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METROSTARS TIE COLORADO, 1-1
DENVER, CO (April 14, 2001) -. Pedro Alvarez scored the first goal of his MLS career for the MetroStars, but a spectacular goal by Colorado's Marcelo Balboa in the 83rd minute gave the Rapids a 1-1 tie tonight at Mile High Stadium in Denver before a crowd of 18,495.
The tie kept the MetroStars unbeaten (1-0-1) on the 2001 season, while the Rapids moved to 0-1-1. The MetroStars have only once before in their six-year history opened a season unbeaten after two games-in 1999, when they opened the season 2-0.
Alvarez got the MetroStars on the scoreboard first, collecting the rebound of a deflected Clint Mathis shot at the top of the penalty box in the 19th minute and nailing a right-footed blast into the upper left hand corner past a diving Adin Brown. The goal for Alvarez, the 30-year-old Colombian League veteran who signed with the MetroStars on February 28th, came in just his second career MLS game.
The MetroStars knocked on the door repeatedly-including two great just-missed opportunities from Mathis in the 34th and 36th minutes-but the early goal looked like it still might stand up until, in the 83rd minute, Balboa ran on to a perfect back-heeled pass from John Spencer and rammed home a blast from six yards out into the upper left hand corner to knot the score.
Colorado nearly won the game twice in extra time, but MetroStars goalkeeperTim Howard came up big on two occasions to preserve the tie. In the fifth minute of extra time, Chris Martinez tried to slot home a pass from Spencer from eight yards out into the far right corner, but Howard was able to dive to his left and catch the shot.
In the eighth minute of extra time, Paul Bravo headed a cross from Seth Trembly toward the lower right hand corner and Howard made a full length dive to tip it just wide of the post for his sixth-and most crucial-save of the game.
NOTES: Mathis, credited with an assist on Alvarez's 19th minute goal, has now notched at least one point in his last five MLS regular season and U.S. National team appearances during 2001. Mathis, who scored the first goal in the MetroStars' 2-1 win over New England last week, has also gotten on the board in his last three international appearances against Honduras (game-winning goal), Brazil (the lone goal in a 2-1 friendly loss) and Mexico (an assist in a 2-0 win at Columbus)....
...Rodrigo Faria, who came on for Adolfo Valencia in the 67th minute, made his MLS debut tonight. Faria was the MetroStars' first pick in the 2001 MLS SuperDraft...
...Daniel Hernandez was forced to leave the game (replaced by Orlando Perez) in the 86th minute due to soreness in his right knee (patella femoral syndrome. Tim Howard also suffered a quad contusion in his left leg...
...Alvarez started the game lined up with Hernandez, Mike Petke and Steve Jolley in the defense as the MetroStars deviated from their familiar 3-5-2 alignment, opting instead to play four defenders and four midfielders...
...The MetroStars now return to Giants Stadium for an extended homestand that finds them playing their next six games at home, beginning with next Saturday, April 21 (3 p.m. ET) against the Tampa Bay Mutiny. That game also marks the team's celebration of "NASL Reunion Weekend," featuring pre-game festivities that begin at 2 p.m. and include former NASL greats such as Pele, Carlos Alberto and Teofilo "Nene" Cubillas....
The MetroStars' last home game during that six-game stretch will be Wednesday, May 16 against Colorado, before the team hits the road for games at San Jose (May 19) and Kansas City (May 24)....
...Including games played during MLS Spring Training and the MetroStars' TAP Air Portugal Preseason Tour in February, the team is now 9-0-4 in its last 13 matches, including their season-opening 2-1 win over New England on April 7.
GAME SUMMARY
METROSTARS 1, COLORADO RAPIDS 1
Mile High Stadium, Denver, CO
Scoring Summary 1st 2nd OT FINAL
MetroStars (1-0-1) 1 0 0 1
Colorado Rapids (0-1-1) 0 1 0 1
MET- ('19) Pedro Alvarez (1). Assist: Clint Mathis (1)
COL- ('83) Marcelo Balboa (1). Assist: John Spencer (1)
Lineups
METROSTARS - G Tim Howard, D Mike Petke, D Steve Jolley, D Daniel Hernandez ('86 Orlando Perez), D Pedro Alvarez, M Richie Williams, M Mark Chung, M Tab Ramos, M Petter Villegas, F Clint Mathis, F Adolfo Valencia ('66 Rodrigo Faria).
TOTAL SHOTS: 23 (Mathis 9); SHOTS ON GOAL: 7 (Mathis, Chung 2); FOULS: 18 (Jolley 5); OFFSIDE: 8; CORNER KICKS: 8; SAVES: Howard 6; CAUTIONS: Ramos ('19), Mathis ('19), Alvarez ('78). EJECTIONS: None.
COLORADO - G Adin Brown, D Chris Martinez, D Steven Herdsman, D Marcelo Balboa, D Lance Key, M Jason Moore ('82 Seth Trembly), M Imad Baba, M Ross Paule, M John Spencer, F Neathan Gibson ('57 Paul Bravo), F Junior Agogo.
TOTAL SHOTS: 19 (Four with 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 7 (Balboa 2); FOULS: 23 (Six with 3); OFFSIDE: 3; CORNER KICKS: 5; SAVES: Adin Brown 6;; CAUTIONS: Ross Paule ('41), Lance Key ('59), John Spencer ('66), Seth Trembly ('93); EJECTIONS: None.
REFEREE: Kevin Stott
REFEREE'S ASSISTANTS: Roger Itaya, Steven Davidson
4th OFFICIAL: Elias Bazakos
WEATHER: Cool
MetroStars.com Players of the Match: Tim Howard
