MATHIS SAYS GOODBYE WITH A GOAL

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – MetroStars and U.S. National Team forward Clint Mathis netted a goal in his last MLS match before heading off to the 2002 World Cup in Korea/Japan as the MetroStars and San Jose Earthquakes battled to a 1-1 tie at Giants Stadium on Saturday night. The Earthquakes' Ariel Graziani equalized for the defending MLS Cup champions, who are unbeaten against the MetroStars in their last eight matches. The last win by the MetroStars against San Jose came on April 25, 1998.

"I'm very excited but it's a bittersweet situation," said Mathis after the game. "I don't want to leave the MetroStars but I've been working hard to make the World Cup team and I'm looking forward to representing the MetroStars and my country. The MetroStars are a great team and we have a deep bench. Whether I'm here or not, this team works hard and a lot of good will come out of that."

The first half was evenly played with the MetroStars enjoying the best scoring opportunities. In the fifth minute, a diagonal shot on goal by Metros forward Rodrigo Faria was saved by diving goalkeeper Joe Cannon. In the 20th minute it was Faria's strike partner, Diego Serna, who ran onto a pass from Ross Paule which beat the Earthquakes' offside trap. However, the Colombian overran the ball, lost control and Cannon was able to smother the ball at his feet. In the 32nd minute Faria's effort from 20 yards out was destined for the low right corner of the goal but Cannon was again ready to make the save.

The Earthquakes started the second half strong through the work of their forwards Dwayne DeRosario and Graziani – the reigning MLS Player of the Week. Minutes into the second half, DeRosario served a ball to Graziani, who made a run down the left side of the box. The Ecuadorian did not get a good shot off on his volley, however, and the ball finished wide left.

In the 53rd minute, Howard made an improbable save on another shot by Graziani. The Earthquakes forward ran at the MetroStars' defense, entered the penalty area, cut into the middle and fired a right-footed shot on goal from 15 yards out. Howard made a one-handed block to stop the close range shot.

Just two minutes after Howard's save, Mathis opened the scoring for the home team. Faria crossed the ball from the left corner of the box and Serna, with his back to goal, did well to shield the ball from a defender and flick it over his shoulder. An unmarked Mathis, who made the run into the middle of the box, sent a first-time shot into the low left corner of the goal, easily beating Cannon. It was the second goal of the season for the Conyers, Georgia native who wore the captain's armband after Daniel Hernandez was substituted.

"That was great vision on Diego to hold the ball and flick it over the defender," Mathis said. "If I had missed that I would have quit soccer altogether. Unfortunately we weren't able to hold the lead. But to get a tie against the defending champions is a good thing."

Down 1-0, the Earthquakes proceeded to control possession and exert greater pressure. San Jose's best attempts at goal came through a Ramiro Corrales 35-yard shot that finished wide (59th minute) and a Jimmy Conrad header in the box (70th minute) which Howard was forced to tip over the bar.

The Earthquakes' insistence in attack would finally result in a goal in the 72nd minute. San Jose midfielder Ronnie Ekelund capitalized on a missed clearance by defender Birahim Diop near the right corner of the penalty area. The former Danish international advanced into the box and poked a shot on goal that was saved by Howard. Graziani, however, was ready to pounce on the rebound on the far post to even the match on his second goal of the season.

San Jose could have sealed the affair in regulation. Five minutes after his goal, Graziani was again dangerous with a shot from the edge of the Metros penalty area that was parried away by Howard. Then in the 90th minute Metros defender Petter Villegas was forced into a clearance off his own goal line. A Richard Mulrooney corner kick was headed on goal by DeRosario at the far post with Villegas well positioned to head it away.

Neither squad would come close to scoring in the 10-minute sudden death overtime.

Two players made their MLS debut for the MetroStars: Diop, who started for the injured Steve Jolley, and second-half substitute Darin Lewis. With Tab Ramos serving a red card suspension, rookie Brad Davis also made his first MLS start, playing in central midfield.

The Quakes were missing Manny Lagos (calf strain) and Landon Donovan, who was out with the flu and did not make the road trip. Donovan, his teammate Jeff Agoos and the MetroStars' Mathis will next report to U.S. National Team camp on May 1 in Cary, North Carolina ahead of the World Cup tournament in Korea/Japan.

With the draw, both clubs finished the night atop their respective conferences (the Earthquakes are tied with the Rapids on 10 pts in the Western Conference). They both return to action next Saturday, May 4. The Earthquakes (3-2-1, 10pts) will host the Columbus Crew in the Soccer Saturday Game of the Week (4:00 p.m. ET on ESPN2) while the MetroStars (3-2-1, 10pts) conclude a three-game homestand when the Dallas Burn make the trip to Giants Stadium (8:00 p.m. ET).

SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES--Joe Cannon, Jeff Agoos, Troy Dayak (Zak Ibsen 60), Jimmy Conrad, Wade Barrett, Ramiro Corrales, Ronnie Ekelund, Ian Russell, Richard Mulrooney, Dwayne DeRosario, Ariel Graziani

TOTAL SHOTS: 21 (DeRosario 7); SHOTS ON GOAL: 12 (DeRosario 5); FOULS: 14 (Russell 3); OFFSIDE: 6; CORNER KICKS: 8; SAVES: Cannon 6; CAUTIONS: Corrales 62, Graziani 100; EJECTIONS: none; POSSESSION PERCENTAGE: 51%

METROSTARS--Tim Howard, Birahim Diop (Orlando Perez 92), Mike Petke, Joe Addo, Petter Villegas, Daniel Hernandez (Darin Lewis 82), Ross Paule, Brad Davis (Brian Kamler 84), Clint Mathis, Rodrigo Faria, Diego Serna

TOTAL SHOTS: 12 (Faria 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 7 (Faria 3, Mathis 3); FOULS: 15 (Mathis 5); OFFSIDE: 4; CORNER KICKS: 3; SAVES: Howard 10; CAUTIONS: Mathis 54, Paule 69; EJECTIONS: none; POSSESSION PERCENTAGE: 49%

Referee: Richard Heron; Assistant Referees: Richard Eddy, Bahji Salman

Attendance: 13,339; Weather: 60 degrees, Partly Cloudy

Source: www.MetroStars.com

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