MetroStars Extend Eastern Conference Lead to Seven Points, with 3-0 Shutout of Galaxy

Amado Guevara Extends Consecutive Point Streak to Nine Games; Jonny Walker Earns
4th Shutout of Year

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ (Sunday, August 8, 2004) – In a battle between Major League Soccer's first-place sides, the MetroStars continued their season-long dominance over the Los Angeles Galaxy with a 3-0 victory on Sunday night at Giants Stadium.

Amado Guevara, Eddie Gaven and John Wolyniec scored for the Metros, who extended their lead at the top of the Eastern Conference to seven points over the Columbus Crew and swept the season series against the Galaxy by beating them in all three games this year. Guevara scored from the penalty spot late in the first half, and Gaven and Wolyniec hit home three minutes apart in the second half.

A chippy match from the start saw the Galaxy reduced to ten men in the 68th minute when Chris Albright was sent off for a hard retaliation against MetroStars defender Chris Leitch. Fouls were a part of the play throughout, and the first quality chance of the evening came seven minutes in when Guevara blasted a free kick into the Galaxy wall from 23 yards away.

Guevara had a chance early to put the Metros on top with first half free kicks. He stood over a dangerous set piece just off the Galaxy penalty area, but his 23rd minute attempt was easily cleared out. In the 33rd minute, he lofted a ball from midfield on a set piece and Galaxy goalkeeper Kevin Hartman was forced to come off his line and make the catch over Wolyniec.

In the 35th minute, the MetroStars won a penalty kick when Wolyniec raced after a loose ball bouncing towards Hartman's goal line. Wolyniec reached the ball, and Galaxy defender Tyrone Marshall shoved him over, drawing the penalty kick call and the wrath of the Galaxy, who protested the decision en masse. The MetroStars had just moments earlier protested when Wolyniec backed into Ryan Suarez and both players fell in the box while referee Alex Prus ruled for play to continue.

Once the Galaxy ceased their arguing, Guevara buried his 10th goal of the season with a right-footed shot to the right post while Hartman dove the wrong way. The goal tied Guevara for the top spot for the MLS Golden Boot and padded his lead in the Budweiser scoring race.

The half came to a furious end with both teams securing chances in the final minutes. In the 44th minute, Cornell Glen twice penetrated the Galaxy defense and forced Hartman into tricky saves. On the ensuing counter, defender Paul Broome made a dynamic run on the ball through the MetroStars defense and wound up taking a wide-angled shot that Jonny Walker saved with relative ease.

On the final sequence of the half, Joselito Vaca sent a far post corner kick to Glen, whose header appeared headed for the goal when Galaxy midfielder Cobi Jones leaped up to swat it away with his right hand. The crowd erupted in anticipation of a red card and another penalty, but the referee's assistant had blown the play dead, ruling that Vaca's corner had crossed out-of-bounds before reaching Glen.

The Galaxy made no personnel changes at halftime, but they came out energized. They put together several nice combinations to start the second half, but were unable to capitalize on their opportunities. Despite a beautiful display of possession soccer in and around their attacking third over the initial 15 minutes, they could not muster a quality chance.

The MetroStars then struck suddenly on the counterattack. Wolyniec collected the ball in midfield and laid it off for Mike Magee, who hesitated before sending a no-look left-footed through ball to Gaven. The teenage sensation got behind the defense and side-footed past Hartman with one touch to extend the lead in the 61st minute.

Three minutes later, the MetroStars completed the scoring with the day's most exquisite goal. After Albright leveled Gaven to win a free kick for the Metros, Guevara sent a long ball to Glen in the left side of the area. The Trinidad & Tobago international crossed to Wolyniec, who side-footed a volley out of midair with his right foot to put a bow on the 3-0 victory.

Four minutes later, Albright was sent off and the teams played out the final 22 minutes without much important action.
90th Minute Goal Lifts Metros Over Galaxy, 2-1

Source: MetroStars.com

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