EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., Aug. 25 (UPI) -- Clint Mathis scored in second-half stoppage time Sunday as the MetroStars ended a three-game losing streak with a 1-0 blanking of D.C. United.
The win moved the MetroStars into the seventh playoff seed while United remained nine points out of the final postseason spot with just five games to play. United's winless streak reached 10 games as the United fell to 0-9-3 on the road.
With the MetroStars making frantic attacks into the penalty area in the closing stages of regulation, the home team capitalized on a turnover in the Metros' half as Bobby Convey was stripped by defender Craig Ziadie.
It started a counterattack that saw Andy Williams feed Rodrigo Faria on the left side of the D.C. box. The reigning Rookie of the Year sent a low cross to the opposite goalpost that found Mathis in stride as he knocked the ball inside the right post from five yards.
It was the third goal of the season for the MetroStars captain and his first since returning from the World Cup. Williams collected his career-high 13th assist.
With important points at stake, both teams started the game with high intensity, especially on the defensive end. Both sides had players tracking back to offer defensive cover, limiting the number of shots on goal in the first 45 minutes to two -- both by the MetroStars.
The most physical of the one-on-one battles involved United defender Milton Reyes and Metros forward Mamadou Diallo. In the 51st minute, Diallo got the upper hand as he earned a penalty kick after Reyes shoved him from behind as he made a run into the United box.
The Senegalese striker, who converted three of his previous four kicks, saw his attempt punched away by goalkeeper Nick Rimando.
MetroStars 'keeper Tim Howard, who earned his fourth shutout of the season, replied in the 59th minute. On a corner kick by Marco Etcheverry from the right side, a wide-open Eddie Pope headed the ball on goal from the penalty spot. But Howard made a reflex save to deny the U.S. World Cup defender, tipping the ball over the crossbar.
On the ensuing corner kick from the opposite side, United's Bobby Convey found himself open at the spot but fired a one-time shot just over the bar.
United coach Ray Hudson tried to give a jolt to his attack by inserting veteran Roy Lassiter in the 61st minute, but it was the MetroStars who nearly scored in the 70th minute when a searing shot by Williams went wide left.
United's most dangerous scoring chance of the second half came in the 77th minute as Etcheverry and Pope again connected on a set piece. Pope chested Etcheverry's pass down toward Lassiter in the box, but the United striker could not get a foot to it before it rolled out of play.
