John's Goal Carries Revolution Past Crew

John’s Goal Carries Revolution Past Crew

L.A. Times Archives

Oct. 24, 2004 12 AM PT

From Associated Press

Avery John scored the first goal of his career to help the New England Revolution end the Columbus Crew’s 18-game unbeaten streak with a 1-0 victory Saturday at Foxboro, Mass., in the first round of the Major League Soccer playoffs.

New England, which finished the regular season with an 8-13-9 record, handed Columbus its first loss since June 26. The second game of the two-game, total-goals series is Oct. 31 at Columbus.

John sent a left-footed shot from 25 yards into the top left corner of the net, catching goalkeeper Jon Busch by surprise in the 25th minute.

Columbus, the Eastern Conference champion, almost tied the score in the final seconds of the first half, but Matt Reis tipped away a direct kick in stoppage time.

In the second half, Columbus had two more scoring chances. Reis stopped a shot by Kyle Martino in the 77th minute. Then in the 88th minute, Frankie Hejduk sent a shot just wide of the post.

New England, which extended its unbeaten streak at home to four games, had lost twice and tied two games against Columbus in the regular season.

D.C. United 2, New York/New Jersey 0 -- Earnie Stewart and Alecko Eskandarian scored in the second half at East Rutherford, N.J., to help United take a commanding lead in the first-round playoff series.

United on Saturday will play host to the second game of the home-and-home, total-goals series.

Stewart, 35, one of eight players to play 100 games with the U.S. national team, scored his first MLS playoff goal, in the 67th minute.

Eskandarian, who grew up near Giants Stadium, put the game away in the 88th minute with a shot from 18 yards.

The MetroStars, who have lost four in a row against United, controlled the game early, but goalkeeper Nick Rimando kept United in the game with several fine saves, including one on a free kick by Amado Guevara in the 39th minute.

Jonny Walker made several acrobatic saves for the MetroStars, taking Dema Kovalenko’s shot to the face in the 27th minute and stopping a header by Ryan Nelsen in the 56th.

MLS Playoff Glance

Two-leg aggregate score series: Series winner is the team with the most goals in the two games. Should the teams be tied at the conclusion of the second game, a 30-minute overtime, followed by a penalty-kick shootout, if necessary, would determine which team would advance.

CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Columbus vs. New England

* Game 1: N. England 1, at Columbus 0

* Game 2: Oct. 31 at Columbus, 2 p.m.

D.C. United vs. MetroStars

* Game 1: D.C. United 2, at MetroStars 0

* Game 2: Saturday at D.C United, 4 p.m.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Kansas City vs. San Jose

* Game 1: Today at San Jose, 2 p.m.

* Game 2: Sat. at Kansas City, 5:30 p.m.