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Copa Merconorte: MetroStars 0 Millonarios 1

East Rutherford, NJ (October 31, 2001)- A stoppage time goal by midfielder Johan Viafara gave Colombian club Millonarios a 1-0 victory over the MetroStars at Giants Stadium on Wednesday night in the final match of Merconorte Cup Group B play. With the win Millonarios captures Group B (on goal differential ahead of Deportivo Italchacao) and advances to the semifinal stage of the tournament to take on Mexican side Necaxa, Group A winners.

The MetroStars, who also needed a win to advance to the semifinals, pressured valiantly in the final minutes but the visiting Colombians caught the Metros' back line off balance to secure the result in the 92nd minute. In a play which developed down the left side of the box, midfielder Diego Moreno sent a centering pass which one teammate flailed on. But an unmarked Viafara followed up the play by easily depositing the ball into the back of the net from eight yards out.

Both teams had a difficult time threatening the goalkeepers in the first half and they combined for just one shot on goal all night in a turnover-laden first half. That shot on goal came from Millonarios in the 14th minute when Javier Jimenez sent a cross from the left side of the box. Forward Juan Carlos Jaramillo had enough space to muster a shot on goal but his effort was low, weak and easy prey for MetroStars goalkeeper Tim Howard.

While the visitors clamped down with a four-man back line which restricted spaces for the MetroStars forwards, defender Mike Petke, on the other end was able to neutralize Millonarios forward Wilson Cano, who scored both goals against the MetroStars in a 2-1 Millonarios win in Bogota on August 29.

The MetroStars saw their best opportunity of the first half fall on the feet of Richie Williams. In the 31st minute his shot off a loose ball at the top of the box went wide of the left post with goalkeeper Eduardo Nino scrambling. Williams passed to forward Adolfo Valencia in the Millonarios box ten minutes later but the Colombian native could not get a shot off in time before the goalkeeper recovered.

In the second half the attacks were not able to generate much more offense. Millonarios often attempted long distance shots with Andres Cerquera coming close to the target on two first-time shots in the opening minutes.

The MetroStars came closest to scoring when striker Alex Dixon came into the match for Valencia (67th minute). Dixon did well to coordinate himself inside the box and connect on a cross from the left side in the 87th minute. His effort forced Nino to make a full stretch in order to stop the ball from entering the top right corner of the goal.

Venezuelan club Deportivo Italchacao (12 pts) were group leaders going into the final match of Group B. However, with the win, Millonarios also climbed to 12 points and their +3 goal differential (10 goals for, 7 against) saw the Colombians through (Italchacao's goal difference was +1).

The season thus comes to an end for the MetroStars, who will return to competitive action with the start of the 2002 MLS regular season. Head Coach Octavio Zambrano's team, the 2000 Eastern Division champions, also advanced to the 2001 MLS Cup quarterfinals where they were ousted in a series overtime by the Los Angeles Galaxy.

Scoring Summary:

MIL--Viafara (Jimenez, Suarez) 92+

MILLONARIOS--Eduardo Nino, Jaime Suarez, Carlos Asprilla, Oscar Cortes,

Harold Rivera, Andres Cerquera, Johan Viafara, Javier Jimenez, Diego Moreno,

Wilson Cano (Manuel Edicson Linares 72), Juan Carlos Jaramillo.

TOTAL SHOTS: 15 (Cerquera 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 5 (five players with 1); FOULS:

23 (Cerquera 8); OFFSIDE: 6; CORNER KICKS: 2; SAVES: Nino 5; CAUTIONS: Viafara

3, Jaramillo 47, Linares 76, Suarez 83; EJECTIONS: none;

METROSTARS--Tim Howard, Orlando Perez, Mike Petke, Steve Jolley, Daniel

Hernandez, Pedro Alvarez (Birahim Diop 83), Richie Williams, Mark Chung,

Gilmar, Adolfo Valencia (Alex Dixon 67), Rodrigo Faria

TOTAL SHOTS: 18 (Hernandez 6); SHOTS ON GOAL: 6 (Dixon 2); FOULS: 20

(Hernandez 5); OFFSIDE: 2; CORNER KICKS: 8; SAVES: Howard 4; CAUTIONS: Alvarez 20,

Chung 83; EJECTIONS: none

Referee: Byron Moreno; Assistant Referees: Luis Vasco, Angel Zambrano

Attendance: 7,221; Weather: Overcast, 51F.

www.MetroStars.com