MetroStars Drop 3-0 Result to Chicago Fire

“Red and Black” Fall to Second-Place in the East at 2-1-1

Chicago, IL (Saturday, May 1, 2004) – The MetroStars dropped a 3-0 result tonight to the Chicago Fire at Soldier Field in Chicago, IL. Three different forwards scored goals for the Fire, while goalkeeper Henry Ring notched his MLS-leading fourth clean sheet of the season.

The Fire found the back of the net in the 15th minute of play as Dipsy Selolwane scored his first goal of the season. Jamaican international Andy Williams started the play with a diagonal pass to Chris Armas in the center midfield, who played a deft one-touch pass into the box for Selolwane.

The Botswana international held off MetroStars defender Eddie Pope and placed a shot out of the reach of goalkeeper Jonny Walker. The MetroStars have conceded the first goal in all four of their matches this season.

The MetroStars narrowly missed drawing level in the 36th minute when Mark Lisi capped off a great individual effort with a dangerous chance from inside the box. He split the Chicago defense down the left side of the box and chipped a shot over the hands of a leaping Ring, only to see it come back off the inside of the far post.

Damani Ralph doubled the Fire lead in the 56th minute of play, scoring his second goal of the season with an opportunistic strike from inside the penalty area. DaMarcus Beasley's slashing run down the left side of the box forced MetroStars defender Tenywa Bonseu to the ground in a desperation bid to clear the ball out of danger. Ralph was in perfect position to intercept the clearance attempt and immediately lashed the ball past Walker to increase the Fire lead to 2-0.

Forward Fabian Taylor missed a golden opportunity to cut the lead to one in the 60th minute, poking a point-blank shot just wide of an empty net after second-half substitute John Wolyniec slipped a pass through a scrum of Fire defenders with Ring well out of position.

Ante Razov, who came in for Selolwane at the 72-minute mark, then paid immediate dividends for the Fire with a goal five minutes later. Ralph played the ball wide to Beasley on the left flank, as Razov began a sprint into the box. Razov redirected Beasley's low cross past a stranded Walker and into the far side netting.

Walker did not give up on the game, twice called upon to make spectacular saves in the waning minutes. In the 86th minute, Walker tracked across the mouth of the goal to make a leaping save against a point-blank Ralph header. Moments later, Walker stepped up to block a long-range Beasley attempt, taking the force of the shot directly in his stomach.

Source: MetroStars.com

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