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Coming through Late goal lifts MetroStars past Burn in OT
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- Adolofo Valencia scored with 10 seconds left in overtime to give the New York-New Jersey MetroStars a 2-1 victory over the Dallas Burn on Friday night in the first game of their quarterfinal playoff series. Valencia took a pass from Clint Mathis deep in the box, got past two defenders and placed an 8-yard shot just inside the post. "When the ball came to me I looked at the clock and saw there was less than a minute left," Valencia said. "I knew I couldn't wait, I had to score." MetroStars coach Octavio Zambrano said that it was a perfect spot for Valencia. "I know he's at his best when he's in the box," Zambrano said. "In a scramble inside is where Adolfo really shines."
The victory gives the MetroStars three points in the series, which resumes Wednesday night in Dallas. Game 3, if necessary, will be next Saturday at Giants Stadium. The first team to five points wins the series. "It's always disappointing to lose a game like that," Dallas coach David Dir said. "But I think we can take a lot of positives out of this. We clearly had the better chances especially in the second half and gave them plenty to worry about." Mathis opened the scoring 34th minute, slipping the ball past goalkeeper Matt Jordan from close range. Dallas, which rarely threatened in the first half, looked as if it would tie the match in the 55th minute when Lothar Matthaus pulled Antonio Martinez down in the penalty box. However, goalkeeper Paul Grafer was able to dive to his right and save the spot kick by Oscar Pareja. The Burn tied it two minutes later when Ariel Graziani crossed the ball from the right to an unmarked Bobby Rhine in the middle of the box. Rhine turned quickly and put the shot past Grafer. Each team had a chance to win in late in regulation. For the MetroStars, Tab Ramos' free kick from just outside the box in the 85th minute sailed wide right. In the 89th minute, Dallas' Sergi Daniv intercepted a clearing pass and shot wide right.
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