MetroStars Advance to Semifinals of 2000 Lamar
Hunt U.S. Open Cup
Lothar Matthaus made his return to the line up in the win
Columbus, OH (Wednesday, August 9, 2000)
- The visiting MetroStars defeated the Crew Wednesday night in Crew
Stadium on penalty kicks, 7-6, to advance to the semifinals of the U.S. Open
Cup for the third time in four years. The game ended in regulation and overtime
1-1. The game marked the return of Lothar Matthaus who started and played
for the first time since a scoreless draw with San Jose on June 28 at Giants
Stadium.
"It was a good game played by both sides who really wanted to win," said
head coach Octavio Zambrano. "The action was up and down the field all night.
Lothar Matthaus played very well in his return to our line up. Tim Howard,
as he has done all year, was solid and made the big plays in regulation,
overtime, and penalty kick period to keep us in the game."
Tab Ramos, who was recalled to the U.S. National Team earlier in the day
to face Barbados on August 16, began the first scoring play in the 62nd minute
on a give-and-go with Alex Comas in front of the penalty arc. The Colombian
striker sent a through pass on the return to Ramos, who beat Todd Yeagley
inside the penalty area for the ball and score.
The Crew tied the game in the 74th minute on a header by Brian McBride off
a corner kick by Robert Warzycha. The U.S. National Team striker leapt over
the Metros defense to knock the ball past Tim Howard into the right corner
of the goal. The goal allowed by Howard was only his second in three U.S.
Open Cup games this year.
Both clubs had their chances to get the go-ahead goal late, but ended the
regulation tied and scoreless in two 15-minute overtime periods that followed.
The Crew almost put the game away in the final minute of the second overtime
when Waryzcha's through ball managed to enter the box untouched by the Metros
defense, but Jason Farrell's shot was easily grabbed by Howard who concluded
the game with four saves.
Both clubs made their first four penalty attempts, but Crew keeper Matt Napoleon
and Howard stopped the fifth attempt by each club. On the seventh attempt
to decide the game Mike Petke scored and the Crew's Mike Lapper shot wide
right to give the MetroStars the victory in a game that lasted close to three
hours.
The MetroStars advance to face the Miami Fusion in the semifinals with a
date and time to be announced. The semifinals are scheduled for Wednesday,
August 23, but the Metros are unavailable that day due to a home game against
Kansas City. The following Wednesday, August 30, the Metros are off, but
Miami plays at Colorado. Both clubs will have to investigate further dates.
The final is scheduled for Sunday, October 22.
Clint Mathis left the game in the 41st minute with a sprained right ankle.
He is doubtful for Saturday.
STATISTICS:
MetroStars: Howard; Matthaus, Petke, Jolley; Walsh, Ramos, Chung, Villegas
(Gomez 103); Valencia, Comas (Corrales 85), Mathis (Shak, 41). Stats - Shots:
23 (Mathis 5); SOG (Ramos, Mathis, 2); Saves 4 (Howard); Fouls: 23 (Walsh,
Jolley 4); Offside 3 (Valencia 2).
Crew: Napoleon; Yeagley, Lapper, Clark, Gori (Joseph 120); Wilmar Perez,
Elcock (Duhaney 106), Waryzcha, McBride Farrell, Cunningham (Aguilera 108).
Stats - Shots: 17 (McBride 5); SOG: 5 (Farrell 3); Saves: 6 (Napoleon), Fouls:
10 (Lapper, Gori 3); Offside 3 (McBride 2).
Penalty Kick Summary:
MET: Valencia (G); Walsh (G); Chung (G), Jolley (G); Ramos (SV); Corrales
(G); Shak (G); Petke (G).
CREW: Waryzcha (G); McBride (G); Wilmar Perez (G); Joseph (G); Farrell (SV);
Aguilera (G), Yeagley (G), Lapper (SV).
Courtesy
MetroStars
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