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Wolyniec Tallies in OT for MetroStars

September 20, 2003 - Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release


EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - John Wolyniec lashed home a dramatic overtime goal to give the MetroStars the hard-fought 1-0 win against the Columbus Crew Saturday night at Giants Stadium. Following a tightly contested regulation match, Wolyniec connected with an Amado Guevara pass in the closing moments of the second overtime period to give the home side three valuable points in the Eastern Conference standings.

The goal was scored in stoppage time of the second golden goal period, with a seemingly innocuous restart by Guevara inside the center circle. Guevara lofted a pass long ball the length of the pitch, picking out Wolyniec on the left side of the penalty area, over fifty yards downfield. Wolyniec, who came in at the start of overtime for forward Clint Mathis, connected with the falling ball with a left-footed volley. Wolyniec lashed out a one-touch shot that hit the inside of the far side netting, securing the dramatic overtime win for the Metros.

Despite being outshot for much of the match, the Crew recorded the best chance of the first half. In the 38th minute of play, defender Frankie Hejduk slid a diagonal ball into the box for Ross Paule, who played an artful backheel pass to a trailing Brian West. West's shot beat goalkeeper Jonny Walker for the apparent go-ahead goal, but Paule was ruled to be in an offside position when Hejduk first sent the ball into the area, and the score was waved off.

Guevara came close to breaking the deadlock in the 67th minute of play, collecting a slotted pass through a pair of Crew defenders from Eddie Gaven. Guevara slipped through the pair of yellow shirts to collect the pass, taking a quick left-footed shot on net. Goalkeeper Jon Busch did not need to make the save, however, as Guevara's attempt went high over the crossbar.

The Crew again proved dangerous on set plays in the 81st minute, when Paule sent a free kick ball over the MetroStars defenders to the far end of the box. Forward Brian McBride won the aerial challenge, sending a flashing header across the mouth of the goal for second half substitute Alex Pineda Chacon at the far post. Tightly marked by Richie Williams, however, Chacon was unable to connect to with the ball and the Crew's chance dissipated.

Metros' midfielder Ricardo Clark forced a quality save out of Busch in the 83rd minute, sliding in front of a loose ball in the attacking third to maintain possession. Springing to his feet, Clark unleashed a hard, quick shot on net, forcing Busch to parry the ball out of danger.

The MetroStars' newest acquisition, Polish international forward Andrzej Juskowiak, entered play in the 51st minute in an attempt to reverse the Metros' sluggish start to the second half. Juskowiak, who had trained with his new club for only three days, came on for forward Mike Magee.

The MetroStars (10-7-7, 37 points) leap into second place in the Eastern Conference the win. Wolyniec's goal was his fifth of the 2003 season, and was his second overtime game-winner of the campaign. The Metros face another Conference rival on Thursday, September 25th, as D.C. United visits Giants Stadium (7:30 pm ET, shown on tape delay on ESPN2 on Friday at 1 am).

Columbus (8-10-7, 31 points) is currently in fourth place in the tightly-contested East, leading last place New England by only one point. The battle for the postseason spots in the Eastern Conference continues when the Crew travels to Gillette Stadium on Sunday, September 28th, to face the New England Revolution (6:00 pm ET).

MLS Man of the Match - Amado Guevara (MetroStars)

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