EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) – Adolfo Valencia scored on a rebound in the second minute of second-half injury time, giving the New York-New Jersey MetroStars a 2-1 victory over New England in the MLS opener for both teams Saturday night.

Clint Mathis also scored in the second half for the defending Eastern Conference champions in the game that featured 49 fouls and eight yellow cards.

Leonel Alvarez had tied the game for the Revolution with a somewhat controversial goal in the 73rd minute, and MetroStars keeper Tim Howard prevented New England from grabbing the lead with a point-blank stop on Wolde Harris in the 82nd minute.

Valencia's winner came just seconds after Mark Chung took a pass from Mathis and slammed a shot off the left goalpost. The ball bounced back in front and Valencia headed the ball into the net with goalkeeper Jeff Causey out of position.

Alvarez had tied the game with what looked like a centering pass from the right edge of the penalty box. Howard came out of his goal to intercept the pass while Revolution forward Johnny Torres tried to head the ball into the goal. There was a collision between Howard and Torres and the ball went in the net.

Alvarez got credit for the goal, which came just minutes after Petter Villegas of New York-New Jersey hit the goalpost on a breakaway.

Mathis, who gave the United States a recent win over Honduras in a World Cup qualifier with a goal off a free kick, put New York-New Jersey ahead with another goal off a free kick from 27 yards out. His shot hit off a defender in the Revolution wall and deflected into the left corner of the goal as Causey was unable to react.

The MetroStars dominated play early but they failed to finish their scoring chances.

Alex Comas, who left the game in the 28th minute with a sprained left knee, missed a great chance in front in the sixth minute. Tab Ramos sailed a shot over an open net from 25 yards out in the 13th minute.

Harris, who led New England with 15 goals last season, came within a few feet of giving the Revolution the lead in injury time at the end of the first half. He broke free on the left wing, dribbled around Howard and sent a bad angle shot toward the open net, only to see MetroStars defender Steve Jolley clear it away from the goal.