EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., May 24 (UPI) -- Defender Steve Jolley scored in the 84th minute Saturday night to give the MetroStars their fifth straight victory, 2-1 over the Dallas Burn.
Clint Mathis opened the scoring for the Metros, but the Burn's Jason Kreis quicky answered. Jolly's opportunistic goal kept the MetroStars on top of the Eastern Conference.
The MetroStars were finally able to break the deadlock in the 60th minute, opening up a tightly defended game. The Metros were awarded an indirect free kick inside the penalty area for a back-pass infraction by Dallas. With the box full of bodies as the Burn attempted to rush the shooter, Mathis hammered a low shot through a maze of legs, leaving goalkeeper D.J. Countess no chance.
Dallas immediately countered, tying the game in the 63rd minute. Chris Gbandi ran on to a Dallas corner kick, earning a whistle when Clark handled his shot inside the penalty area. Kreis took the ensuing penalty shot, hitting the ball low to his left.
Goalkeeper Tim Howard made a diving stop on the initial attempt, but the loose ball rolled right back out to Kreis. The Dallas striker hit the ball into the roof of the net before the Metros could recover, ending Howard's shutout streak at 292 consecutive scoreless minutes.
The final goal came from an unlikely source as Jolley notched his first of the season in the 84th minute of play. Mathis sent a bending free kick into the box, where Steve Morrow attempted to nod the ball to safety. The ball fell to Jolley, lurking on the edge of the box. Jolley's one-time strike to the far post somehow managed to elude Countess.
The MetroStars are undefeated when Mathis scores (21
2).
