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MetroStars Fall in Columbus, 2-1

COLUMBUS, OHIO (Wednesday, July 18, 2001) - The Crew defeated the MetroStars, 2-1, before a crowd of 15,855 on a hot and humid evening at Columbus Crew Stadium in Ohio.

The loss ends the MetroStars' two-game winning streak and concludes a stretch of nine of 10 league games on the road dating back to May.

"There wasn't a lot of good soccer played out there tonight," said MetroStars head coach Octavio Zambrano. "Unfortunately, that makes the loss even tougher to take when you are on the losing end of such a game. We need to bounce back at home on Saturday afternoon when we play DC United."

The Crew scored first in the 62nd minute on the first own goal by the MetroStars since 1998 (Rhett Harty, 67', vs. DC, 9/16). Midfielder Duncan Oughton sent a cross from midfield looking to find one his forwards inside the box. Mark Chung attempted to head the ball back towards midfield, but it instead deflected toward the direction of the goal past goalkeeper Tim Howard, who had come off his line to intercept the cross.

Another own goal, this time by the Crew, tied the game in the 81st minute. The MetroStars were pressuring for the tying goal when Adolfo Valencia took the ball down the right flank through the box. He sent a left-footed pass that deflected off Mike Lapper, who attempted to head the ball into the bleachers, but instead found the ball high over Tom Presthus' head and into the goal for the 1-1 tie.

The own goal by each club in a game is a first in MetroStars history.

The Crew put the game away three minutes from time.

Striker Jeff Cunningham dribbled the ball through the defense and around a charging Howard near the goal area, but could not find an an opening to score as the defense collapsed on him. He managed to send a pass across the six-yard box that found Dante Washington for the game-winning goal.

"It was a game disappointing for us tonight," said Daniel Hernandez. "I thought we could have walked off the field with a tie, but we didn't. This is a setback since we had played so well of late. I am glad we play Saturday since it gives us a chance to get back on the field and play the way I know we can play.

Mike Petke, who left the game in the 67th minute with a sprained right ankle, became the first MetroStars player in team history to recorded 100 appearances.

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