a near post rocket past a 'keeper named Brad Friedel -- to a shutout victory. Before all is said and done, the MetroStars put a real first-round scare into eventual champion D.C. United.
10. 1997: In Year 2, the tables are turned on the MetroStars. Playing the Crew at home with a playoff berth on the line, bad boy defender Branco spits on Mike Lapper, earning a red card. The Metros (who have eight World Cup vets on the field) fall 1-0 in the match, then head to the lockerroom to see what happens in the New England match at Dallas. If Dallas wins or ties, the Metros are good. Only a Rev win will eliminate them. It's 1-0 Burn at the half, but Joe-Max Moore equalizes in the 57th and Paul Keegan scores in the 88th. Metro coach Carlos Alberto Parreira winces when he hears the result ... and bolts the league to coach Saudi Arabia before the dust settles.
9. 1998: In their all-too brief history, the Miami Fusion had a knack for late playoff runs. It all began in their first year when, coached by Ivo Wortmann, who replaced Cacho Cordova, the Fusion went into RFK on Sept. 19 and took out two-time defending champions D.C. United 3-1 on two goals by Diego Serna and one from rookie Pablo Mastroeni. New England and Tampa Bay both kiss the playoffs goodbye that night and the Fusion prove to be a tough out in the playoffs, losing 2-1 at RFK and by shootout after a scoreless draw in Game 2.
8. 1999: Again, it's the Fusion with the late run. In their final game of the season, Ray Hudson's boys ride goals by Eric Wynalda and Welton to a 2-0 win against Colorado. Hudson kisses Welton's bald head as the Fusionados celebrate at Lockhart. The Miami victory again leaves New England on the outside looking in.
7. 2000: A memorable late season only because of the overall collapse of Columbus, which loses its final five games to come up four points short of the Fernando Clavijo-coached New England Revolution. The Revs win their finale at home, 4-3 against the first-place MetroStars and take the Fire to three games in the first round of the playoffs. Unfortunately for the Revs, they lose the deciding playoff match 6-0 at Soldier Field.
6. 2002: In 2001, the playoff race was non-existent, so I'll fast-forward to 2002 when the injury-plagued Chicago Fire face a must-win match against Columbus in their regular-season finale in Naperville. Peter Nowak, playing his final season in the league, proves he has too much pride to miss the playoffs, breaking a scoreless tie in the 72nd minute. The Fire hold on to win 2-1, but cannot will their way past the Revolution (and goal-scoring machine Brian Kamler) in the first round of the playoffs.
5. 2003: Hristo Stoitchkov, playing his final season in the league in the uniform of D.C. United, scores a 57th-minute equalizer that gives United the point they need to snap a three-year playoff drought. The home draw creates a bizarre scenario for the regular-season finale, played the next day between the eliminated Crew and the first-place Fire at Crew Stadium. In short, the Fire grab a 2-0 lead, then surrender six unanswered goals to the Crew who provide the ultimate too-little, too-late finish to the season.
4. 2004: It's win or go home for New England in a finale between the Fire and Revolution at Gillette Stadium. The 2-1 decision goes to the Revs, who've begun (under Steve Nicol) to forge a reputation as a late-season force in MLS. The Fire, who the year before had won the Supporters' Shield, miss the playoffs for the first time in club history. The Revs go on to upset the '04 Supporters' Shield winners from Columbus in the first round of the playoffs and come within penalty kicks of making another MLS Cup Final. Not bad for a team that amassed all of 33 regular season points.
3. 2004: Seems like a long time ago, but the Landon Donovan-led, defending champion San Jose Earthquakes, needed an away point at Dallas to make the '04 playoffs. They got it, using goals by Brian Ching and Ramiro Corrales to take a 2-2 tie and the final spot in The Show out of the Western Conference.
2. 2005: An 18-year old kid named Michael Bradley picks the right time to score his first professional goal, heading home a perfect cross from Mark Lisi to give the Metros a 1-0 lead over Chivas USA at The Home Depot Center on the season's final day. Tony Meola then plays out of his mind, making 12 saves, before Amado Guevara scores a late insurance goal. With Mo Johnson in place as interim coach, the MetroStars nearly oust the Revolution from the playoffs, but suffer a late collapse in Foxborough.
1. 2006: Here's a prediction for this season. Giants Stadium. Oct. 14. The Red Bulls and Kansas City Wizards will be playing a do-or-die game for the East's final playoff spot. Catch a preview of that match Wednesday night when they play at Arrowhead.
Jeff Bradley is a senior writer for ESPN The Magazine. Send your comments and complaints (200 words or less, please) to Jeff at jbradleyespn2003@yahoo.com and he promises to read (but not respond to) all of them. The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author's, and not necessarily those of Major League Soccer or MLSnet.com.
