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Moreno Marks First MetroStars Goal

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – The Los Angeles Galaxy earned their third consecutive 1-1 road draw of the 2003 season, as they played the host MetroStars to a hard-fought overtime stalemate at Giants Stadium Saturday night.

Marred by five yellow cards, the match was hotly contested from the opening whistle, as MetroStars defender Steve Jolley set the tone for the night by taking down Galaxy forward Carlos Ruiz less than two minutes into the game.

Overwhelming pressure by Los Angeles gave the Galaxy a 1-0 lead in the 20th minute. Midfielder Chris Albright’s header from a loose ball sprung teammate Sasha Victorine down the left side of the penalty area. Victorine slotted a pass across the mouth of the goal to a wide open Cobi Jones, who easily finished the chance to record his first goal of the season.

The goal sparked the MetroStars however and led by Amado Guevara the home team mounted a more aggressive offensive surge. With Guevara becoming more cohesive in combining with midfield teammates Clint Mathis and Ricardo Clark, the Galaxy were forced to adopt more aggressive defensive tactics. Hong Myung Bo and Ezra Hendrickson were cautioned as they attempted to slow the MetroStars attack in the midfield.

In the 42nd minute it was the MetroStars who found the equalizer, as defender Joey DiGiamarino was upended in the Galaxy penalty area by

Hendrickson. Referee Terry Vaughn immediately pointed to the penalty spot and forward Jaime Moreno calmly powered a hard low shot past Los Angeles goalkeeper Kevin Hartman and into the left corner of the goal. For Moreno, a long-time member of D.C. United, the goal marked his first as a member of the MetroStars.

Looking to establish a more dangerous offensive presence in the second half, the MetroStars altered their formation by removing forward Mike Magee and shifting midfielder Clint Mathis up top to partner with Moreno.

The Galaxy had several quality chances in the second half, but outstanding defense and goalkeeping kept the score level through regulation. MetroStars rookie Ricardo Clark blocked a close range shot from Jones in the 80th minute and Ruiz was denied by a brilliant kick save from MetroStars goalkeeper Tim Howard in the 89th minute.

In overtime, a header by Galaxy defender Danny Califf nearly allowed the Galaxy to steal the win, but midfielder Richie Williams cleared the ball off the goal line.

Both teams return to action on Saturday, April 26 as the MetroStars travel to Columbus to face the unbeaten Crew on national television

(4:00PM ET - ESPN2) while Los Angeles will renew their Western Conference rivalry with the San Jose Earthquakes at Spartan Stadium (10:00PM ET).

Next weeks game will be the fourth of an MLS record eight consecutive road games for the Galaxy as they await the completion of the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.

Goals by Period 1 2 1OT 2OT Tot

Los Angeles Galaxy 1 0 0 0 1

MetroStars 1 0 0 0 1

Scoring Summary:

LA -- Cobi Jones 1 (Sasha Victorine 1, Chris Albright 1) 20

MET -- Jaime Moreno 1 (penalty kick) 42

Los Angeles Galaxy -- Kevin Hartman, Danny Califf, Ezra Hendrickson,

Hong Myung-Bo, Tyrone Marshall, Peter Vagenas, Chris Albright (Alejandro

Moreno 65), Simon Elliott, Cobi Jones, Sasha Victorine, Carlos Ruiz.

Substitutes Not Used: Mauricio Cienfuegos, Alexi Lalas, Jesus Ochoa, Dan

Popik.

TOTAL SHOTS: 15 (Cobi Jones 8); SHOTS ON GOAL: 7 (Carlos Ruiz 4); FOULS:

20 (Carlos Ruiz 5); OFFSIDES: 2 (Chris Albright 1, Carlos Ruiz 1);

CORNER KICKS: 4 (Simon Elliott 2, Cobi Jones 2); SAVES: 7 (Kevin Hartman 5)

MetroStars -- Tim Howard, Eddie Pope, Joey DiGiamarino, Steve Jolley,

Chris Leitch, Ricardo Clark, Amado Guevara, Clint Mathis (John Wolyniec

85), Richie Williams, Mike Magee (Craig Ziadie 47), Jaime Moreno.

Substitutes Not Used: Joseph Addo, Kenny Arena, Paul Grafer, Jacob

LeBlanc, Jeff Matteo, Jeff Moore, Tim Regan.

TOTAL SHOTS: 13 (Clint Mathis 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 8 (Clint Mathis 3);

FOULS: 15 (Amado Guevara 3); OFFSIDES: 2 (Mike Magee 1, Clint Mathis 1);

CORNER KICKS: 8 (Amado Guevara 6); SAVES: 6 (Tim Howard 4)

Misconduct Summary:

MET -- Amado Guevara (caution) 24

LA -- Hong Myung-Bo (caution) 36

LA -- Ezra Hendrickson (caution) 39

LA -- Carlos Ruiz (caution) 75

LA -- Tyrone Marshall (caution) 87

Referee: Terry Vaughn

Referee's Assistants: -Jorge De La Bandera; Kermit Quisenberry

4th Official: Steve Karaduzovic

Attendance: 19,801

Time of Game: 2:04

Weather: Clear-and-54-degrees

www.MetroStars.com

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