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METROSTARS DOWN RAPIDS, 2-1

Kamler, Davis goals give Metros second straight road win

DENVER, CO (April 13, 2002) - Brian Kamler scored his first goal as a MetroStar-and his first in nearly three seasons-and rookie Brad Davis added his second career goal in as many games as the MetroStars downed the Colorado Rapids, 2-1, at INVESCO Field at Mile High in Denver, CO.

With the win, the MetroStars improved to an Eastern Division-leading 3-1, including 2-0 on the road. The Rapids, who led the Western Division heading into the game, lost their first decision of the year and fell to 2-1-1.

The MetroStars played most of the second half with only 10 players after midfielder Ross Paule was ejected in the 57th minute after receiving his second yellow card for a tackle on former MetroStar Mark Chung.

At that point, however, the Metros were leading 1-0 after a goal in the 16th minute by Kamler. The left-side defender had overlapped on a crossing attempt from Petter Villegas on the right wing that eluded a leaping Diego Serna and Rodrigo Faria, and Kamler ran on to the loose ball and drilled it into the far right corner from seven yards out past Rapids goalkeeper Scott Garlick.

"It's a great feeling to help out in some way in this win," said Kamler, acquired during the off-season from D.C. United in exchange for Richie Williams. "It was a great ball from Pete that really just fell to me; I like to think I had the easy part of the job. I just followed the play (by overlapping) and it ended up working out right."

Shortly after Paule was sent off, MetroStars had coach Octavio Zambrano inserted Davis, who scored the game-winning OT goal against Columbus last weekend, in place of Serna in the 65th minute. Thirteen minutes later, Howard, after grabbing a corner kick attempt by Chung, booted a ball deep into the Rapids end that Faria controlled at the top left side of the penalty area. Faria then slipped a perfect centering pass towards an onrushing Davis, who eluded Rapids defender Rick Titus and blooped what proved to be the game-winner past Garlick.

"He certainly has what it takes," said Zambrano of Davis, the team's first overall pick in the 2001 MLS SuperDraft. "We're trying to bring him along slowly, but he's making his case, there's no doubt about it."

Rapids forward John Spencer closed the gap to 2-1 in the 87th minute after referee Erich Simmons called Mike Petke for fouling Spencer in the penalty area, erasing what would have been the team's first shutout of the season.

"This was a well-fought game, that's for sure," said Howard, who registered his first career assist on Davis' goal and made several spectacular saves throughout the game. "We put forth a great effort. If we can bring this kind of intensity every game, I'll tell you what, we'll be in great shape."

The Rapids outshot the MetroStars, 17-5, including an 8-3 advantage in shots on goal. Howard made seven saves for the Metros, while Garlick made one.

A total of seven yellow cards were issued, with the Rapids being issued four and the MetroStars three.

METROSTARS NOTES: Kamler's goal, in addition to being his first as a MetroStar, was his fourth career MLS goal in 116 regular season games. His last tally came as a member of D.C. United in 1999...

The win improved the MetroStars' all-time mark in games in which they've received a red card to 15-18-1....

Tonight's game marked the first game back in Colorado for Paule, whom the Metros acquired from the Rapids in exchange for Steve Shak last August. It also marked the first appearance against the MetroStars for Chung, who was dealt to Colorado during the offseason.

Marcelo Balboa, the most accomplished player in Rapids history, also made his first return to Denver with the MetroStars tonight, though he watched from the sidelines as he remains on the injured list with a bad bone bruise in his right knee. Shak also did not play for the Rapids....

The MetroStars will fly back to Newark at midday tomorrow, with an off day scheduled for Monday before practice resumes at Kean University-East Campus on Tuesday at 10 a.m. The only player not scheduled to accompany the team is Mathis, who will fly to Dublin (via Chicago) for Wednesday's international friendly between the U.S. and Ireland. Mathis will rejoin the MetroStars next Saturday for their 7:30 p.m. ET home game against Chicago at Giants Stadium....

When Mathis takes the field for the MetroStars against Chicago, he will have completed a journey of nearly 20,000 miles to play in seven games over a four-week period. Beginning with the MetroStars season opener at Giants Stadium on March 23, Mathis has shuttled between New York, Germany, Denver, Columbus, Denver (again), Ireland and New York in duty for both the Metros and the United States. Over the first five games of that stretch, Mathis has notched four goals....

Tonight was Carlos Valderrama "Bobble Head" Night at INVESCO Field. The first 6,000 fans through the turnstiles received miniature replicas of the legendary Colombian midfielder.

GAME SUMMARY

MetroStars 2, Colorado Rapids 1

INVESCO Field at Mile High, Denver, CO

Saturday, April 13, 2002

Scoring Summary 1st 2nd Final

METROSTARS (3-1) 1 1 2

Colorado (2-1-1) 0 1 1

MET - ('17) Brian Kamler (1). Assist: Petter Villegas (3), Daniel Hernandez (2).

MET - ('78) Brad Davis (2). Assist: Rodrigo Faria (1), Tim Howard (1).

COL - ('87 John Spencer (1) PK.

Lineups

METROSTARS - G Tim Howard, D Brian Kamler (Sam Forko '72), D Mike Petke, D Joe Addo, D Steve Jolley, M Daniel Hernandez, M Ross Paule, M Clint Mathis, F Petter Villegas, F Diego Serna (Brad Davis '65), F Rodrigo Faria (Winston Griffiths '86).

TOTAL SHOTS: 5 (Faria 2); SHOTS ON GOAL: 3 (Kamler, Faria, Davis); FOULS: 20 (Paule 4); OFFSIDE: 3; CORNER KICKS: 0; SAVES: Howard 7; CAUTIONS: Paule (24), Paule ('57), Petke ('91+). EJECTIONS: Paule ('57).

Colorado - G Scott Garlick, D Ritchie Kotschau (Marvin Quijano '78), D Robin Fraser, D Rick Titus, D Jeff Stewart (Imad Baba '56), M Wes Hart (Chris Carrieri '64), M Pablo Mastroeni, M Chris Henderson, M Mark Chung, M Carlos Valderrama, F John Spencer.

TOTAL SHOTS: 17 (Spencer 7); SHOTS ON GOAL: 8 (Spencer 4); FOULS: 18 (Spencer 4); OFFSIDE: 6; CORNER KICKS: 6; SAVES: Garlick 1; CAUTIONS: Titus ('16), Hart ('40), Baba ('62), Spencer ('88). EJECTIONS: None.

REFEREE: Erich Simmons

REFEREE'S ASSISTANTS: Jorge Reyes (bench side), Gibby Widner (Far side)

4th OFFICIAL: Rich Grady

WEATHER: Mild, partly cloudy.

Attendance: 12,441

MetroStars.com Players of the Match: Tim Howard

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