The MetroStars have a chance to win the first title of their 8-year history, a 3-2 win over D.C. United in the U.S. Open Cup semifinal setting up a final date with Chicago, which beat Los Angeles last week.
John Wolyniec got the gamewinner in the 88th minute by deflecting a Ricardo Clark shot into the D.C. United goal.
D.C. United played a man down after the 59th minute ejection of goalkeeper Doug Warren for a foul on Andrzej Juskowiak.
D.C. United also had three players cautioned while the MetroStars were shown no cards.
Ronald Cerritos tied the game, 2-2, 18 minutes after the ejection.
Amado Guevara scored the MetroStars' first two goals, on a header and a 19-yard free kick.
The MetroStars, who lost in their three previous semifinal appearances, will vie for $100,000 in prize money when they meet Chicago, which had beaten the Galaxy, 3-2.
The Fire will be aiming for its third Open Cup title, having won in 1998 and 2000.
Oct. 2 in Piscataway, N.J.
MetroStars 3 D.C. United 2. Goals: Guevara (Bartolomeu) 20, Guevara 43, Wolyniec (Clark) 88; Ivanov (Stewart) 18, Cerritos (Stoitchkov) 76.
D.C. United — Warren, Ivanov (Geddes, 61), Nelsen, Petke, Prideaux, Quintanilla (Namoff, 79), Stewart, Kovalenko, Convey, Cerritos, Eskandarian (Alegria, 46) (Stoitchkov 70).
MetroStars — Walker, Leitch, Jolley, Pope, Bartolomeu, Clark, Gaven, Williams, Guevara, Juskowiak (Magee, 78), Wolyniec.
Yellow cards: D.C. United — Prideaux 42, Quintanilla, 69, Nelsen 94+.
Red card: Warren 58.
Referee: Terry Vaughn
Att.: 3,791.