Maybe Mother Nature is a MetroStars fan.
After being thoroughly outplayed in the opening 20 minutes and falling behind 1-0 on John Wolyniec's first goal as a member of the Columbus Crew, the Metros got an unlikely reprieve when Sunday night's game was delayed 92 minutes because of lightning.
The Metros came out of their stifling locker room recharged and led by second-half goals by Sergio Galvan Rey and Youri Djorkaeff, they came from behind to beat the Crew, 2-1 at sticky Giants Stadium.
"Thank God for the rain delay today because I don't know what the heck was going on in the first 20 minutes," goalkeeper Tony Meola said. "But we came out with a heck of a lot more intensity and we pumped the ball into their end of the field and battled."
The victory, which extended their home unbeaten streak to eight games, was vital for the MetroStars, who saw all four Eastern Conference foes in front of them win Saturday. They came into the game nine points out of the fourth and final playoff spot and a loss would have put them closer to last-place Columbus than the postseason.
They played the game without captain and reigning league MVP Amado Guevara, who was serving a one-game suspension for being sent off at D.C. Wednesday.
"It was huge," said Galvan Rey.
Galvan Rey was huge, again, scoring the tying goal two minutes into the second half. Jeff Parke set up Galvan Rey's goal with a great touch to Mike Magee, who crossed the ball in front to Galvan Rey. And the Colombian-born striker chipped the ball past Jonny Walker for his sixth goal of the year.
Galvan Rey then helped set up Djorkaeff's winner in the 65th minute. His shot was blocked by a sliding Chad Marshall and Djorkaeff pounced on the rebound. Chris Wingert desperately tried to redirect the ball at the last second, but he couldn't stop it from crossing the endline.
It was Djorkaeff's sixth goal of the year and third against the Crew.
"It's my lucky team," Djorkaeff said with a smile. "Hopefully we play every game against Columbus."
The Columbus game was the first of three straight must-win home games for the Metros, who will be without Ante Razov for next Sunday's game against Chivas USA. He, along with third string goalkeeper Mike Ueltschey, will head to Germany Monday to have Sports Hernia surgery.
Chris Leitch will also be out, serving a one-game suspension for an accumulation of caution points.
"[Coach] Bob [Bradley] said in the beginning of the week we have three games in a row," said Meola, who made four saves. "The only way to keep this thing going is to get nine points."
Dylan Butler is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
