BRADENTON, Fla. - Two late goals from Mike Magee gave the MetroStars a 2-0 win over the Columbus Crew during preseason action at the IMG Academies Friday morning. The victory evened the MetroStars' record in the preseason at 1-1.
"The result is not as important as the guys getting together and getting fit," said MetroStars head coach Mo Johnston. "I thought we possessed the ball a little better today but as I have said before, MLS Championships aren't won in February."
Magee scored his first goal on a penalty kick, beating Columbus netminder Clint Baumstark to the left side in the 71st minute. The penalty was awarded after Jed Zayner took down Jordan Cila in the box.
Cila was involved in Magee's second goal as well in the 82nd minute; after he dribbled down the right side and sent a low cross through the box, Magee tapped it in on the doorstep.
"Mike has enjoyed a good camp so far," said Johnston. "We put him in with the first group against Salt Lake and put him in with the second today to see how he would react. Obviously he reacted very well."
Magee was very active throughout the 45 minutes he played. In addition to his two goals, he almost had another in the 74th when he corralled a Blake Camp switch and blasted a shot from 20 yards out that sailed just over the crossbar.
The teams agreed to play three 30-minute thirds, with neither side taking control in the early going. Columbus had their best chance in the 6th minute after Edson Buddle's header off of a free kick went just wide.
The Metros nearly got on the board when Eddie Gaven set up trialist Piotr Swierczewski on the left side and the Polish midfielder hammered a left-footed shot on frame, but Crew 'keeper Jon Busch made the save.
Columbus had a decent chance late, but it failed to materialize into a goal. A beautiful cross by Danny Szetela set up a Becerra header at the six, but the shot hit the crossbar and was then cleared off the line by Seth Stammler.
Sixteen-year-old Josmer Altidore made his Metros debut and was kept quiet throughout his first 45 minutes; however, he did show flashes, including a brilliant 30-yard-run down the right side successfully taking on Crew defender Marcos Gonzalez in the process. He carried into the box, but his cross attempt was cleared out of danger.
The Metros will play their third preseason friendly of 2006 on Sunday against the U.S. under-17 national team in Tampa, Fla.
MetroStars: Tony Meola (Jon Conway 46'), Carlos Mendes (Seth Stammler 46'), Taylor Graham (Jeff Parke 46'), Peter Canero (Tim Regan 46'), Chris Henderson (Bjarni Gudjohnsen 46'), Mark Lisi (Elie Ikangu 46'), Adrian Serioux (Carlos Fangueiro 46'), Eddie Gaven (Blake Camp 46'), Piotr Swierczewski (Mike Magee 46'), Youri Djorkaeff (Jordan Cila 46'), Jozy Altidore (Thiago Martins 46')
Subs Not Used: Marvell Wynne II (Day to day, abdominal strain)
CLB Starters: Busch (Baumstark 46') Pierce, Marshall, Gonzalez, Kotschau, Moss, Vasquez, Rozenthal, O'Brien, Buddle, Garey
Discipline Summary:
MET: Swierczewski, Caution, 11'
Scoring Summary:
MET: Magee (penalty kick) 71'
MET: Magee (Cila) 82'
Officials: Ben Jones, Michael Salyers, Steve Taylor
Weather: 65 degrees, sunny
