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Late charge Tiebreaker goal sends Galaxy into MLS semifinals
Updated: Sunday September 30, 2001 10:32 AM
PASADENA, Calif. (AP) -- Mauricio Cienfuegos scored eight minutes into the sudden-death series tiebreaker Saturday as the Los Angeles Galaxy eliminated the New York/New Jersey MetroStars 3-2 in the MLS playoff quarterfinals. Cienfuego's free kick deflected off MetroStars midfielder Mark Chung's head as goalkeeper Tim Howard remained stationary. The third-seeded Galaxy played the series tiebreaker and the final 20 minutes of regulation with 10 players after defender Danny Califf received a red card. Califf was penalized for tackling Rodrigo Faria from behind about 40 yards from the goal on a breakaway after a turnover by Los Angeles defender Alexi Lalas. "There is no word for what just took place," Los Angeles defender Paul Caligiuri said. The Galaxy forced the tiebreaker as Sasha Victorine scored twice in the first half before an announced crowd of 6,154 at the Rose Bowl, giving both teams four points in the first-to-five-points series adopted in 2000. The series opened with a 1-1 tie here last Sunday and the sixth-seeded MetroStars won 4-1 Wednesday night at home. In the regulation game, Victorine gave the Galaxy a 1-0 lead in the 21st minute, heading Simon Elliott's cross over Howard. Victorine made it 2-0 in the 33rd minute, putting a left-footed shot diagonally past the onrushing Howard. After being held to three shots in the first half, none on goal, the MetroStars scored four minutes into the second half. Petter Villegas put a volley past Los Angeles goalkeeper Kevin Hartman in the 49th minute. Hartman kept Los Angeles ahead by blocking Faria's 54th-minute shot after Villegas raced past the Los Angeles defense and passed to an unmarked Faria. Adam Frye put Los Angeles ahead 3-1 in the 56th minute. Cobi Jones began the scoring sequence by sending a corner kick to Lalas, who headed the ball to Frye, who put a header past Howard. Villegas scored again in the 61st minute, off Chung's assist. New York/New Jersey took four shots in the first eight minutes following Califf's ejection, but none afterward. Elliott chested away Chung's shot at the goal line in the 76th minute. Hartman made saves on Adolfo Valencia's 75th-minute shot and Daniel Hernandez's free kick two minutes later. "I think we should have done better with 11 guys, but we didn't do our job," MetroStars head coach Octavio Zambrano said. The Galaxy was playing without starting defender Greg Vanney, suspended under MLS rules after receiving a red card Wednesday night. Califf will miss the opener of the semifinals under the same rule. Galaxy forward Luis Hernandez missed his second consecutive game because of a hip flexor. Hernandez scored a team-high eight goals this season. SummaryScoring: LA --Victorine (Elliott, Lalas) 21 LA --Victorine (Jones, Cienfuegos) 33
METROSTARS--Tim Howard, Mike Petke (Mark Semioli 46, Gilmar 91), Steve Jolley,
Orlando Perez, Daniel Hernandez, Richie Williams, Ross Paule (Billy Walsh 91),
Mark Chung, Petter Villegas, Adolfo Valencia, Rodrigo Faria
LOS ANGELES GALAXY--Kevin Hartman, Alexi Lalas, Danny Califf, Paul Caligiuri,
Ezra Hendrickson, Simon Elliott, Mauricio Cienfuegos, Peter Vagenas, Adam Frye
(Craig Waibel 75), Sasha Victorine, Cobi Jones
Referee: Paul Tamberino; Assistant Referees: Craig Lowry, Robert Fereday
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