WASHINGTON DC, CMC:
JAMAICAN FABIAN Taylor scored a second half goal but the New York/New Jersey Metro-Stars slumped to a heavy 6-2 loss to home team DC United in their US Major League Soccer (MLS) match at the RFK Stadium on Saturday.
The 17-year-old Eddie Gaven gave the Metros an early lead but DC United roared back with three unanswered goals to lead 3-1 at the half en route to their handsome win.
Gaven netted in the 18th minute before Ryan Nelsen (30th), Jaime Moreno (37th) and Alecko Eskandarian (41st) gave the home side control.
Earnie Stewart made it 4-1 for DC United in the 57th minute, before Taylor made an almost immediate impact when brought on as a 60th minute substitute.
SHOWED GOOD SKILL
Taylor scored from close range in the 63rd minute when Gaven showed good skill and strength and crossed from the left, shrugging off two strong defensive challenges as he fought to keep possession of the ball.
Reacting quickly, Taylor latched onto Gaven's lateral pass in the six-yard box, twisted the ball away from goalkeeper Troy Perkins with his first touch, and squeezed the ball into the goal with a left-footer from a tight angle.
DC United made the game safe when Eskandarian (69th) got his second goal, and Ben Olsen scored in stoppage time.
At the Crew Stadium, home team Columbus got goals in quick succession from Edson Buddle and Jamaica-born Jeff Cunningham to stop the Chicago Fire 2-0.
Buddle broke free and scored in the 43rd minute, clinically chipping the ball over goalkeeper Henry Ring's head, and a minute later, Cunningham picked up a loose ball, and netted with a deflected shot -- his sixth goal of the season -- after fighting off Chris Armas.
Chicago had Jamaica internationals Andy Williams and Damani Ralph in their line-up.
In Saturday's third game, striker Davy Arnaud netted his first career hat trick and propelled the Kansas City Wizards to a 5-1 win over the Dallas Burn.
