It's as old as any rivalry in MLS. Yes, it's the Crew and the Red Bulls, the team formerly known as the MetroStars, a pair of MLS originals, hooking up in a final that few could've predicted. That leaves FC Dallas (Burn) and the Tampa Bay Mutiny (moment of silence) as the only two originals who've yet to reach the Promised Land. Having been around this rivalry since its beginning, First XI gives you a rundown of the great (and wacky) moments in its history. Seriously, folks, this is a vastly underrated rivalry with a lot of crazy moments you deserve to re-live as we prep for Sunday.
11. April 27, 1996 at Giants Stadium: Crew 2, Metro 0
In Columbus they'll remember this as the club's first-ever road victory. In New Jersey, it's remembered as the day that Tab Ramos and Ruben Dario Hernandez made their MetroStars debuts. Hernandez, aka "Rubencho", missed an open net in the game's opening moments, an omen of things to come for him. And Ramos, with the Metros trailing 1-0 in the second half, had a chance to tie the game from the penalty spot, but slipped (John Terry style) on the wet sod, allowing Bo Oshoniyi to make an easy save. Brian Bliss and Billy Thompson tallied for the Crew and the Metros fell to 0-3 on the season. Not the start they were hoping for.
10. June 30, 1996 at Columbus: Metro 4, Crew 0
Nicola Caricola is remembered most in MetroStars/Red Bulls history for his 90th-minute own goal in the team's home opener (the lone goal in a 1-0 loss to New England), but the truth is that Nico was a pretty good player who redeemed himself as the inaugural campaign wore on. On this steamy day at Ohio Stadium, Caricola scored a stunner, a 30-yard, dipping shot, as the Metros (resurgent under Carlos Queiroz) trounced the Crew. The game is also memorable to Metro fans for Tony Meola's PK save on Doctor Khumalo and the one and only career goal for Chris Unger, the team's transportation director-turned player, who scored late in the game on his first-ever professional touch.
9. Sept. 18, 1996: Metro 1, Crew 0
Who would've known back in 1996 that it would become an annual thing for the MetroStars/Red Bulls that they would have a critical, playoffs-on-the-line, late-season matchup with the Crew almost annually? In Year 1, it was on the hated Astroturf at Giants Stadium where Antony "Pitufo" De Avila scored a huge goal, capitalizing on an errant clearance and roofing a shot past Brad Friedel to lock the Metros into an Eastern Conference playoff spot.
8. Sept. 25, 1997: Metro 0, Crew 1
All it took was one year for fortunes to turn in favor of the Crew in this annual late-season affair. Again, the playoffs were on the line for the Metros, but no one remembered to tell Brazilian defender Branco to keep his spit to himself. When Branco sprayed Mike Lapper right in front of the referee, he was sent off (his third red card in 11 games for the Metros) and it was all downhill from there. Mike Clark's 70th-minute goal was the winner and the Metros were making tee times.
7. Oct. 3, 1998: Metro 1, Crew 1 (2-3 SO)
This was the one and only playoff series between the two clubs. With Bora Milutinovic in place to lead the Metros (hired to replace Alfonso Mondelo with one game left in the regular season), the Crew took Game 1 of the best-of-3 series by a 5-3 score and were able to wrap things up at Giants Stadium, winning a shootout by a 3-2 count. It was the Metros only shootout loss of the season. Mike Petke and Mike Duhaney dyed their hair red for the occasion, but even that could not reverse the club's fortune as they bowed out of the playoffs in the first round.
6. Sept. 12, 1999: Crew 1, Metro 2
We're going to point out this game because the '99 MetroStars only won four games (non-shootout) all season and one was against the Crew. This late-season victory was the Metros first win in 13 league matches. Henry Zambrano, who breezed through New York faster than you could say "Sasa Curcic" scored the game winner. The game mattered little to the Crew, who finished a strong second in the East and took D.C. United to three games in the Eastern Conference final.
5. April 26, 2003: Crew 0, Metro 1
The Metro-Crew games were not so interesting for a few years (call it the three-conference drought), but began to pick up again in 2003. This late April game was not a thriller by any means but gained some national attention as 17-year old Mike Magee scored the winner, becoming youngest scorer in Metro history, then went home to Chicago after the game so he could attend his prom.
4. Aug. 6, 2003: Crew 3, Metro 4
A night of heartbreak for the Crew and an night of triumph for the MetroStars. Columbus, U.S. Open Cup holders, cough up a two-goal lead at home, as newly-minted Metro team captain Eddie Pope scores two goals late. Those would turn out to be the only two goals Pope scores with the MetroStars. The Metros run to their only cup final (until recently) where they are upended at home by Chicago.
3. Sept. 20, 2003: Metro 1, Crew 0
In it what is probably the most written-about moment in First XI history, John Wolyniec scores the lone match in this game, on the final kick of the game, on what is surely the greatest goal in MLS history. Woly's wonder goal, a left-footed volley off a 50-yard pass from Amado Guevara is the only tally in a brutal match. Sadly, the goal does not even garner Goal of the Year. Recount!
2. Sept. 18, 2004: Crew 4, Metro 2
The Crew -- on their way to an unlikely Supporters' Shield -- punch their ticket to the 2004 MLS Cup Playoffs behind an amazing four-goal performance from Edson Buddle. The Metros, who enter the match on the heels of the first-place Crew, actually take the lead twice, first on a goal by Wolyniec and again on a goal by current Crew hero Eddie Gaven. Buddle has answers galore, however, and the refuse-to-lose Crew extend their unbeaten streak to 13 games.
1. Oct. 18, 2008: Red Bulls 3, Crew 1
What can you say, except goalkeepers don't score every day. Danny Cepero seals an important three points for the Red Bulls with his historic 80-yard strike. And who thought they were watching a preview of MLS Cup on this night in Jersey a few weeks ago?
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