Page 9C

MetroStars, Galaxy's Hernandez soar to new heights

By Peter Brewington

and Jose Alfredo Flores
USA TODAY

The Major League Soccer season is beyond the halfway point -- enough time to draw some conclusions:

The New York/New Jersey MetroStars officially are legit; Los Angeles Galaxy striker Luis Hernandez finally might be getting comfortable; and last-place D.C. United rapidly is running out of time.

* Olé, olé: Hernandez scored his first MLS goal with an 83rd-minute strike against Dallas. The Mexican broke a drought of 899 minutes, including the U.S. Open Cup, but didn't feel like celebrating since Los Angeles lost 4-2.

''There is a time and a place for that. And this wasn't it.''

Hernandez was an offensive threat most of the game. After the Galaxy were forced to relinquish Clint Mathis, Roy Myers and Joey Franchino to take him on the roster, his play was reassuring as the team tried to create a new chemistry.

Nevertheless, Los Angeles is 3-5-2 since Hernandez's acquisition.

* MetroStars rule: The worst team in MLS last year at 7-25, the MetroStars (9-7-2, 29 points) got goals from Mark Chung and Petter Villegas and took sole possession of first place in the Eastern Division with a 2-0 win against the Tampa Bay Mutiny on Saturday night.

The MetroStars have won six of their last nine games and have not lost sinceMay 13. That coincides with forward Clint Mathis' arrival from Los Angeles in a lottery draft May 16.

New York is three points ahead of New England (7-6-5, 26 points).

The MetroStars were without the services of veteran defender Lothar Matthaeus (lower back strain), starting defender Thomas Dooley (left hamstring) and starting goalkeeper Mike Ammann (back strain).

* Sinking dynasty: Just five seconds from victory, D.C. allowed the Colorado Rapids the game-tying goal in the 92nd minute Saturday. The game ended 1-1 after a 10-minute overtime.

For the last-place defending MLS champions who are scrapping for every point, the tie was devastating. United (4-11-5, 17 points) completed a three-game homestand by going 1-1-1 and earning four points. It had hoped to get nine.

''That letdown cost us two critical points,'' coach Thomas Rongen said.

Worse, the goal was scored by reserve forward Matt Okoh, a player United passed on after a one-week trial earlier this year.

Not to be forgotten is that Colorado (8-9-2, 26 points), battling for the last playoff spot, needs points, too. ''This was a terrific point in the standings,'' Colorado coach Glenn Myernick said. ''It's amazing what can happen from one Saturday to the next. Last Saturday, we felt like incompetent amateurs, and after this Saturday we have a win and a great draw and are back to playing like talented professionals.''

* Comeback II: Colorado wasn't the only MLS team to fight back from a late deficit. The Columbus Crew scored in the 83rd and 84th minutes to pull out a 2-1 win against the San Jose Earthquakes. San Jose fell to 0-8-3 away from Spartan Stadium.

Marco leaving? Although he has become a beloved figure in Washington, this has been a frustrating year professionally and personally for D.C. United captain Marco Etcheverry.

After winning three titles, the team probably will miss the playoffs and Etcheverry has not been as dominant as in earlier seasons.

Sunday, United's captain hinted he is ready for a change. ''I would like to stay here for the rest of my life, but if it's time for me to leave, then I may go to England, Spain, France, Italy -- spectacular places to play soccer.''

Etcheverry has two children attending elementary school in Northern Virginia and one not yet in school.

''In more or less two weeks I will have a clearer sense of what will be my future. I have some very important things that I have to sort out regarding my career, that I'm sorry to say that I won't be able to comment on,'' he said.

Etcheverry is upset about the officiating in MLS: ''It has to rise at the same level the players' level of play is rising. And that's not happening.''