EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (Ticker) -- Clint Mathis and Billy
Walsh scored and the shorthanded MetroStars extended their
unbeaten streak to six games and their Eastern Division lead to
six points with a 2-1 victory over the Dallas Burn on Wednesday.
Goalkeeper Tim Howard allowed his first tally of 2000 but made
five saves to improve to 2-0-1 in goal. Meanwhile, Dallas
remained winless on the road, falling to 0-9-2.
"It wasn't pretty, but you have to win these types of games,
too," MetroStars coach Octavio Zambrano said. "This wasn't the
best of games for us, but it was good enough to get another win.
We controlled the game in the second half."
The MetroStars (10-7-2) took command in the 59th minute. Walsh
controlled a loose ball after Ricardo Iribarren's sloppy
clearing attempt at the top of the box and blasted a shot toward
goal. The ball deflected off Burn midfielder Lazo Alavanja in
the box past goalkeeper Matt Jordan, snapping a 1-1 tie. It was
Walsh's second goal in 13 games.
After Dallas (7-11-3) opened the scoring in the 24th minute, the
MetroStars got the equalizer seven minutes later. Mathis, the
MLS Player of the Month for June, collected a loose ball at the
top of the arc and curled a shot past Jordan for his eighth
goal. Mathis has five goals in 10 games with the MetroStars.
Dallas struck first as midfielder Ted Eck registered his third
goal of the season. MetroStars defender Mark Semioli attempted
to clear Oscar Pareja's cross in front of his own goal. Eck
intercepted at the six-yard line and one-timed a shot past
Howard.
Howard had not allowed a goal in 203 minutes. The backup
goalkeeper posted shutouts in his first two starts in place of
Mike Ammann, who has a mild back strain.
The MetroStars were also without defender Lothar Matthaeus (back
strain) and midfielder Mark Chung (bruised heel). Leading scorer
Adolfo Valencia (ankle contusion) played just the final 14
minutes.
Mike Petke and Steve Jolley performed very well on the back
line, keeping top scorers Ariel Graziani and Jason Kreis in
check.
Graziani did have an excellent chance in extra time at the end
of the first half. The Ecuadorian striker blistered a shot off
Howard that glanced off the post from in tight on the left side.
Howard saved three points for the Metros in the 86th minute,
leaping to tip a drive by Kreis just over the bar off a free
kick from 24 yards out.