Metros, Quakes Play to 4-4 Thriller
Photo by Dante Guttierez / La Cancha

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – U.S. National Team forwards Landon Donovan and Clint Mathis exchanged goals inside a minute during second half added time as the San Jose Earthquakes and the MetroStars played to a thrilling 4-4 tie in a wide open match at Giants Stadium on Wednesday night. The MetroStars (6-4-3, 21pts) had taken the lead three times during the match, only to see San Jose (6-2-5, 23pts) come back to equalize time and again.

With the result the Earthquakes, unbeaten in five matches, stay atop the Western Conference with the best record in MLS while the MetroStars missed out on the opportunity to overtake the Chicago Fire atop the Eastern Conference, joining them on 21 points. San Jose is now unbeaten in the last 10 games against the MetroStars, with the last win by the Metros coming back on April 25, 1998 (4-3).

"These fans came out to see great soccer and it was a great game to watch," said Mathis, who scored two goals and registered one assist on the night. "You have to give credit to the Earthquakes. They fought to the final whistle. Unfortunately Landon (Donovan) got the goal in the end. We need to do better defensively especially here at home."

"It's uncharacteristic for both teams to let in that many goals," said Donovan, who started the game on the bench. "Seeing that many goals scored I wanted to get in there. It worked out well but I don't want to be coming off the bench forever."

In an explosive first half of attacking soccer, the teams exchanged leads three times as the MetroStars entered the lockers up 3-2. Both teams were stretched as the forwards on both sides easily penetrated the wide open spaces. The MetroStars took a 1-0 lead in the seventh minute when Mathis withstood a challenge from Earthquakes midfielder Richard Mulrooney and advanced down the right flank. His pinpoint swerving cross to the far left post was met in stride by MetroStars midfielder Amado Guevara, who one-touched the ball past Earthquakes goalkeeper Pat Onstad for his second goal of the season.

Earthquakes forward Brian Ching, who had not started a match since a May 17 match due to a right hamstring injury, took advantage of defensive lapses by the MetroStars to score two goals in the 15th and 34th minutes, giving the visitors a momentary 2-1 lead. Ching's first goal came on a corner kick from the right with the ball falling to him at the far left post where he sent a volley past goalkeeper Tim Howard. The MetroStars netminder nearly succeeded in making the save but his momentum carried him into the goal as the ball rolled across the goal line.

In the 34th minute Ching concluded an Earthquakes passing sequence in the box which included Brian Mullan and Craig Waibel. With Howard out of position as he chased the ball off his line, Ching had an easy time slotting the ball home from 10 yards out. Ching's second goal of the night marked his team-leading fifth tally of the campaign.

But the MetroStars, sparked by an inspired Guevara, overturned the result in the span of seven minutes. In the 36th minute Guevara lofted a measured free kick into the box where the ball took several deflections before falling to rookie forward Mike Magee. The Nike Project-40 player lunged for the ball and lifted the ball into the right corner of the goal for his fifth goal of 2003. In the 43rd minute it was again a ball from Guevara, this time from the left flank, which was met by Mathis in the box. The U.S. National Team forward redirected the ball past Onstad as he made a run between two defenders. The three first half goals by the MetroStars doubled their season output for goals in an opening period.

The second half was another free-flowing, back and forth affair and the Earthquakes tied the match at 3-3 with 12 minutes remaining in regulation. Second half substitute Manny Lagos collected a corner kick which was flicked on in the box by Waibel. Lagos, who positioned himself in front of his defender, took two touches on the edge of the six-yard box with the second one being a left-footed shot which got by Howard for his first goal of the year.

The MetroStars netted what seemed to be the game-winner in second half added time as Mathis once again found the back of the net. Midfielder Mark Lisi flicked an insightful pass ahead into space for an unmarked Mathis on the right side of the box. Mathis, who now has seven goals on the year, took advantage of the time and space to tee up a shot that beat Onstad inside the near right post. He has six multi-goal games in his MLS career with the last one coming on May 2, 2001 against the Kansas City Wizards.

But just moments later the Earthquakes earned a dramatic equalizer as second half substitute Landon Donovan, who was making his first career appearance at Giants Stadium, scored the goal to make it 4-4. Lagos sent a pass into the path of Donovan, who controlled the ball in traffic in the middle of the box and sent a low drive past a sliding defender and by Howard for his third goal of 2003.

More time was added on in regulation and the MetroStars had an opportunity to take the lead once more when substitute Jaime Moreno expertly controlled a long ball into the box from Lisi. However, from a favorable position inside the box, the Bolivian forward sent the ball high over the bar.

After coming out of the match in the 62nd minute, Earthquakes midfielder Ramiro Corrales was ejected from the bench in the 85th minute. He received a red card after making contact with the MetroStars' Guevara near San Jose's bench area. Guevara, who was retrieving the ball at the sidelines to take a throw-in, was later cautioned on the play.

Both teams were missing key defensive starters as regular defenders Joey DiGiamarino (strained hamstring), Steve Jolley (hip flexor strain) and Eddie Pope (patella fracture) sat out due to injury for the MetroStars while veteran defender Troy Dayak (sports hernia/knee surgery) continued to miss action for San Jose. Donovan, Mathis and Mulrooney will next join the U.S. National Team for the CONCACAF Gold Cup and an exhibition match against Paraguay on July 6 at Columbus Crew Stadium. Howard will be available for the MetroStars on Saturday before joining the United States squad.

Both teams are back in action on Saturday, July 5 as the MetroStars visit D.C. United in the ESPN2 Game of the Week (4:00PM ET). The San Jose Earthquakes will look to defend their position as League leaders when the Eastern Conference leading Chicago Fire visit Spartan Stadium for a top of the table clash (10:00PM ET).

Source: MetroStars.com

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