It was a week of firsts for the New York Red Bulls and Major League Soccer — incredible and ignominious.

Danny Cepero was thrust into the starting role as goalkeeper when the veteran Jon Conway, and defender Jeff Parke, were suspended Thursday by the league for 10 games and fined 10 percent of their annual salaries after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance.

Cepero, 23, a native of Baldwin, N.Y., on Long Island and a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, found himself between the pipes on the artificial turf at Giants Stadium in the proverbial must-win situation for the Red Bulls. The team needed a victory to keep alive its hopes of qualifying for the postseason.

What Cepero gave them was the victory and a memory that will live on in the often-checkered lore of the MetroStars/Red Bulls club.

In the 83rd minute, with the Red Bulls already leading by 2-1 on a pair of goals by Juan Pablo Ángel, Cepero shooed his teammates up the field as he prepared to take a free kick from his own end. (He placed the ball on the 25-yard line, which was simple for all to see since the gridiron markings have been down since the start of the N.F.L. season).

Cepero’s long kick bounced high about 20 yards from the Columbus goal, near the top of the penalty area, and sailed over the head of Crew goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum.

It was the first time an M.L.S. goalkeeper had scored a goal from any play — a penalty kick, a free kick, a header or from anywhere else on the field.

“This is a first for me as well,” Cepero said, looking at the assorted reporters and video men gathered around him after the game. “I had no idea it even went in. I put it in the general area where I thought my teammates could do something with it. I asked Kevin [defender Kevin Goldthwaite] if I get credit for it. I had no idea. It was kind of crazy.”

In the press box, after the goal, the announcer said without a hint of humor: “The Red Bulls goal was scored by Danny Cepero. The goal is his first of the season.” Really? Surely you jest! First of the season in the first game of his career!

Certainly, goalkeepers, like José Luis Chilavert, Rogerio Ceni and Hans-Jorg Butt have been known to score, but mostly from penalties or free kicks, and perhaps the odd long punt. Then sometimes they press forward late in a match looking for an equalizer or game-winner, as Inter Milan’s Toldo did in this clip. And here is one that is nearly identical to the one scored Saturday night by Cepero.

Asked after the game about the last time he had scored a goal, Cepero paused for a second, running through his mental highlight reel, and said it was when he played in central midfield in high school in Baldwin, where he was a three-sport athlete (soccer, basketball and tennis).

“My proudest moment is just getting the win because it’s so important for the team to get to the playoffs,” he said. “For me, I’m just happy to contribute. I’m from New York and I’m happy to have done what I could.”

With that, Cepero was smacked in the side of the face with a shaving cream pie launched his way by defender Andrew Boyens. Amazingly, Cepero never seemed to miss a beat. He continued to calmly answer questions, with the plate planted neatly on his head and shaving cream dripping down his face.

“Was I nervous?” he said. “Well, last night it was kind of difficult getting to bed. I only wish the pie had been something edible.”

And now, what can Cepero do for an encore? Well, a win against the Chicago Fire in Bridgeview, Ill., in a nationally televised game Thursday night will send the Red Bulls (10-10-9, 39 points) to the playoffs.