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[Frank Cunha]

a 1-1 tied, lucky New England

[Frank Cunha]

only 8,129 fans, let's get back to Saturday night games


The Associated Press
4/25/04 7:10 PM


EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- New England's Clint Dempsey and the MetroStars' Amado Guevara traded first-half goals within a span of two minutes, as the New England Revolution and the MetroStars played to a lackluster 1-1 tie Sunday afternoon at Giants Stadium.

With the tie, the MetroStars remain unbeaten (2-0-1) and hold on to first place in the Major League Soccer's Eastern Conference standings with seven points, two more than Chicago.

New England still is looking for its first victory of the season, now holding an 0-2-1 record.

The temperature was only 47 degrees at kickoff, and with steady rain it was played before only 8,129 fans, the smallest home crowd since April 19, 2000, when 7,810 attended the MetroStars-Kansas City match at Giants Stadium.

New England, which scored on its only shot on goal all afternoon, took the early 1-0 lead in the 12th minute, when midfielder Dempsey, coming off the play as a trailer, knocked home a corner kick for his first goal of the season. Jay Heaps and Joe-Max Moore received assists on the goal.

Just two minutes later, the MetroStars tied the game, thanks to a play by 17-year-old Eddie Gaven, who dribbled past two defenders, then made a crossing pass to Fabian Taylor, who fanned on the shot. But an alert Guevara was at the far corner of the box and rocketed a right-footed blast that eluded Revolution goalkeeper Adin Brown in the 14th minute.

While Gaven didn't officially get credited for an assist on Guevara's goal, it was the teenager's play that set up the score.

The remainder of the first half was played in a driving rain, with very few scoring opportunities. The MetroStars had more shots on goal than the Revolution, 5-1, in the first half.

The best scoring opportunity of the second half came in the 88th minute, when Gaven slipped between two defenders and hit a low rolling left-footed shot that a diving Brown punched aside with his left hand.

[Frank Cunha]

MetroStars: Metros settle for a tie
Waste opportunities vs. short-handed Revs
Monday, April 26, 2004
BY COLIN STEPHENSON
Star-Ledger Staff
By all rights, this was a game the MetroStars should easily have won.

After two games, the Metros had shown they are one of the elite teams in Major League Soccer. Yesterday's opponent, the New England Revolution, had not only lost both games they had played, but were coming into Giants Stadium minus their top attacking midfielder and both of their starting central defenders.



So, a 1-1 tie was not the result the MetroStars were looking for.

"It's a frustrating tie," Metros coach Bob Bradley said. "I think we were the team that clearly had the initiative in the game, and when that's the case, you have to be good enough with the advantages that come your way in the final part of the field. I don't think we were sharp enough and made enough of the opportunities that we had."

For the third straight game, the MetroStars conceded the first goal, falling behind, 1-0, when New England rookie Clint Dempsey banged in his first MLS goal, off a corner kick in the 12th minute. But the Metros quickly tied it, when Amado Guevara curled a right-footed shot into the top right corner of the net from the top left side of the box in the 14th minute.

After that, New England seemed to be content to drop eight players back on defense, frustrate the Metros, and hang on for the tie. The strategy allowed the Metros to dominate possession, and create a handful of scoring chances in the second half.

The Metros outshot New England 21-12 overall and 10-3 in shots on goal, but New England goalie Adin Brown made nine saves. The two most memorable came on a 10-yard shot by Joselito Vaca in the 80th minute, and on a deflection off a shot by Eddie Gaven in the 88th minute that nearly caught Brown going the wrong way.

"We had a lot of possession and we weren't able to finish off that last little bit," Metros captain Eddie Pope said. "I think sometimes that just happens. I don't know it's something you can put your finger on. We had a lot of possession, which is a good thing. I mean, we created opportunities. It's better than not creating them, and playing defense the whole game."

With his full roster available for the entire week of training for the first time this season, Bradley made four changes in the starting lineup from the group that beat D.C. United, 3-2, last weekend.

Fabian Taylor, the Jamaican international who scored two goals after coming on as a halftime substitute against D.C., got his first start, as did Argentine Sergio Galvan Rey, who joined the team nine days ago. They replaced Mike Magee and John Wolyniec, who had scored a goal in each of the first two games.

In the midfield, Mark Lisi, whose three assists lead the team, was taken out in favor of Ricardo Clark, while in the back, rookie Jeff Parke started next to Pope in the center of the defense, over veteran Tenywa Bonseu. Lisi came on as a substitute for Clark in the 67th minute, and Wolyniec came on for Galvan Rey in the 72nd.

"We're early in the season (and) I think we have more competition than ever for spots," Bradley said when asked about all the changes. "We've talked within the team about the fact that we may rotate players a little bit more this year, that we may need to keep everybody on their toes, in terms of just playing the different combinations."

Wolyniec admitted he was caught off guard by starting the game on the bench.

"I don't know, I guess I was a little surprised, but we have some quality forwards here, so Bob has a lot of choices to make every week," he said.

As for how he felt about Bradley's statements last year that he prefers to bring him off the bench, as opposed to starting him, Wolyniec described that as "bittersweet."

"It's good in a way, because it's good that the coach recognizes some of your qualities and he likes having those qualities," Wolyniec said. "But at the same time, everybody in here wants to start the game. And each and every week, I'm going to work hard and play well during the week (at practice) and try and earn my spot to start and maybe force his hand a little bit, if that's what I have to do."


Notes:

Pope left after the game to join the U.S. national team for its game Wednesday against Mexico in Dallas.... Trinidadian forward Cornell Glen made his MLS debut for the Metros, coming on as a substitute in the 79th minute.... The attendance was 8,129.

[Frank Cunha]

In the short term, Arena has other quality goalkeepers to choose from, including the MetroStars' Jonny Walker, who played in Chile before signing with Major League Soccer to replace Howard last season. Walker has quickly impressed Arena.

"One thing that has separated him from the MLS keepers, as far as the domestic keepers go, is that he is more consistent," Arena said. "I think that has to do with his experience, having been in South America and some good competitions there.

"We have a number of MLS goalkeepers that are fairly comparable and Jonny's experience gives him an edge over most of them."

Walker and the Galaxy's Kevin Hartman may split time against Mexico. Both have two career caps.

[BethlehemFC]

I like Walker. Frank -- what's your opinion of him?

[Frank Cunha]

very quiet his doing the job, comes up big when his needed

was nice to see him coming home after playing in South America

[Frank Cunha]

game to be played at 8:30pm on Saturday, should be a good test for the new Metrostars,

Metrostars his playing good Soccer I have to say beside Dallas they got be the surprised of the season.

[Frank Cunha]

Bring 'Em On 27/04/04
Goalkeeper Jonny Walker is positively giddy at the prospect of taking on El Tri for the first time when the U.S. squad faces its chief rival Mexico in Dallas on Wednesday. "It's 'The Classico,' and it is humongous. It is the biggest match in CONCACAF," says the MetroStars stopper.
"There's a great deal of pressure to play your best if you are chosen for this game because it is the most important game the national team has," Walker, who made his Red, White and Blue debut in January in the 1-1 draw against Denmark, went on to say. "I'm sure it will be a very exciting atmosphere in Dallas."

Manager Bruce Arena has also tapped the Los Angeles Galaxy's Kevin Hartman for the Cotton Bowl clash, but Walker has emerged as Arena's top MLS-based 'keeper behind the Big Three in England; back-to-back Premiership players' netminders of the year Tim Howard and Brad Friedel, and the veteran Kasey Keller.

It is the third international appearance this year for Walker who was recruited by the Metros last summer to replace Howard when he was sold to Manchester United, and he was Friedel's back-up last month when the Americans won a friendly match in Poland.

While he faces an uphill battle to dislodge any of veteran goalies by the time World Cup qualifying begins in June, Walker, 29, is satisfied with the first steps in his international career.

"It's been a wonderful experience so far. Not many players are continually called in. First I was at the training camp in December, I played in games against Denmark and Haiti and also got called over to the game in Poland. I didn't play, but I got to meet a lot of fellow national team players and train with them. So it's been fantastic for me. It truly has been an honor."

Walker's year is also off to a blazing start with the MetroStars sitting atop their conference with seven points from three games. Walker has allowed just a goal in each contest. And while he hopes his performance helps the U.S. win in Texas, his consistency in League play is what will continue to earn him chances when qualifying begins.

"Lot of guys are in the player pool, but it depends how you perform week to week on the club level. Obviously there is a lot of pressure on the team to qualify for the World Cup. Who knows what will transpire? But it will be exciting to see what happens

[Frank Cunha]

MetroStars: A capsule look at tonight's game
Saturday, May 01, 2004
MetroStars (2-0-1) vs. Chicago Fire (1-1-2) When: Tonight at 8:30

Where: Soldier Field, Chicago


From Our Advertiser




On the air: TV -- MSG; Radio -- 1280 AM (Spanish)

The series: This is the first meeting of the season between the clubs, but last year the Fire owned the Metros, going 3-0-1 against them in league play and beating them in the U.S. Open Cup final at Giants Stadium.

MetroStars report: Captain Eddie Pope scored the lone goal in Wednesday's 1-0 victory for the United States over archrival Mexico, and goalkeeper Jonny Walker got the easiest shutout a goalie can ever earn (zero saves) in the match. ... Coach Bob Bradley has started a different lineup in each of the team's first three games, but he could use last week's starting 11 for the second consecutive game as everyone is healthy. Chicago native Mike Magee did not play in Sunday's 1-1 tie with New England and would love to get back onto the field either as a starter or a substitute tonight.

Fire report: Chicago has scored a total of one goal in four games this season and it was enough to get a victory. Damani Ralph, who easily won Rookie of the Year last year and who scored a goal in each of the five games he played against the Metros, scored that goal... The Fire will be without midfielder Nate Jacqua, who was suspended for two games by the league for elbowing ex-Metro Mike Petke in the head last week. F Ante Razov is questionable with a groin strain. ... This will be Chicago's second home game of the season.

-- Colin Stephenson

[BethlehemFC]

Let's hope attendance is better than Chicago's opener.

[Frank Cunha]

I hope so, they playing against a real football team

[Frank Cunha]

two young players, are on fire with the Metrostars

Fabiani Taylor [Jamaica] 3 goals
Cornell Glen [Trinidad Tobago ] 2 goals

both players with great future aheads, glad they are playing for the Metrostars

[Frank Cunha]

two weeks ago we lost in Chicago, hope we can get some revenge tonight

[Frank Cunha]

1-1 final

Ant Razov with the tied goal

[Frank Cunha]

Chicago at Metrostars= 17,211