EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (Ticker) -- Clint Mathis and Billy Walsh scored and the shorthanded MetroStars extended their unbeaten streak to six games and their Eastern Division lead to six points with a 2-1 victory over the Dallas Burn on Wednesday.

Goalkeeper Tim Howard allowed his first tally of 2000 but made five saves to improve to 2-0-1 in goal. Meanwhile, Dallas remained winless on the road, falling to 0-9-2.

"It wasn't pretty, but you have to win these types of games, too," MetroStars coach Octavio Zambrano said. "This wasn't the best of games for us, but it was good enough to get another win. We controlled the game in the second half."

The MetroStars (10-7-2) took command in the 59th minute. Walsh controlled a loose ball after Ricardo Iribarren's sloppy clearing attempt at the top of the box and blasted a shot toward goal. The ball deflected off Burn midfielder Lazo Alavanja in the box past goalkeeper Matt Jordan, snapping a 1-1 tie. It was Walsh's second goal in 13 games.

After Dallas (7-11-3) opened the scoring in the 24th minute, the MetroStars got the equalizer seven minutes later. Mathis, the MLS Player of the Month for June, collected a loose ball at the top of the arc and curled a shot past Jordan for his eighth goal. Mathis has five goals in 10 games with the MetroStars.

Dallas struck first as midfielder Ted Eck registered his third goal of the season. MetroStars defender Mark Semioli attempted to clear Oscar Pareja's cross in front of his own goal. Eck intercepted at the six-yard line and one-timed a shot past Howard.

Howard had not allowed a goal in 203 minutes. The backup goalkeeper posted shutouts in his first two starts in place of Mike Ammann, who has a mild back strain.

The MetroStars were also without defender Lothar Matthaeus (back strain) and midfielder Mark Chung (bruised heel). Leading scorer Adolfo Valencia (ankle contusion) played just the final 14 minutes.

Mike Petke and Steve Jolley performed very well on the back line, keeping top scorers Ariel Graziani and Jason Kreis in check.

Graziani did have an excellent chance in extra time at the end of the first half. The Ecuadorian striker blistered a shot off Howard that glanced off the post from in tight on the left side.

Howard saved three points for the Metros in the 86th minute, leaping to tip a drive by Kreis just over the bar off a free kick from 24 yards out.