MetroStars Sink Crew, 4-3

Pope Scores First Career Goal for Metros who Advance to U.S. Open Cup Quarterfinals

Columbus, OH (Wednesday, August 6, 2003) – The MetroStars defeated the 2002 U.S. Open Cup Champions, the Columbus Crew tonight, 4-3, at Columbus Crew Stadium in front of 5,590 fans, in the fourth round of the 2003 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Veteran defenders Eddie Pope and Steve Jolley recorded goals for the “Red and Black” in the win.

The Columbus attack started early when a ball got knocked out of bounds and Eric Denton quickly threw the ball into Jeff Cunningham who broke free down the sideline. Cunningham took the ball almost all the way to the touchline before he played a cross to Edson Buddle. Buddle then one touched the cross, from inside the six-yard box, past MetroStars goalkeeper Jonny Walker to put the Crew ahead, 1-0, in just the 10th minute.

One minute later the Crew attack continued, as once again the tandem of Cunningham and Buddle connected, this time seeing Buddle blast a left footed shot past Walker, to put the home team ahead, 2-0.

The MetroStars started to mount a comeback, with a little help from the Crew, in the 24th minute. MetroStars midfielder Richie Williams played a cross into the 18-yard box, which was inadvertently redirected into Crew goalkeeper, Tom Presthus’ goal by Columbus midfielder Brian Maisonneuve, cutting the Crew lead to 2-1.

In the 43rd minute Maisonneuve got redemption for the own goal when he took a cross from Cunningham in the six-yard box, and blasted a shot to the right side of Walker’s goal. The goal gave the Crew a 3-1 lead at the half.

The MetroStars offense cut into the Crew lead, when Williams played a cross over a pack of defenders that successfully found Steve Jolley. Jolley controlled the cross, and blasted a shot that beat a screened Presthus. The goal came in the 54th minute, and left the “Red and Black” down just 3-2.

In the 68th minute Columbus was left with only 10 men, when Brian West was issued a red card by the official for a reckless tackle on MetroStars defender, Edgar Bartolomeu.

The MetroStars took advantage of their extra man, and MetroStars captain Eddie Pope recorded his first career point with the Metros, as he evened the score, 3-3, in the 77th minute. John Wolyniec, who came on the pitch for Bartolomeu in the 73rd minute, sent the ball across the 18-yard box, and Pope was able to get a foot on the ball, and put it in the net.

Not satisfied with just getting his first goal for the “Red and Black”, Eddie Pope took a cross from Guevara in the 86th minute and headed it into the net for his second goal of the night. The goal gave the MetroStars their first lead of the game, and put them ahead for good, 4-3, over the defending Open Cup Champs.

The MetroStars return to MLS action this Saturday, August 9th when they battle the Chicago Fire at 4:00 p.m. ET (ESPN2, WADO 1280 AM) at Cardinal Stadium in Naperville, Illinois. The Metros will next be in U.S. Open Cup action on August 27th when they host the New England Revolution, at 7:30 p.m. ET in the tournament quarterfinals.

Source: MetroStars.com

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