2:1 MetroStars Columbus Galvan Rey Djorkaeff Wolyniec 08.14.05 · League

The skies opened and the game was delayed for an hour and a half, but the MetroStars came back from a one-goal deficit with goals from Sergio Galvan Rey and Youri Djorkaeff to take a much-needed win against Columbus. The win moves the Metros back to six points behind the last playoff spot, so, in theory, they are still alive. In theory.

With Amado Guevara suspended, Mike Magee moved to the midfield role. Interestingly, that was the only change from mid-week's debacle at DC. As for Columbus, it was Metro rejects galore, and Jonny Walker and John Wolyniec made starts. And it was Wolyniec who rose above the defense in the 12th minute to score his first goal for his new team, after the Metros failed to clear a corner kick.

And in the 21st minute, the rain came down. Thunder, lightning, wind, and buckets of water falling from the sky to form a wet wall in and around the stadium. Play was suspended indefinitely, and just as well; up to that point, Metro looked completely inept.

An hour and a half later, the play resumed, and Metro came out a totally different team. We don't know what Bob Bradley said during the break, but did it ever work. Jeff Agoos had probably the best chance of the half, Walker saving his chance off a Magee corner. But just two minutes into the second period, Jeff Parke made a key play to keep stop a clearance. Another precise pass from Magee, who has really turned his game up a notch recently, found Galvan Rey in the box, who slammed it past Walker to tie the game.

Djorkaeff and Galvan Rey combined for the game-winner in the 66th. With the former setting up the latter's shot, it was blocked by a Crew defender, but just like on last week's goal at Dallas, Djorkaeff did not stop his run after making the pass. He pounced on the loose ball and struk it into the net, where it went off Chris Wingert and into the goal. Originally scored an own goal, it was fairly changed to Djorkaeff after the match.

The Crew's best chance to tie the game came off the foot of another ex-Metro, Cornell Glen, who had a breakaway in the 76th minute. But Tony Meola came out of the net to foil the initial shot, and Glen then shot high on the follow-up. Soon the whistle rang, the drenched players and fans left the stadium, and an important three points were taken.

Tim Ward made his first league appearance in months, coming on for Agoos in the second half. Eric Quill made his Metro debut, playing the last five minutes of the game.

Lineup: Meola, Agoos, Stammler, Parke, Leitch, Bradley, Magee, Gaven, Galvan Rey, Djorkaeff, Razov. Subs: Ward, Quill, da Silva.