METROS MAKE IT TWO IN A ROW

Team looks to continue streak when D.C. United invades Giants Stadium next Saturday

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – A goal and an assist from defender Craig Ziadie led the MetroStars (2-1-1, 7 pts.) to a 2-1 victory against the Colorado Rapids (0-2-1, 1 pt.) Saturday night at Giants Stadium. Ziadie scored the game-winning goal in the 62nd minute to record his first career tally, as the MetroStars battled back from a 1-0 halftime deficit.

Appearing in the 43rd match of his MLS career, Ziadie netted his first career goal in spectacular fashion, eluding Colorado defender Wes Hart with a cut to the middle of the field from the right side. Dribbling along the top of the penalty area, Ziadie shuffled past three Colorado defenders, including his cousin, Rapids midfielder Mark Chung. Entering the penalty area, Ziadie unleashed a 16-yard shot that skipped past Rapids goalkeeper Scott Vallow and gave the Metros a 2-1 advantage they would not relinquish.

Ziadie, who started the match playing on the left side of the MetroStars defense, moved across the field in the 31st minute when teammate Chris Leitch left the match due to an injury. Ziadie’s presence on the right side would prove to be the difference in the match, as he set up the game-tying goal in the 51st minute by launching a cross into the box that found the head of teammate Clint Mathis, who nodded a close range shot past a helpless Vallow for his first goal of the season.

A strong start by the MetroStars had Colorado chasing the ball for much of the first half, although the Rapids defense effectively limited the MetroStars attack to few quality shots. Neither goalkeeper was tested in the opening 45 minutes.

Against the run of play though, it was the Rapids who grabbed a 1-0 lead with less than five minutes remaining in the first half. A through ball from Mark Chung found Roberts one the left side of the penalty area but left the striker with a difficult angle out wide. With a defender closing, Roberts sizzled a low left-footed shot on Metros goalkeeper Tim Howard, who could only watch in dismay as the seemingly harmless ball spun off his chest and trickled over the goal line. The effort by

Roberts was the second of only three first half shots attempted by the Rapids.

Continuing an early season home-stand that will see the club play five of its first seven matches in the Meadowlands, the MetroStars will host Eastern Conference rival D.C. United on Saturday, May 10 at 7:30 p.m. (ET). Colorado returns to action next weekend as well, traveling to Central Ohio to face the Columbus Crew in a match televised live on Fox Sports World (7:30 p.m. ET).

MLS Man of the Match: Craig Ziadie (MET)

Colorado Rapids (0-2-1) vs. MetroStars (2-1-1)

May 03, 2003 -- Giants Stadium

Goals by Period 1 2 Tot

Colorado Rapids 1 0 1

MetroStars 0 2 2

Scoring Summary:

COL -- Zizi Roberts 2 (Mark Chung 1) 41

MET -- Clint Mathis 1 (Craig Ziadie 1, John Wolyniec 1) 51

MET -- Craig Ziadie 1 (unassisted) 62

Colorado Rapids -- Scott Vallow, Wes Hart, Robin Fraser, Jeff Stewart, Matt Crawford (Ritchie Kotschau 68), Chris Henderson, Pablo Mastroeni, Alberto Rizo (Kyle Beckerman 83), Mark Chung, Zizi Roberts, John Spencer (Chris Carrieri 45).

Substitutes Not Used: Scott Garlick, Steven Herdsman.

TOTAL SHOTS: 11 (Mark Chung 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 7 (Mark Chung 3, Zizi Roberts 3); FOULS: 24 (Pablo Mastroeni 5, Jeff Stewart 5); OFFSIDES: 2 (Chris Carrieri 1, Alberto Rizo 1); CORNER KICKS: 6 (Alberto Rizo 4); SAVES: 4 (Scott Vallow 3)

MetroStars -- Tim Howard, Chris Leitch (Mark Lisi 30), Steve Jolley, Eddie Pope, Craig Ziadie, Ricardo Clark, Amado Guevara (Tim Regan 89), Joey DiGiamarino, Richie Williams, Clint Mathis, John Wolyniec (Mike Magee 70).

Substitutes Not Used: Joseph Addo, Kenny Arena, Tim Glowienka, Paul

Grafer, Jacob LeBlanc, Mike Nugent.

TOTAL SHOTS: 14 (Clint Mathis 7); SHOTS ON GOAL: 6 (Clint Mathis 4); FOULS: 17 (Clint Mathis 4); OFFSIDES: 2 (Amado Guevara 1, John Wolyniec 1); CORNER KICKS: 6 (Amado Guevara 6); SAVES: 6 (Tim Howard 6)

Misconduct Summary:

COL -- Chris Henderson (caution; Pushing, Holding) 22

COL -- Alberto Rizo (caution; Professional Foul) 43

MET -- Craig Ziadie (caution; Tackle from Behind) 58

COL -- Pablo Mastroeni (caution; Professional Foul) 73

COL -- Ritchie Kotschau (caution; Professional Foul) 79

Referee: Kevin Terry

Referee's Assistants: -Thomas Supple; Greg Watson

4th Official: Jorge Bandera

Attendance: 11,069

Time of Game: 1:54

Weather: Clear-and-63-degrees

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