The MetroStars had not played a national team since losing to Colombia 2-0 in 1997.
Rookie Mike Magee scored one goal and set up Mike Nugent's game-winner to give MLS's MetroStars a 2-1 win over the touring Chinese national team.
The game drew 7,611 at Giants Stadium.
China, host of the 2004 Asian Cup, brought six players from its 2002 World Cup team the U.S. tour but finished 0-3-1. It also lost to Haiti (4-3) and Costa Rica (2-0) in Ft. Lauderdale and tied the Los Angeles Galaxy (0-0).