Major League Soccer

Wolyniec scores winner leading MetroStars past Columbus 3-1.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (Saturday, April 3, 2004) -- Goals by strikers Mike Magee and John Wolyniec, and a late insurance tally by midfielder Amado Guevara, helped the MetroStars to a comfortable 3-1 victory over the lackluster Columbus Crew tonight before 20,356 at Crew Stadium.

Defender Frankie Hejduk put Columbus ahead 1-0 in the 30th minute, a lead that lasted 10 minutes.

The MetroStars took the lead for good soon after halftime. In the 52nd minute, Wolyniec tapped the ball in after good work by midfielder Eddie Gaven for a 2-1 advantage though it looked as if a MetroStar might have been offside.

"The team believes in the way we play," Bradley said. "We were good with the ball. By being good with the ball we made it easy."

An ugly period of play ensued a couple of minutes later with two nasty tackles leading members of both teams getting involved in shoving matches. The perpetrators of the two tackles, Crew forwards Jeff Cunningham and David Testo, received yellow cards.

Despite enjoying periods of second-half possession, the Crew failed to create any goal-scoring opportunities while the MetroStars always looked dangerous on the counterattack.

In the 88th minute, the visitors sealed their victory. Guevara rifled the ball home to make it 3-1 after Crew defender Steve Herdsman took too long trying to clear a cross from Wolyniec.

"The defense was under pressure because we just didn't possess the ball," Columbus coach Greg Andrulis said.

In the final minute, Walker denied the Crew a second goal with an acrobatic left-handed save to keep Cunningham's header from finding the top corner.

After a non-eventful opening five minutes, the MetroStars began to take control of the game. Gaven, a skillful midfielder was a constant thorn in the side of the Crew, his intelligent passes and intricate footwork repeatedly threatening to open up the home defense. In the 10th minute, Gaven forced a fine save from Crew goalkeeper John Busch after Wolyniec had delivered a dangerous cross into the area.

Busch fielded several more shots over the first 30 minutes, most notably a diving save from a Mike Magee as the MetroStars achieved territorial domination. However, a clever link-up between Crew strikers Cunningham and Testo led to Hedjuk putting Columbus ahead 1-0 in the 30th minute. Hedjuk stooped to head the ball in after Walker could only push Testo's left-foot shoot up into the air.

The game then opened up and both teams had scoring opportunities. For the Crew, clearly buoyed by his goal, Hedjuk became more and more involved, making penetrating runs down the left flank. In the 38th minute, one such run led to Hedjuk pulling the ball back to Cunningham for a spinning left-footed shot that just missed the far post.

The MetroStars equalized through Magee's spectacular, diving header just before halftime. In the 40th minute, midfielder Mark Lisi, after twisting and turning on the left flank, delivered an in-swinging cross into the penalty area. Magee's diving header from 15 yards out sailed over Busch into the far top corner of the net to tie matters at 1-1.

The Crew almost snatched the lead back in the 44th minute. Cunningham powered through the MetroStar's defense and unleashed a firm left-footed drive that Walker did well to tip around the post.

"As a team, we didn't perform very well," Columbus defender Robin Fraser said. "We need to get better and sharper. (But) with the caliber of player we still believe, let's not judge us till the very end."

Referee: Abiodun Okulaja. Referee's assistants: Robert Fereday, Kermit Quisenberry. Attendance: 20,356 at Columbus (Ohio) Crew Stadium. Time of game: 1:51. Weather: Cloudy, 56 degrees.