Ante Razov would rather call it a coincidence than revenge.
The fact that he scored two goals in a two-minute span, against a team that he begged to be traded from after having a public feud with its coach, just 11 days after being traded from that club, is just dumb luck.
What Razov cared about more, or at least what he said he cared about more, was getting his new club -- the MetroStars -- the rare three points at home. His brace coming against the Columbus Crew in a 3-2 win at Giants Stadium on Saturday night was just dumb luck.
"It's just coincidence that they came up so fast," Razov said. "If we would have played them in six weeks, it wouldn't be a big deal. We got three points and we won, that's the most important thing."
What was equally important for Razov and the MetroStars, who stretched their unbeaten streak to five games, is that it's a win in front of new president/general manager Alexi Lalas, named to his post Monday.
In interviews during the week, Lalas said it was important not only to win, but to win pretty. The club has to play attractive soccer and that was certainly the case -- especially in the first half -- against the last-place Crew.
"I don't think anyone left here not getting their money's worth, simple as that," Lalas aid. "That was an entertaining game of soccer, whether you're playing it at Giants Stadium, San Siro or Wembley."
Zach Wells got the entertainment going, lunging to his left to stop Chris Henderson's poorly taken penalty kick in the 28th minute. It was the second penalty save of the year for Wells (he's 2-for-4), the first also coming against the Crew. He stopped Kyle Martino's chance in the Metros 3-0 win at Columbus on May 28.
That save set off an explosive five-minute span that saw three goals scored. The first two belonged to Razov, who was set up by a string of passes by Mark Lisi, Michael Bradley and Youri Djorkaeff on his first goal in the 31st minute, and was sprung into the box by Guevara two minutes later.
"Those guys are different class of players," Razov said of Djorkaeff and Guevara. "For me it's always been much easier to play with great players like that. Those guys know exactly how much weight to put on the ball, what kind of ball to give and the right time to serve it."
Razov's double is tied for the second quickest by one player in club history. Giovanni Savarese scored the quickest two goals in club history when he scored twice in a minute Aug. 8, 1998, in a 4-1 win against Colorado.
"I've known Ante a long time," Metros coach Bob Bradley said. "I think he's a dangerous striker, I think he has a good way of moving on the field and the hope is that, as the understanding develops there, that he'll continue to get sharper and sharper. When he gets chances running in on goal, his ability to beat the keeper and finish is still as good as anyone in the league."
Not that there would be much doubt, but Razov will certainly be called upon increasingly in the coming weeks. On Saturday the club learned 21-year-old Togo international Abbe Ibrahim has suffered a tear in the meniscus of his left knee and could be out for a number of weeks.
Three minutes after Razov completed his pair, Columbus quickly answered back. Former MetroStars forward Cornell Glen raced down the left side of the field and crossed the ball inside the box to Edson Buddle, and the native of New Rochelle, N.Y., powerfully held off Metros defender Jeff Agoos before turning and toe-poking the ball off Wells and in.
Lalas had to love Guevara's brilliance that led to the club's third goal. With his back to Crew defender Mario Rodriguez, he slid the through his legs and turned in the box, before Rodriguez tripped him from behind for the game's second penalty kick.
While Guevara has usually been the Metros man from the spot, it was Djorkaeff who took the penalty, beating Gaudette to the 'keeper's right to put the Metros in front 3-1 in the 70th minute.
"Amado's the first option but Amado, depending on the point of the game, if he's been fouled, is quick to look around and make sure that others are involved," Bradley said. "I think Amado remembers too there was a play in Chicago when he took a shot and Youri was running onto the ball and probably could have whacked it in the net but let it go. Sometimes guys like that remember and return favors."
Dylan Butler is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
