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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) _ Ronald Cerritos scored the game
winner early in the second half with his team-record 14th goal and
the San Jose Clash defeated the New York-New Jersey MetroStars 2-1
on Wednesday night.
Dario Brose had a goal and an assist and goalkeeper Joe Cannon
stopped a penalty kick late in the first half in the battle of two
MLS teams already eliminated from playoff contention.
Henry Zambrano scored for the MetroStars, but also was stopped
by Cannon on the penalty kick as New York-New Jersey lost its
seventh straight at Giants Stadium.
The crowd for the MetroStars' final home game was announced at
7,215, but it seemed even less.
Cerritos' game-winner came in the 53rd minute on assists by
Brose and Alejandro Sequeira. Brose chipped the ball to Sequeira,
who headed it to Cerritos for a tap-in past goalkeeper Mike Ammann.
Cerritos ('98) and Paul Bravo ('96) shared the old team record
of 13 goals.
The MetroStars missed tying the game twice in the final 18
minutes. Petter Villegas was wide from 25 yards in the 72nd minute
and Mike Petke's header off a corner kick in the 87th minute also
slid wide of the goal post.
The victory was the second straight for the Clash under interim
coach Jorge Espinoza. Lothar Osiander will take over the team on
Friday, replacing Brian Quinn, who was fired last week.
The only reason the MetroStars didn't leave the field at
halftime with a 2-1 lead was Cannon. The rookie came off his line
to stop Zambrano on a penalty kick in the 44th minute.
The penalty was set up when Mauricio Wright tripped Zambrano in
the penalty area.
Zambrano had tied the score in the 35th minute. He took a pass
from Brian Kelly, outran Wright down the left touchline and beat
Cannon with a sharp angle shot just inside the outside goal post.
Brose beat Ammann from 25 yards on a free kick in the 12th
minute to give San Jose the early lead. It was his fourth goal and
second in as many games.
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