MLS Red Bull New York

MetroStars Weekly Report

Published on May 19, 2003 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Red Bull New York News Release


Up Next, Dallas: After defeating the Colorado Rapids 2-0 last weekend, the MetroStars return to Giants Stadium to face the Dallas Burn on Saturday, May 24 at 7:30 p.m. ET (MSG-TV, WADO 1280 AM). The MetroStars have rolled off four straight wins increasing their record to 4-1-1 for 13 points and first-place in the Eastern Conference. The "Red and Black" have posted an 8-10-0 record against the Burn all-time.

Tickets are available at the Continental Airlines Arena box office and at all Ticketmaster outlets. Tickets will also be available through Ticketmaster by phone for callers in New Jersey (201-507-8900), New York (212-307-7171), and for Spanish-speaking customers throughout New York and New Jersey (212-307-4757).

MetroStars on TV this Week:
Thursday: Metro Soccer Report - MSG-TV, 11:00 p.m. ET (Repeats Friday, 3pm, Saturday, 10:30am, Sunday, 9am)
Friday: Inside New Jersey Soccer - News 12 New Jersey, 10:35 pm & 11:35 p.m. ET. (Repeats Saturday 8:30am & 1pm)
Saturday: MetroStars vs. Dallas Burn - MSG-TV, 7:30 p.m. ET

Mathis Increases Streak to Three: Clint Mathis scored his third goal of the 2003 season and his third in consecutive games this past weekend in the 2-0 home win over the Colorado Rapids at INVESCO Field at Mile High. The tally is the first in successive games for the U.S. World Cup star, since the 2001 campaign. Mathis holds a career best scoring streak of four goals in consecutive games started on April 28, 2001, and lasted through May 12, 2001. The Georgia native knocked in six goals in that span. The MetroStars are now 20-0-2 (includes two playoff wins), whenever Mathis finds the back of the net.

Mathis Torches the Burn: MetroStars midfielder/forward Clint Mathis has scored 12 goals and four assists for 28 points against the Dallas Burn in 13 games. As a member of the Metros, Mathis has totaled eight goals and one assist for 17 points in six games. Mathis has also added four more goals against the Burn in the playoffs. He scored one as a member of L.A. during the 1998 playoffs and three more for the Metros in the 2000 MLS Cup Playoffs Quarterfinals two-game sweep of Dallas. The U.S. World Cup star set an MLS record against the Burn with a five-goal outburst on August 26, 2000, in a 6-4 MetroStars win. He earned 2001 Goal of the Year honors

The Spine of the Metros: MetroStars goalkeeper Tim Howard has posted an impressive 0.49 goals against average, which ranks him first in the league. The North Brunswick, NJ native also leads the league in saves with 32. Howard is getting help from solid performances out of the defense and midfield. Metros coach Bob Bradley assembled a back line of Craig Ziadie, Steve Jolley, captain Eddie Pope, and Joey DiGiamarino with defensive midfielders Richie Williams and Ricardo Clark directly in front of them.

The defense has held opponents to a league-low three goals in six games without allowing more than one goal in a game. Howard leads MLS with three shutouts in the process increasing his career mark to 15. His previous season best stands at four clean sheets reached in 2000, 2001, and 2002. The two-time MLS Best XI 'keeper is also riding a 229 minute shutout streak dating back to May 3 vs. Colorado. The Dallas Burn stands as the only MLS team (except the Metros) the U.S. international has yet to shutout.

Heard in the News: "I don't know about this reputation stuff. People have articles to write, so they write stuff like that. Now, and in the past, I've had young players who wanted to get better. You would have to be pretty stupid not to have seen talent in players like DaMarcus Beasley and Carlos Bocanegra. With young players, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. There is no secret." - MetroStars coach Bob Bradley in the New York Times on drafting young players such as Ricardo Clark and Mike Magee.

"To come in and be a starter as a rookie is difficult, but Ricardo physically plays older than he is. He will ask questions at times, but he's a pretty quiet guy. We try to keep it simple; we don't want to pour too much into his head." - Metros midfielder Richie Williams in the New York Times on Ricardo Clark.

"What I like about Mike is that he has more guile than girth. That whole size thing is overrated. Being bigger and stronger isn't everything in this game. What I would like is for Mike to be a little nastier, have a harder edge. I expect a lot from him." - Bob Bradley in the New York Times on rookie forward Mike Magee.

"These are the games we have to win. I've been on the other end, where you seem like you're playing decent and you get some chances and still come out with losses. These are points we have to treasure." - MetroStars defender Eddie Pope in the Herald News on the win over Colorado.

"The team's just gaining confidence and getting more comfortable together. Winning today demonstrates how much confidence we have even when things aren't going our way." - Metros midfielder Amado Guevara in the Herald News on after the team won its fourth straight game.

"It's important to win all kind of games. I just read something this week where you have players from Arsenal and A.C. Milan talking about how Manchester United and Juventus won their leagues because they won more games on days when they didn't play well. To come on the road and still win on a day when we didn't play our best is a sign of the mentality getting where it needs to be." - Bob Bradley in the Herald News on the MetroStars team mentality.

"It was going good. Give Howard a lot of credit; he's an unbelievable keeper. We got a lot more chances this game, but we were shooting outside the box a lot." - Colorado Rapids midfielder Kyle Beckerman in the Rocky Mountain News on the play of MetroStars goalkeeper Tim Howard during the Metros 2-0 win over the weekend.

Metros' Argentine Duo: The MetroStars acquired defender Juan Forchetti and midfielder José Galván on loan from Argentine giants Boca Juniors last week. The duo will count as transitional internationals under the MLS roster guidelines. The players will join the team once their visas are processed. Both players started two games for the Metros against Boca Juniors and Huracán in Argentina during preseason training in March.

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Major League Soccer Stories from May 19, 2003


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