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MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER GAME SUMMARY

MAY 4, 2002 - DALLAS BURN 2, METROSTARS 1

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - Jason Kreis became the third player in MLS history to amass 200 career points as he led the Dallas Burn past the MetroStars 2-1 Saturday night at Giants Stadium. Kreis notched a goal and an assist, joining Preki and Roy Lassiter in the exclusive 200-point club. Diego Serna contributed as well, recording his first goal in a MetroStars uniform.

The Burn netted their first goal in the eighth minute, capitalizing on confusion in front of the MetroStars net. Joselito Vaca started the rush, collecting a poor Metros' clearance and putting a sharp shot on goal. Goalkeeper Tim Howard parried the shot away, but a lurking Kreis kept the ball alive. Standing beside a sprawling Howard, defender Ryan Suarez drilled the ball into the back of the empty net.

The goal was the first scored by Dallas in the first half of a game. The physicality that set the tone for much of the game became evident in the 20th minute, when Paul Broome was cautioned for a hard challenge on the MetroStars Petter Villegas.

Kreis reached the 200-point plateau with a spectacular effort in the 39th minute of play. Ronald Cerritos started the Burn scoring rush, pushing the ball out wide to an overlapping Vaca. Vaca sent a curling cross into space in front of the net, where Kreis made a perfectly timed dive. Kreis' header whipped past a stunned Howard, hitting the inside of the side netting.

Only two other players have ever amassed 200 or more points in MLS history, Roy Lassiter and Preki of the Kansas City Wizards. With the goal, Kreis extended his goal-scoring streak to five consecutive games, equaling the Burn team record.

The MetroStars got on the board late in the first half, with a bouncing shot from forward Diego Serna. Serna charged toward the Dallas net from midfield, sending a low, hard shot skipping along the pitch. Goalkeeper Matt Jordan appeared to have the save made, but an odd bounce sent the shot rolling over the sprawling `keeper and into the back of the net. The goal was Serna's first as a member of the Metros.

The end of the half turned ugly as emotions bubbled to the surface. Kreis and MetroStars defender Mike Petke tangled at midfield while racing for a ball, and the argument erupted between players. Petke was ejected from the match for his involvement, while Kreis was also cautioned.

MetroStars rookie Brad Davis got a quality shorthanded chance in the 53rd minute, sending a blistering rocket on goal off of a Steve Jolley throw-in. Jorge Rodriguez, who came off of the Burn bench at the half, slightly deflected Davis' one-time blast, turning a sure goal into a ricochet off of the post.

Despite playing a man down for the second half, the MetroStars pressed the attack and controlled much of the flow of play. Protecting their lead, the Burn relied heavily on counter-attacks to create odd-man rushes while the MetroStars pressed forward in an attempt to equalize.

The Metros came close to equalizing in the 69th minute, but was thwarted by the imposing defensive presence of Tenywa Bonseu. Taking the ball from Serna, midfielder Tab Ramos played a soft ball back to Serna in the channel. Serna teed up the shot, hoping to catch Jordan out of position, but Bonseu was there to make the block and to clear the ball away.

The Burn lost their man advantage in the 80th minute, when Rodriguez was shown a straight red card for a tackle from behind on the MetroStars' Daniel Hernandez. The Burn slowed the play whenever they had possession, burning valuable seconds off of the game clock. The MetroStars continued to press for the equalizer, often firing long-range blasts on the Dallas net. In the 95th minute, a screaming rocket by Tab Ramos threatened to send the game to overtime, but a diving save by Jordan allowed no rebound and sealed the Burn's road win.

The MetroStars (3-3-1, 10 points) will try to rebound next week when they travel to face the San Jose Earthquakes at Spartan Stadium on Saturday, May 11th. The Metros will look to adjust their defense to compensate for Petke's red card suspension, as the Earthquakes boast an explosive offensive mix featuring Ariel Graziani and Dwayne DeRosario (10 p.m. ET). Dallas (2-1-3, 9 points) extends the team unbeaten streak to five matches.

The Burn continues their road trip with a visit to the brand new CMGI Field to face the New England Revolution in their home opener.

MAY 04--DALLAS BURN 2, METROSTARS 1

1 2 F

DALLAS BURN 2 0 2

METROSTARS 1 0 1

Scoring Summary:

DAL--Suarez (Kreis, Vaca) 8

DAL--Kreis (Vaca, Cerritos) 39

MET--Serna (unassisted) 42

DALLAS BURN--Matt Jordan, Ryan Suarez, Tenywa Bonseu, Steve Morrow, Richard

Farrer (Jorge Rodriguez 46), Chad Deering, Paul Broome, Joselito Vaca

(Antonio Martinez 79), Oscar Pareja, Ronald Cerritos (Bobby Rhine 74), Jason Kreis

TOTAL SHOTS: 15 (Cerritos 4, Vaca 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 9 (Kreis 3); FOULS: 29

(Bonseu 5); OFFSIDE: 4; CORNER KICKS: 4; SAVES: Jordan 2; CAUTIONS: Broome

22, Morrow 38, Kreis 45, Vaca 75; EJECTIONS: Rodriguez 80

METROSTARS--Tim Howard, Mike Petke, Joe Addo, Daniel Hernandez, Ross Paule,

Brian Kamler (Steve Jolley 46), Petter Villegas (Byron Alvarez 66), Brad

Davis (Darin Lewis 74), Tab Ramos, Diego Serna, Rodrigo Faria

TOTAL SHOTS: 15 (Paule 7); SHOTS ON GOAL: 4 (Serna 2); FOULS: 13 (Faria 3);

OFFSIDE: 0; CORNER KICKS: 6; SAVES: Howard 7; CAUTIONS: Hernandez 91+;

EJECTIONS: Petke 45

Referee: Peter Kokolski; Assistant Referees: Chip Reed, Jorge Bandera

Attendance: 15,551; Weather: Clear.

www.MetroStars.com