MLS Red Bull New York

MetroStars Weekly Report

Published on May 26, 2003 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Red Bull New York News Release


Up Next, Back to Columbus: After a thrilling 2-1 win over the Dallas Burn last weekend, the MetroStars head back on the road to face the rival Columbus Crew (3-3-2, 11 points) on Saturday, May 31 at 7:30 p.m. ET (MSG-TV, WADO 1280 AM). The MetroStars have won five straight games, tying a club mark set in 2000 and equaled in 2001. The recent streak started on April 26 with a 1-0 win over the Crew in Columbus. The team is also on a six-game unbeaten streak, which has increased their record to 5-1-1 for 16 points for first-place in the Eastern Conference and the overall point lead in MLS. The last team to win five consecutive games in MLS was the Miami Fusion in 2001 from May 19 through June 9.

The MetroStars will return to Giants Stadium to take on the Chicago Fire on Saturday, June 14 at 4:00 p.m. ET (ESPN2, WADO 1280 AM). 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 @ Columbus Crew - MSG-TV, 7:30 p.m. ET

The Last Time...: The last time the MetroStars faced the rival Columbus Crew, the "Red and Black" came out on top 1-0 on April 26 at Crew Stadium. MetroStars forward Mike Magee became the youngest forward in club history to score a goal (18 years, 236 days) as the MetroStars (1-1-1, 4pts) registered a 1-0 road win against the Columbus Crew (2-1-1, 7pts). With the result, home teams are now 1-4-6 to start the 2003 MLS regular season campaign.

The game-winning goal came in the 59th minute on a corner kick taken from the left side by Clint Mathis. His service into the box was deflected to defender Steve Jolley, who misfired on a shot toward goal. But the ball fell to Magee, who was quick to fire the ball into the roof of the net from inside the six-yard box.

Mathis Matches Club Record: Clint Mathis scored in his fourth consecutive game this past weekend in the 2-1 home win over the Dallas Burn at Giants Stadium. The tally ties a club record set by Mathis in 2000 and tied by former Metro forward Mamadou Diallo in 2002. Mathis' original 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 21-0-2 (includes two playoff wins), whenever Mathis finds the back of the net.

Gaven Scores for U.S. U-17: MetroStars 16-year-old midfielder Eddie Gaven scored for the U.S. Under-17 Men's National Team yesterday afternoon in a 2-1 loss to Mexico at Lancaster Soccer Complex in Lancaster, CA. The match was the first of two the U.S. will play at the complex before traveling to Busan, Korea for an international youth tournament this Tuesday. The U.S. will face Costa Rica today.

The U.S. pressured the Mexican defense and tied the game at 1-1, in the 62nd minute after receiving a free kick when Freddy Adu was fouled to the right of the penalty box. Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Guillermo Gonzalez sent in a curling service to the far post where Manchester United youngster Jonathan Spector out-jumped Mexican 'keeper Jose Cruz, and headed the ball across the goalmouth to an unmarked Gaven, who easily tapped the ball into the open net.

The Spine of the Metros: MetroStars goalkeeper Tim Howard has posted an impressive and miniscule 0.56 goals against average, which ranks him first in the league ahead of San Jose's Pat Onstad's 0.80 GAA. The North Brunswick, NJ native also leads the league in saves with 39 just two ahead of the Galaxy's Kevin Hartman. 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 coaching staff has also used rookie Tim Regan to clamp down on opposing offenses during times of suspension and injuries. The defense has held opponents to a league-low four goals in seven games without allowing more than one goal in a game. Howard is tied for the league lead with Onstad at three shutouts, which increases 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 saw a 292 minute shutout streak snapped in the team's 2-1 win over Dallas. The streak dated back to May 3 vs. Colorado. The Dallas Burn still stands as the only MLS team (except the Metros) the U.S. international has yet to shutout.

Mathis vs. Columbus: MetroStars midfielder/forward Clint Mathis has scored one goal against the Crew in nine games (eight starts) in his career, but has yet to score against the rival for the MetroStars. Mathis last scored a goal against the Crew when he was with the Los Angeles Galaxy on April 8, 2000, in a 2-2 tie at Crew Stadium.

Heard in the News:

"I'll share. I don't care. The last thing I'm worried about is who gets the goal. As long as we win, that's all I care about." - Metros defender Steve Jolley in the Star-Ledger on the controversy of who scored the game-winning goal after it appeared that teammate Eddie Pope may have touched it before it rolled into the net.

"We matched their intensity, we battled, we came back after a controversial penalty. Tonight, I was very proud of the way we played." - Pope in the Star-Ledger commenting on the 2-1 win over Dallas.

"They're finding ways to win and we're finding ways not to win. The ball seems to be bouncing their way and we can't anything to go our way." - Dallas Burn forward Jason Kreis in the Ft. Worth Star Telegram on the game.

"They are playing as well as I think I've ever seen them play. They're aggressive and they don't make mistakes." - Kreis in the North Jersey Herald News on the MetroStars defense.

"When a young player is thrown into a difficult situation, it's nice to see him step onto the field with confidence. He didn't just hide. He told people what to do. He was involved." - MetroStars Head Coach Bob Bradley in the Daily Record on rookie defender/midfielder Tim Regan.

"As the game got faster, I moved farther back. It's tough when you're used to thinking like a forward, an attacking player. ... I was never one to actually score goals. I was more the one getting in the attacking mix. I love to get in there and tackle somebody really hard. That's the most exciting part of the game." - Metros defender/midfielder Tim Regan in the Daily Record on his first extensive action on May 17 at Colorado in a 2-0 win.

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Major League Soccer Stories from May 26, 2003


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