MLS Red Bull New York

MetroStars Weekly Report

Published on June 23, 2003 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Red Bull New York News Release


Up Next, Chicago: The MetroStars hit the road this weekend as they are set to take on the Chicago Fire on Saturday, June 28 at 4:00 p.m. ET (ESPN2, WADO 1280 AM) from Cardinal Stadium. The game will be the second time the two clubs have squared off this season, with the first match, on June 14th ending in a 2-3 loss at the Meadowlands. The contest will also mark the return of MetroStars head coach Bob Bradley to Chicago, where he served as head coach from 1998-2002.

Next weekend the Metros will hit the road for a midweek contest on Wednesday July 2nd, when they host the San Jose Earthquakes at 7:30 p.m. ET (FSNY, WADO 1280 AM). The "Red and Black" then embark on the most rigorous stretch of the season as they play their next five games on the road, not returning home until after the All-star break on Wednesday August 13th, when they host Kansas City in a midweek clash, kicking off at noon ET. 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. Friday: Inside New Jersey Soccer - News 12 New Jersey, 10:35 pm & 11:35 p.m. ET. Saturday: MetroStars vs. Los Angeles - ESPN2, 4:00 p.m. ET.

Creative Forces: All-star candidate midfielders Amado Guevara and Mark Lisi, account for two-thirds of the MetroStars assists this season, as they have each tallied four set-ups. In addition to the assists, Guevara has tallied one goal and has been named to the MLS Team of the Week twice this season. Lisi's latest assist proved to be very important, as it set up Mike Magee's game winning goal against Los Angeles last weekend.

A Second for Grafer: MetroStars goalkeeper Paul Grafer recorded a shutout for the first time in his MetroStars career, and second time in his MLS career when he blanked Los Angeles 1-0 on Saturday. It was a span of 15 games between his first shutout and the one he posted today, which dated back to April 5th, 1997. The shutout also marked the MetroStars' fourth of the year, and Grafer's first regular season MLS win since September 5, 2000.

Comeback of Jaime: MetroStars forward Jaime Moreno saw action for the first time in over a month for the Metros, when he played 12 minutes in the team's 1-0 win over Los Angeles last weekend. Moreno, who was sidelined with a strained lower back, last saw action for the 'Red and Black' on April 26, 2003 at Columbus, in 1-0 win. The Bolivian International was acquired by the MetroStars on December 23, 2003 in a trade with DC United that also brought Eddie Pope and Richie Williams to the Metros.

Return of Bradley: This weekend will mark the first time that MetroStars head coach Bob Bradley will travel to play the Fire as an opposing head coach. Bradley, who came to the Metros this season after spending 1998-2002 at the helm of the Fire, posted a 82-54-15 regular season record, and a 12-7-2 post-season record. Bradley also won the MLS Cup and Lamar Hunt US Open Cup with the Fire in 1998, and another Open Cup title in 2000.

Clark Not Your Average Rookie: Ricardo Clark, the second overall pick in the 2003 MLS SuperDraft, has shown the experience of a seasoned veteran this season for the MetroStars. The 20-year old midfielder has played every minute of every game (1,010 minutes) for the MetroStars this season, an amount of minutes that only veteran defender Steve Jolley has matched. The defensive midfielder is an early candidate for the rookie of the year award, as he has helped lead the defense that is tied with DC United for allowing the fewest goals in the league (10), and helped with the transition to the team's offense, which has produced 14 goals.

Another Rookie Shining: MetroStars forward Mike Magee is another early candidate for MLS Rookie of the Year. The Chicago-native has tallied four goals on the season thus far, and has played in every game this year for the team (12), starting 10 of them. Magee was drafted by the Metros fourth overall in the 2003 MLS SuperDraft and is good friends with Ricardo Clark, as both players are members of the U.S. U-20 National Team. The MLS rookie record for goals scored in a season is eight, set by former Metro striker Rodrigo Faria in 2001. The Brazilian set the mark en route to winning the 2001 Rookie of the Year award. Magee's four goals is only one behind Chicago's Damani Ralph for the rookie lead.

Trading Places: Head Coach Bob Bradley isn't the only MetroStar to have a history with the Fire; MetroStars forward Mike Nugent was a member of the Chicago club last season. The Princeton product made his MLS debut last season with the Fire and saw action in four games before he suffered a torn lateral meniscus in his left knee, which sidelined him for the remainder of the season. Tim Regan also has a history with the Fire family, as a member of the PDL Chicago Fire Reserves in 2001.

On the flip side, current Fire team members Rodrigo Faria, Orlando Perez, Zach Thornton and Andy Williams all have roots that run through the MetroStars organization. Faria was acquired by the Fire as compensation for Head Coach Bob Bradley, after two seasons with the MetroStars. Faria was drafted with the 13th overall pick in the 2001 MLS SuperDraft, and went on to win the 2001 MLS Rookie of the Year award, when he recorded eight goals and two assists. In 2002 Faria finished with a team high 29 points(12 goals and five assists) in 28 games.

Perez joined the MetroStars in 2000 and played 41 regular season matches with the club. The California native was traded on May 9, 2002, to DC United in exchange for midfielder Mark Lisi and defender Craig Ziadie.

Thornton was a member of the MetroStars from 1996-1997 when he served as a backup to Tony Meola, until the Chicago Fire drafted him 11th overall in the 1997 MLS expansion draft. Thornton saw action three times in each of his two seasons with the Metros.

Williams, acquired by the MetroStars on May 24, 2002 through a trade with the New England Revolution played 19 games tallying 17 points, by registering two goals and a team high 13 assists in 2002.

Get Focused: The MetroStars, VSP (Vision Service Plan), the New Jersey Society of Optometric Physicians and Head Start have teamed up to make July 2nd, "Get Focused Day" at Giants Stadium. Approximately 100 children from the Escallra Head Start Program will be gathering before the game in the Giants Stadium Practice Bubble to speak with MetroStars players and to receive vision testing, provided by local optometrists. The children will also be treated to a stadium tour.

2003 Open Cup: U.S. Soccer announced that the MetroStars will be playing the winner of a second round game, featuring the Long Island Rough Riders (USL-PSL) and the Mid-Michigan Bucks (PDL), in the third round of the 2003 U.S. Open Cup. The Rough Riders and Bucks will square off on June 25 at 7:30 p.m. in Berkley Michigan. The Metros will face the winner on July 16, with a time and location to be named at a later date.

MLS on the Big Screen: Major League Soccer and Regal CineMedia(RCM) have teamed up to show four MLS midweek games in HD equipped theaters in New York, Chicago, Denver and Los Angeles. The first game two games have already been show, however there are three matches still remaining. The dates for the games are July 9th and July 30th and will be shown to the New York market at UA Union Square Stadium 14. Tickets are $12 for adults and $8 for youths.

Heard in the News:

"To step up the way he did is just a testament to his ability. We let him down last week. This week he came up big for us." - MetroStar Steve Jolley in the Daily News (NY) on Paul Grafer's play in last Saturday's game.

"It was a big game for me personally and the team. The last two games I played ... I had given up three goals. I felt it was really important for me to concentrate for 90 minutes to give myself the best chance to have a good game." - MetroStar Paul Grafer in the Daily News (NY) on his play last Saturday.

"I would say last game, I was playing well and didn't finish. And this week, probably the first half I wasn't playing well, and the second half, I just came out and I knew I could do it... Next thing you know, I got a one-on-one with the keeper and I put it away. It was a great feeling to score, and a great feeling to win again." - MetroStar Mike Magee in The Star-Ledger on his play.

"It's something that can happen to anybody making a move from another country. It's a different language, different kind of people, a different kind of football. I feel comfortable though and we played well today." - MetroStar Juan Forchetti in the Herald News (NJ) on his adjusting to the United States and the MetroStars.

"The coordination in the back, the understanding (between the defenders) was good. Juan (Forchetti) played an outstanding game." - MetroStars head coach Bob Bradley in The Star-Ledger on the play of the defense.

"We learned a lesson today that if we play well and as a team we can beat anybody we play. We also showed that we can play quality soccer." - MetroStar Amado Guevara in the Herald News (NJ) on the team's play.

"There's still hurdles to get over, but we're a lot closer today than we were six months ago," said. "And by the end of the summer we'll be a lot closer." - MetroStars President and General Manager Nick Sakiewicz in the Herald News (NJ) on the state of a new stadium prospect.

"Things have moved along, and it looks more and more like our hard work is going to pay off. It's a project we believe in, and one that we can make happen. The MetroStars have made their commitment to the project and so have we." - Mayor Ray McDonough of the town of Harrison in the Herald News (NJ) on the status of the stadium project.

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Major League Soccer Stories from June 23, 2003


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