MetroStars and Dallas Battle to 0-0 Stalemate
MLS Record Three Saved Penalty Kicks; Metros Remain in Second in the East
Photo by Dante Guttierez /LaCancha

E. RUTHERFORD, N.J. - October 11-2003 - Dallas Burn goalkeeper D.J. Countess saved two penalty kicks - and MetroStars 'keeper Jonny Walker saved one of his own - as the two teams played to a dramatic scoreless draw Saturday night at Giants Stadium.

Countess became just the second goalkeeper in MLS history to save two penalties in a match, and the three saved spot kicks are a first in league history. Countess stopped Amado Guevara before the match was two minutes old, then stoned Clint Mathis in the final five minutes - just seconds before Walker turned aside Eddie Johnson's effort at the other end to secure the draw.

The 21-year-old Countess - who had also saved two penalties in a match while playing for the U.S. under-17 national team in a match against Greece - joined Tony Meola as the only 'keeper to perform the feat in MLS, Meola doing it twice, in 1997 with MetroStars (Sept. 12, against Kansas City) and in 2002 with the Wizards (Aug. 10, against D.C. United).

With the single point, MetroStars (11-8-9, 42 pts.) are still three points clear of New England Revolution in the battle for second place in the Eastern Conference - with a home-and-home series between the two teams to conclude the season - while the Burn are now on 20 points (5-18-5).

The match got off to an incredible start, as the home side won a penalty before 30 seconds had elasped. John Wolyniec ran onto a ball behind Chris Gbandi on the right, then as he prepared to shoot in the area, was tripped up from behind by Matt Behncke. But Countess guessed correctly on Guevara's spot kick, palming it aside at full stretch around his right-hand post.

But after that, the rest of the half degenerated into a midfield struggle. The Burn kept nine men behind the ball, trying to clog the midfield, and MetroStars couldn't find a way through the massed pack. Eddie Gaven and Guevara were given the responsibility to prompt the Metro attack, and as they saw less and less space, Mathis came deeper into midfield to try and find the ball to no avail.

The first half of the second period was more of the same, with the MetroStars valiantly trying to break down the Burn rearguard. On the hour, Dallas had a penalty shout of their own when lone striker Bobby Rhine fell after contact with substitute Joe Addo while trying to run at the Metro defense alone, but referee Abbey Okulaja waved play on.

MetroStars coach Bob Bradley brought on Andrzej Juskowiak for Wolyniec with 20 minutes left, and his entrance immediately energized the attack. First he just missed with a little back-flick of a header from close rance, then in the 74th minute, won the ball on the left flank and put in a pinpoint cross to the far post where Tim Regan got well up over Gbandi to power a header on goal, but Countess got down to make a terrific save.

But after surviving a torrid 10-minute stretch, the match settled back into its routine - until suddenly bursting to life in the final five minutes of regulation time.

First, the MetroStars won a corner which sailed through the area - but Burn defender Brian Dunseth threw out an elbow as the ball passed, and again Okulaja pointed to the spot. This time Mathis took the penalty and tried to blast it past Countess, but it was a little too close to the center of the goal and the Burn 'keeper merely reached to his right to parry it away.

Then just seconds later, a cross was put into the box where again Juskowiak got onto the end of it and this time his header beat Countess - only to see it come back off the face of the crossbar.

The Burn raced to the other end where substitute Mandi Urbas collected a pass and turned to run at Addo. As he cut to his left the Metro defender clipped him, and for the third time in the match Okulaja whistled for a penalty kick. Johnson hit the penalty well to Walker's right, but the Metro 'keeper got to it at full dive and deflected the ball onto the face of his crossbar and away to maintain the scoreless draw.

The only real chance of the extra session fell to Guevara when he got onto the end of a cutback cross in a good position, only to screw his shot wide of the far post.

Source: MetroStars.com

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