Loss to New England Leaves Metro Playoff Positioning Open to Results Next Week

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – A 38th minute goal by rookie Pat Noonan proved the game-winning goal as the New England Revolution (11-9-9, 42pts) captured their second regular season victory at Giants Stadium with a 2-1 win over the MetroStars (11-9-9, 42pts) on Saturday night.

Although both teams have already clinched MLS Cup Playoff berths in the Eastern Conference, the three points allowed New England to overtake the MetroStars for second place in the East based on the head-to-head series tiebreaker. The Revolution captured the season series 2-0-1 with one game left between the two teams next weekend in the regular season finale at Gillette Stadium. The team that finishes in second place in the East will have home field advantage for Game Two of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

Despite a depleted forward corps missing the likes of leading scorer Taylor Twellman (left foot stress fracture), Joe-Max Moore (left knee sprain) and Chris Brown (left broken foot), the Revolution were accurate and efficient in front of goal in the first half. The visitors saw their starting forwards – Noonan and Argentine Dario Fabbro - score on the only two concrete scoring chances, staking the Revolution to a 2-0 lead.

Fabbro scored his first goal of the season in the 15th minute after a Brian Kamler centering pass from the left side of the box was parried away by MetroStars goalkeeper Jonny Walker. The ball fell to the feet of Fabbro at the top of the six-yard box and he reacted to it by poking it into an empty net for his first tally since July 13, 2002 against New England when he played for the Kansas City Wizards.

Noonan, who scored two goals at Giants Stadium in the last regular season match between the two teams in a 2-1 September 13 Revolution victory, scored New England's second goal in the 37th minute. The Indiana University product stripped the ball from MetroStars captain Steve Jolley, who was the last MetroStars defender on the play. Noonan sprinted into the MetroStars penalty area and chipped the ball over Walker for his seventh goal of the campaign and his fourth regular season tally against the MetroStars this season.

The MetroStars had the chance to reduce the deficit two minutes before halftime as goalkeeper Matt Reis blocked a shot by MetroStars forward John Wolyniec and Revolution defender Jay Heaps cleared the subsequent Amado Guevara shot off the goal line.

Noonan, who also netted his first career MLS goal against the MetroStars at Gillette Stadium on July 12, proved to be a handful for the MetroStars back line for the entire match as he took advantage of one-on-one matchups to threaten Walker's goal. His effort on goal in the 26th minute was stopped low by the MetroStars goalkeeper and his shots in the 65th and 80th minutes were off target. In the 65th minute he was stopped by the woodwork as he raced in alone on goal and struck the crossbar with a left-footed blast.

Veteran Polish forward Andrzej Juskowiak came on as a substitute in the 72nd minute and scored only three minutes later to pull the MetroStars within a goal. Another second half substitute, Mark Lisi, fed a through ball to Juskowiak and the former Bundesliga striker dribbled by defender Daouda Kante and fired home for his first career MLS goal. Lisi, who registered his 10th helper of 2003, is now tied for the team lead in assists with teammate Guevara.

Despite a couple of late flurries in a crowded Revolution penalty area in the final minutes, the MetroStars could not find the equalizer. Bob Bradley's squad, which was coming off a 1-0 loss in the 2003 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup final on Wednesday night at the hands of the Chicago Fire, were missing defender and captain Eddie Pope (left strained intercostals) and left back Edgar Bartolomeu (left shoulder separation). Rookie Eddie Gaven, who turns 17 on October 25, and Wolyniec formed the forward tandem while Clint Mathis played in an attacking midfield role. Richie Williams sat out the match with Tim Regan taking his place in central midfield while Jolley wore the captain's armband in Pope's absence.

New England played without the services of captain and left back Joey Franchino (left calf strain) as rookie Marshall Leonard started in his place for another game. Reis got the nod in goal in place of regular starter Adin Brown, who was given the night off and allowed to rest a slight hamstring strain. Also missing for the Revolution was starter and playmaker Jose Cancela, who sat out due to a calf contusion as Leo Cullen replaced him in central midfield.

The two teams face off in the regular season finale for both sides next Saturday, October 25 at 4:00 p.m. ET.

MLS Man of the Match: Pat Noonan (New England Revolution)

Source: MetroStars.com

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