MLS Red Bull New York

Up Next, Off to Colorado

Published on May 12, 2003 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Red Bull New York News Release


After defeating archrival D.C. United 1-0 last weekend, the MetroStars will now travel to Denver to face the Colorado Rapids on Saturday, May 17 at 4:00 p.m. ET (ESPN2, WADO 1280 AM) from INVESCO Field at Mile High. The MetroStars have rolled off three straight wins increasing their record to 3-1-1 for 10 points and second-place in the Eastern Conference. The "Red and Black" have posted a 9-7-1 record against the Rapids all-time including a 2-1 win at Giants Stadium on May 3. Metro defender Craig Ziadie posted his first professional goal and an assist on Clint Mathis' first goal of the season in the win.

No MLS team recorded a three-game winning streak last season until September 14, when the Los Angeles Galaxy won its third straight. There were 135 MLS games played last season up to and including that date. No major professional North American sports league has ever reached even half that total of games played before at least one of its teams had won three in a row. The only league to reach even the 60-mark was Major League Baseball, which did it three times in the 1800s-66 games in 1884, 64 games in 1889, 63 games in 1891.

The Metros will return to Giants Stadium to face the Dallas Burn on Saturday, May 24 at 7:30 p.m. ET (MSG-TV, 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 @ Colorado Rapids - ESPN2, 4:00 p.m. ET

Mathis Gets Two in a Row: Clint Mathis scored his second goal of the 2003 season and his second in consecutive games this past Saturday night in the 1-0 home win over D.C. United at Giants Stadium. The tally is the first in successive games for the U.S. World Cup star, since the 2001 campaign. Mathis last knocked in goals in consecutive games on May 5, 2001, against DC in a 3-2 and May 12, 2001, in a 2-0 win over Los Angeles. The MetroStars are now 19-0-2 (includes two playoff wins), whenever Mathis finds the back of the net.

DiGi Returns: MetroStars midfielder Joey DiGiamarino will be returning to Denver for the first time as a member of an opposing team. The Corona, CA native played 67 games (43 starts) logging 4,291 minutes, scoring seven goals, and seven assists, totaling 21 points for the Rapids from 1998 through 2000. The 2000 U.S. Olympian left Colorado for Bayer Leverkusen of the German Bundesliga, but returned to the United States in the off-season and joined the MetroStars on March 31, 2003, via a weighted lottery. The spirited winger helped the Rapids reach the playoffs in each of his three seasons with the club.

The Defense Never Rests: MetroStars goalkeeper Tim Howard has posted an impressive 0.60 goals against average, which ranks him second in the league behind San Jose's Pat Onstad's 0.38 average. 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 three goals in five games without allowing more than one goal in a game. Howard has earned two shutouts in the process increasing his career mark to 14.

Ricardo Clark Gets the Call: MetroStars rookie midfielder Ricardo Clark has been named to the United States Under-23 national team by coach Glenn "Mooch" Myernick for the team's upcoming friendly with Mexico U-23 on Wednesday at Guadalajara at a time and venue to be determined. Clark's early season play has received rave reviews including two MLS Team of the Week nods and a comparison to Arsenal's French midfielder Patrick Vieira by one journalist. The dynamic midfielder returns to the Metros on Thursday.

Metros Receive 2003 Corporate Award: The MetroStars organization has been named the recipient of the 2003 Corporate Award from the Hispanic-American Chamber of Commerce Foundation of Essex County. The Awards Selection Committee unanimously selected the Metros for their commitment to and efforts in developing New Jersey's communities. MetroStars President and General Manager Nick Sakiewicz will accept the award at the Hilton Hotel at Newark Liberty International Airport on Thursday, May 15.

10 Players Make Metro Debut: Defender/midfielder Kenny Arena became the 10th player on the roster this season to make his Metro debut when he came on as a late substitute for Amado Guevara. The other players are Ricardo Clark, Joey DiGiamarino, Amado Guevara, Jacob LeBlanc, Chris Leitch, Mike Magee, Jaime Moreno, Eddie Pope, and Tim Regan.

Heard in the News:

"I said to him that when the Edmonton Oilers, when Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier and all these guys were young, they were all good players but something was missing. Somewhere along the line those guys learned a little bit about competing and learned a little bit about putting more into it, and that the mark of a player's career is being on a team that wins a championship." - MetroStars coach Bob Bradley in Newsday on explaining his communication with Clint Mathis.

"He's given me a lot of confidence and freedom. We have a great relationship. That's important, not everybody pulling in different directions. It's a totally different team, better atmosphere." - Clint Mathis in the New York Post on the morale of the team under Metros coach Bob Bradley.

"I'm starting to get there. I still need to get more fit. I feel more comfortable taking people on." - Clint Mathis in the New York Daily News on his fitness level.

"He'll smell that cross and he'll kill you. Look at the goals he scores. Don't look at his play. Look at the bottom line." - D.C. United coach Ray Hudson in the New York Daily News on Clint Mathis.

"I think, being one of the guys who have been around the league for a while, it's my responsibility to give as much as I can, without hurting the team. I wanted to win, too. So I wanted to be in there and make sure we won." - Eddie Pope in the Star-Ledger on playing 90 minutes with the U.S. National Team on Thursday and joining the MetroStars to play 90 minutes on Saturday against D.C.

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.

Injury Report:
D Leitch, Chris - sprained right ankle - OUT
F Moreno, Jaime - strained lower back - OUT
F Nugent, Mike - left great toe infection - OUT

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Major League Soccer Stories from May 12, 2003


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