MLS Red Bull New York

Late Goal Lifts MetroStars to Draw with Fire, 1-1

Published on August 9, 2003 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Red Bull New York News Release


Naperville, IL (Saturday, August 9, 2003) - The MetroStars grabbed another late goal to record a 1-1 draw with the Chicago Fire Saturday afternoon at Cardinal Stadium in Naperville. Fire forward Damani Ralph notched his record-tying eighth goal of the season to open the scoring, but MetroStars defender Steve Jolley put his second tally of the season to good use, forcing the 1-1 tie.

Chicago forward Damani Ralph continued his stellar rookie campaign with his eighth goal of the season in the 22nd minute of play. Rushing down the far side of the penalty area, Ralph generated space by drawing defender Steve Jolley off balance with a quick stutter step. Ralph broke away from Jolley, gaining enough space to lash a sharp-angled shot past goalkeeper Jonny Walker, and into the far side netting.

With the goal, Ralph ties the League record for most goals in a rookie season. Josh Wolff (Chicago, 1998), Jeff Cunningham (Columbus, 1998), and Rodrigo Faria (MetroStars, 2001) all equaled Ralph's feat in their first seasons of professional soccer.

The MetroStars evened the score in the 87th minute, capping of a flurry of activity inside the Chicago area. Mark Lisi earned a corner kick for the Metros, forcing goalkeeper Zach Thornton to make a pair of lighting-quick saves at the goal line before the Fire `keeper sent the ball over the end line.

On the ensuing corner Mike Magee sent a swinging ball to the far side of the box, where defender Steve Jolley sprinted out of the back of the pack. Marked tightly by Chicago's Jim Curtin, Jolley stretched out to connect on a one-touch volley that rang off of the underside of the crossbar, knotting the score at 1-1 and sending the match into overtime.

Walker was tested several times in the game as the Fire applied pressure all over the field. In the 14th minute, the MetroStars' `keeper denied Ante Razov's attempt, snatching the long, rising blast out of the air. In the second half, Walker's positioning led to a spectacular reflex save that aborted Razov's close-range volley attempt in the 65th minute.

Eight minutes later, Walker's diving save plucked a well-struck Jesse Marsch rocket neatly in mid-flight.

Walker's biggest save of the match, however, may have come in the sixth minute of overtime, when he made yet another stop on Razov. The Fire forward leathered a low shot from twenty yards out, forcing Walker to make a quick block. The force of the shot carried the ball through Walker's gloves, but he recovered quickly enough to hold on to the ball and to preserve the draw.

With the result, the Fire (8-4-5, 29 points) and the Metros (8-5-5, 29 points) remain in a tie atop the Eastern Conference table. Chicago travels to Ohio on Wednesday, August 13th to face the Columbus Crew, while the MetroStars will play host to the Kansas City Wizards at Giants Stadium on Wednesday at 12:00 pm.

MLS Man of the Match - Jonny Walker (MetroStars)

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Major League Soccer Stories from August 9, 2003


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