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"Danish Dynamite" tallies two more goals to lead Wizards past MetroStars

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. --Miklos Molnar exploded for a pair of goals as the Kansas City Wizards remained unbeaten with a 2-1 victory over the MetroStars at Giants Stadium Wednesday night. "Danish Dynamite" had his fourth and fifth goals of the season as the Wizards (4-0-1) kept pace with Los Angeles as the only teams without a loss in MLS.

The MetroStars (1-4), losers of three straight, got on the board first in the 25th minute as Alex Comas found the back of the net for his third goal. Miles Joseph ran onto a solid longball from Lothar Matthäus down the right wing. Joseph swung a cross to Adolfo Valencia, who tapped it to Comas for a easy six-yard strike.

The goal marked the first time the Wizards have trailed in a contest in 2000, but high-scoring Kansas City wouldn't stay behind for very long.

The Wizards equalized seven minutes later as red-hot Molnar finished off a nice passing sequence. Mo Johnston played the ball down the left wing to Chris Henderson, who raced towards goal before slotting to an open Molnar for an quick tap in.

"This team can be really proud, on the road, to come back after they score quick says something about our guys," Wizards head coach Bob Gansler said.

Molnar made it 2-1 in the 43rd minute, sliding unmarked into the box on the right hand side. Preki had taken a pass from former MetroStar Peter Vermes and found Molnar in a seam on the right. The Danish veteran blasted a shot past MetroStars goalkeeper Mike Amman to the far post to give Kansas City the lead.

"Bringing in Miklos Molnar up top has been a huge addition for us," Wizards goalkeeper Tony Meola said. "He's a flat-out goal scorer."

Molnar has been very effective so far, with five goals in five games. Meola has also been a standout in 2000, with three shutouts in five games. The veteran had his shutout streak snapped at 305 minutes when Comas scored early in the game. The contest served as a homecoming for Meola, who made his first Giants Stadium appearance since being dealt from the MetroStars before the 1999 season.

Matthäus started the contest in a sweeper role, but moved forward throughout the second half. The veteran took on a libero role that he has so often played for the German National Team. The former Bayern Munich star helped key several chances outside the box, but the Metros couldn't seriously test Meola from inside the 18 in the second half until a golden chance went wasted by Comas in the 89th minute.

Matthäus was very frustrated after the match, having rarely gone through three-game losing streaks in Germany.

"What can I say, it's the same story as last week," Matthäus said. Again, we have the same communication problems on the field."

The MetroStars were without several key players due to injury. Veteran defenders Thomas Dooley and Mark Semioli sat out with leg injuries. Midfielder Tab Ramos also sat out with a calf strain. The Metros are also missing starting defender Ramiro Corrales and reserve goaltender Tim Howard, who are with the U.S. U-23 team in Olympic Qualifying. The Wizards played the contest with a full squad.

Wednesday's contest was the first meeting between the top two draft choices in the 2000 MLS SuperDraft. MetroStars defender Steve Shak, the top pick, played a roaming defensive midfield position. Nick Garcia, the second pick, appeared in his customary central defense role. Both players had trouble with the opposing team's foreign strikers, but had solid evenings all around.

The MetroStars will travel to D.C. United on Saturday for a meeting with the three-time MLS champs at RFK Stadium (7:30 ET). Kansas City will host Tampa Bay on Saturday (8:30 ET) at Arrowhead Stadium, where they are 3-0 this season.

KANSAS CITY WIZARDS--Tony Meola, Nick Garcia, Brandon Prideaux, Peter Vermes, Matt McKeon, Preki, Kerry Zavagnin, Chris Klein, Chris Henderson, Miklos Molnar (Brian Johnson 79), Mo Johnston
TOTAL SHOTS: 14 (Molnar 5); SHOTS ON GOAL: 3 (Molnar 2); FOULS: 20 (Henderson 6); OFFSIDE: 2; CORNER KICKS: 5; SAVES: Meola 1; CAUTIONS: McKeon 65, Vermes 81; EJECTIONS: none; POSSESSION PERCENTAGE: 45%

METROSTARS--Mike Ammann, Orlando Perez (Nino Da Silva 79), Mohammad Khakpour (Dahir Mohammed 46), Mike Petke, Steve Shak, Mark Chung, Lothar Matthaus, Petter Villegas, Miles Joseph (Brian Kelly 46), Adolfo Valencia, Alex Comas
TOTAL SHOTS: 12 (Chung 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 2 (Matthaus 1, Comas 1); FOULS: 11 (Villegas 3); OFFSIDE: 1; CORNER KICKS: 7; SAVES: Ammann 1; CAUTIONS: none; EJECTIONS: none; POSSESSION PERCENTAGE: 55%

Referee: Marcel Yonan; Referee's Assistants: Chip Reed, Gerry Corrie
Attendance: 7,810; Weather: Fair, 59, Clear