MetroStars Win in Overtime, 2-1
Adolfo Valencia scored with 10 seconds left in overtime to give the New York-New Jersey MetroStars a 2-1 victory over the Dallas Burn on Friday night before 14,868 at East Rutherford, N.J., in the first game of their quarterfinal Major League Soccer playoff series.
Valencia took a pass from Clint Mathis deep in the box, got past two defenders and placed an eight-yard shot inside the post.
“When the ball came to me I looked at the clock and saw there was less than a minute left,” Valencia said. “I knew I couldn’t wait, I had to score.”
MetroStar Coach Octavio Zambrano said that it was a perfect spot for Valencia.
“I know he’s at his best when he’s in the box,” Zambrano said. “In a scramble inside is where Adolfo really shines.”
The series resumes Wednesday night at Dallas. Game 3, if necessary, will be Saturday at Giants Stadium.
“It’s always disappointing to lose a game like that,” Dallas Coach David Dir said. “But I think we can take a lot of positives out of this. We clearly had the better chances.”
Mathis opened the scoring 34th minute, slipping the ball past goalkeeper Matt Jordan from close range.
Dallas, which rarely threatened in the first half, looked as if it would tie the match in the 55th minute when Lothar Matthaus pulled Antonio Martinez down in the penalty box. However, goalkeeper Paul Grafer was able to dive to his right and save the spot kick by Oscar Pareja.
The Burn tied it two minutes later when Ariel Graziani crossed the ball from the right to an unmarked Bobby Rhine in the middle of the box. Rhine turned quickly and put the shot past Grafer.
Each team had a chance to win late in regulation. For the MetroStars, Tab Ramos’ free kick from outside the box in the 85th minute sailed wide right. In the 89th minute, Dallas’ Sergi Daniv intercepted a clearing pass and shot wide right.
Chicago 2, New England 1--Dema Kovalenko scored in the 73rd minute as the Fire won at before 10,476 at Chicago.
The series resumes Tuesday in Foxboro, Mass. Game 3, if necessary, will be Friday night at Chicago.
Chicago tied it at 1-1 in the 53rd minute when New England’s Mauricio Wright inadvertently headed the ball past Revolution goalkeeper Jeff Causey.
New England opened the scoring in the 50th minute when Wolde Harris’ shot glanced off Chicago’s Tom Soehn, redirecting the ball and putting goalkeeper Zach Thornton out of position.
New England defender Rusty Pierce left in the 30th minute because of an apparent hamstring injury.
