off his line to deny the MetroStars striker on a close-range shot. Hartman would finish the match with a season-high 11 saves.

Gradually the Galaxy managed to chase down the play but it was the MetroStars who dictated the tempo of the game in the opening 45 minutes. Los Angeles managed few quality chances, but nearly took the lead in the 27th minute when Chris Albright sent a difficult side volley skidding off the top of the crossbar. Unfortunately for the Galaxy Albright’s chance was one of the few quality chances earned by the visitors, who forced only five saves from MetroStars goalkeeper Paul Grafer.

Led by the quick passing of midfielders Amado Guevara, Mark Lisi and Ricardo Clark, the MetroStars effectively played balls down both flanks, often sending Wolyniec and Magee behind the Galaxy’s backline. Los Angeles started the second half with more aggressive play, but still it was the MetroStars who seemed to control the ball better on the soggy surface.

The slick passing by the MetroStars finally paid dividends in the 65th minute when a give-and-go between Lisi and Magee put the home team up 1-0. Dribbling up the left side of the field, Magee left the ball for Lisi about 25-yards from goal. Alertly, Magee cut into the box past three Galaxy defenders to receive the return pass from Lisi and easily slotted an uncontested shot low past Hartman inside the left post. The goal was Magee’s fourth of the season and gave the first-year player his second game-winning goal of the campaign. For Lisi, the assist was his fourth of the season.

Looking for an offensive spark, the Galaxy got a glimpse of the future in the 70th minute when rookie Guillermo Gonzalez replaced veteran midfielder Mauricio Cienfuegos. At 17, Gonzalez became the youngest player ever to appear for Los Angeles in League play. Without suspended striker Carlos Ruiz, out due to a two-game ban for elbowing Kansas City’s Carey Talley, the Galaxy were unable to mount a consistent offensive presence. Grafer was tested just twice in the second half, but managed to turn aside a 18-yard blast from Alex Pineda Chacon in the 81st minute and then again stymied the Honduran by deflecting his stoppage time free kick over the net.

Los Angeles continues their grueling stretch on June 25 when they face the Colorado Rapids in Denver for their fourth match in 11 days (9:30 p.m. ET). The MetroStars will rest until Saturday, July 28 when they travel to Naperville, Illinois to meet the Chicago Fire live on ESPN2 (4:00 p.m. ET).

Source: MetroStars.com

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