Metros Take 2-1 Win Over Rapids
Published on May 3, 2003 under Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - A goal and an assist from defender Craig Ziadie led the MetroStars (2-1-1, 7 pts.) to a 2-1 victory against the Colorado Rapids (0-2-1, 1 pt.) Saturday night at Giants Stadium. Ziadie scored the game-winning goal in the 62nd minute to record his first career tally, as the MetroStars battled back from a 1-0 halftime deficit.
Appearing in the 43rd match of his MLS career, Ziadie netted his first career goal in spectacular fashion, eluding Colorado defender Wes Hart with a cut to the middle of the field from the right side. Dribbling along the top of the penalty area, Ziadie shuffled past three Colorado defenders, including his cousin, Rapids midfielder Mark Chung. Entering the penalty area, Ziadie unleashed a 16-yard shot that skipped past Rapids goalkeeper Scott Vallow and gave the Metros a 2-1 advantage they would not relinquish.
Ziadie, who started the match playing on the left side of the MetroStars defense, moved across the field in the 31st minute when teammate Chris Leitch left the match due to an injury. Ziadie's presence on the right side would prove to be the difference in the match, as he set up the game-tying goal in the 51st minute by launching a cross into the box that found the head of teammate Clint Mathis, who nodded a close range shot past a helpless Vallow for his first goal of the season.
A strong start by the MetroStars had Colorado chasing the ball for much of the first half, although the Rapids defense effectively limited the MetroStars attack to few quality shots. Neither goalkeeper was tested in the opening 45 minutes.
Against the run of play though, it was the Rapids who grabbed a 1-0 lead with less than five minutes remaining in the first half. A through ball from Mark Chung found Roberts one the left side of the penalty area but left the striker with a difficult angle out wide. With a defender closing, Roberts sizzled a low left-footed shot on Metros goalkeeper Tim Howard, who could only watch in dismay as the seemingly harmless ball spun off his chest and trickled over the goal line. The effort by Roberts was the second of only three first half shots attempted by the Rapids.
Continuing an early season home-stand that will see the club play five of its first seven matches in the Meadowlands, the MetroStars will host Eastern Conference rival D.C. United on Saturday, May 10 at 7:30 p.m. (ET). Colorado returns to action next weekend as well, traveling to Central Ohio to face the Columbus Crew in a match televised live on Fox Sports World (7:30 p.m. ET).
MLS Man of the Match: Craig Ziadie (MET)
Major League Soccer Stories from May 3, 2003
- Eric Quill's Late Goal Helps Wizards Tie Crew 2-2 - Sporting Kansas City
- Quill's Late Goal Leads to 2-2 Deadlock - MLS
- MetroStars Defeat Colorado 2-1 - Red Bull New York
- United, Burn Play to Scoreless Tie - MLS
- Metros Take 2-1 Win Over Rapids - MLS
- Earthquakes Blank Revs, 2-0 - MLS
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