Nashville 1-0 Minnesota

May 3, 1997 — Ezell Park (Nashville, Tenn.)

Scoring Summary
NASH — Luis Berbari (84′)

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Metros finally notch first regulation pro goal in win

(Nashville Tennessean, 05.04.97)

By Jim Wyatt

The monkey — a 379-minute scoreless slump — is off the back of the Nashville Metros.

Metros captain Luis Berbari scored the team’s first professional goal on a free kick late in the second half in a 1-0 win over the Minnesota Thunder last night.

After the Metros (3-1) had been held scoreless during field play in two shootout wins and a loss, Berbari’s kick hit the net, sailing over the outstretched arms of Minnesota goalie Nick Pasquarellio.

It set off the biggest celebration to date at the Columbia Soccer Complex, as fans and players alike swarmed Berbari after his goal.

“We played our hearts out tonight,” Berbari said. “It’s funny, in some places, like Europe, when you have back-to-back shootouts after no goals everyone talks about how great the defense is. In this country, everyone’s been wondering, ‘When are you guys going to score a goal?’ I know it sure felt good.”

The Metros still needed two saves from goalie Randy Dedini in the final six minutes to preserve the win.

Minnesota (1-3) had numerous scoring chances early, but time after time Thunder players misfired.

“We felt really lucky to be 0-0 at the half,” Nashville’s Mark Foster said. “There was such great relief when Luis put that goal in.”

“We could feel the pressure building on us; it weighed on all of us. I was like ‘Thank you, Lous.’ We needed that. Maybe that will get us going.”

The win was worth three points. Shootout wins are worth just one point and goals scored during a shootout do not count on a team’s statistics.

“Hopefully this is the little boost we needed,” Metros coach Greg Petersen said. “It wasn’t pretty, but we’ll take it.”

The Metros have next week off before hosting Seattle on May 16 at 7:30 p.m.

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