E. RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The MetroStars played a scoreless first half before giving up an early second half goal at home Tuesday night against the Chicago Fire. Coach Bob Bradley had a sense of déjà vu.
The same thing happened against San Jose on May 7 and the Metros didn't respond well and lost that game 1-0.
But Amado Guevara made sure history didn't repeat itself, hooking a 22-yard shot inside the upper right corner to lift the MetroStars to a come-from-behind 2-1 win at Giants Stadium. It was Guevara's fifth goal of the year.
On a day a crowd of 50,807 came to see David Beckham and England, it was Guevara who bent home the dramatic winner, ending the Metros' eight-game home winless streak that dated back to Sept. 11, 2004.
"I had a lot of confidence," Guevara said through a translator. "Of course I didn't think I was going to put it (in) on that angle but I did have confidence that I was going to get a good shot and thank God it was the winner."
Guevara also set up the tying goal in the 76th minute, pushing a free kick into the box that was headed home by Metros super sub John Wolyniec for his second goal of the year.
Wolyniec, who came on at halftime for Youri Djorkaeff, who suffered a strained left calf, beat Chicago 'keeper Zach Thornton from eight yards out.
"The second goal, again Amado played a very good ball, and John Wolyniec scored a real nice header," Bradley said. "Those are the kind of plays that we need to have happen to maybe turn games around and get that win."
Once again rookie sensation Abbe Ibrahim made a difference.
After being punished by the Fire's big and physical backline - including getting crushed by Thornton just outside the box - Ibrahim still had enough in the tank to chase after Samuel Caballero and force a turnover deep in second half stoppage time. He then laid the ball off to Guevara, who finished the game.
"I touched the ball and there was no contact with Caballero," Ibrahim said through assistant coach Mo Johnson's translation. "I was well in control when I played it back to Amado."
That the MetroStars rallied from a 1-0 deficit - Jesse Marsch put the visitors ahead with a 55th-minute penalty - and did so without star Djorkaeff in the finale of a grueling stretch of three games in seven days was huge for the confidence of a team that started three teenagers.
"We rely a lot on Youri," Guevara said. "With him coming out we know we to step up. We did. It took us a little bit longer because they scored on us. We did what we were supposed to do, we got together and then we got the victory."
Dylan Butler is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
