Freddy Adu Scores First Professional Goal (19.04.2004)
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Freddy Adu`s first professional goal didn`t help D.C. United win. The 14-year old, who joined Major League Soccer this season, scored in the 75th minute of Saturday`s 3-2 loss to the MetroStars. "It`s a great feeling to get my first goal, but it`s a little unfortunate to do it on a losing day," Adu said. "Hopefully, this will lead to bigger and better things and there will be plenty more to come."
Adu, the youngest player in a major U.S. pro league in more than a century, did not start but replaced Alecko Eskandarian in the 54th minute.
Adu thrilled the crowd of 31,149 when he sneaked behind two defenders to take a crossing pass from Joshua Gros and knocked a sliding, left-footed shot past Jonny Walker.
Adu was surprised by the warm reception he received from the Giants Stadium crowd.
"I was expecting them to boo me, " he said. "The fans were great. It was kind of funny and I can`t imagine what the other players were thinking. It was great and gave me a little more energy to start
playingand have fun."
Reserve forward Fabian Taylor scored two goals in a 13-minute span of the second half for the MetroStars.
Taylor, who joined the MetroStars last month after playing four years in Jamaica, entered the game after halftime and outscored Adu.
"I think that was all the talk before the game. Everything was about Freddy," Taylor said. "I just wanted to do well with my new teammates. I didn`t think I was going to do better than him."
In the 50th minute, MetroStars midfielder Mark Lisi made a cross from 25-yards out to Taylor, who first attempted a header that was stopped with a diving save by Doug Warren. But Taylor kicked home the rebound for an unassisted goal that tied the game at 1.
Seven minutes later, the MetroStars went up 2-1 when John Wolyniec headed home his second goal of the season.
In the 63rd minute, 17-year-old Eddie Gaven eluded two defenders to push the ball ahead to Taylor, whose left-footed shot trickled past Warren for a 3-1 lead.
