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MetroStars Fall To Chicago, 3-0

Naperville, IL (July 27, 2002) – The Chicago Fire defeated the MetroStars, 3-0, in a Major League Soccer match played Saturday afternoon at Cardinal Stadium in Naperville, Illinois.

The Fire took control of the game in the early part of the second half with goals in the 49th & 57th minutes to defeat the MetroStars for the third time in four games this season. They hold a 3-1 advantage against the MetroStars, which enables them to own the tiebreaker advantage to possibly decide the final playoff standings or conference title.

“The Chicago Fire executed all afternoon to get the three points,” said MetroStars head coach Octavio Zambrano. ”Today just wasn’t our day as the Fire did all the right things to beat us. It is never easy to lose, especially when it comes to a conference opponent.”

The MetroStars struggled all afternoon on a hot and humid day in Naperville, where the defense had to deal with the Fire offense led by DaMarcus Beasley, Josh Wolff, Ante Razov, and eventual second half substitute Hristo Stoitchkov.

The Fire were on the board early in the sixth minute when second-year defender Jim Curtin knocked home a free kick sent into the box by Razov for a 1-0 lead. The goal stood as the only tally in the first 45 minutes as the home side out shot the MetroStars, 9-0.

The Fire took advantage of a counter attack in the 49th minute when a Dema Kovalenko to Wolff to Razov combination sealed the second goal against Tim Howard. A Mike Petke defensive miscue eight minutes later enabled Razov to slam home the third goal against Howard one-on-one for the third score.

The visiting Metros lost striker Mamadou Diallo in the 41st minute of the game when he left with a strained left hamstring. He was replaced by New Jersey product and former Rutgers star Dustin Sheppard, who recorded his MLS debut with the substitution. Diallo is listed as day-to-day.

The MetroStars still own possession of first place in the Eastern Conference Standings as they now lead the Fire by only two points. The Columbus Crew, who are trailing by four points, could cut the lead to one, depending on their result tonight at Los Angeles.

The MetroStars return to action this upcoming Wednesday night, July 31, at 7:30 p.m. (TV: FSNY, Spanish Radio WADO 1280 AM) when they face U.S. National Team star Brian McBride and the Columbus Crew at Giants Stadium. Tickets are on sale at all area TicketMaster outlets, the Continental Airlines Arena box office, or MetroStars.com. For group tickets or special packages, fans can call the MetroStars toll free at 1-888-4-METROTIX.

Scoring Summary: CHI--Curtin (Wolff, Razov) 6; CHI--Razov (Wolff, Kovalenko) 49; CHI--Razov (unassisted) 57

METROSTARS--Tim Howard, Craig Ziadie, Mike Petke, Steve Jolley, Joe Addo, Jeff Moore (Byron Alvarez 77), Ross Paule (Mark Lisi 77), Andy Williams, Ted Chronopoulos, Rodrigo Faria, Mamadou Diallo (Dustin Sheppard 41). TOTAL SHOTS: 7 (Faria 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 4 (Faria 2, Williams 2); FOULS: 14

(Williams 3, Petke 3); OFFSIDE: 5; CORNER KICKS: 3; SAVES: Howard 8; CAUTIONS: Petke 40, Paule 47; EJECTIONS: none.

CHICAGO FIRE--Zach Thornton, C.J. Brown, Jim Curtin, Carlos Bocanegra, Orlando Perez, Billy Walsh (Kelly Gray 67), Jesse Marsch, Dema Kovalenko, DaMarcus Beasley (Hristo Stoitchkov 67), Ante Razov (Jason Moore 80), Josh Wolff. TOTAL SHOTS: 18 (Kovalenko 5, Razov 5); SHOTS ON GOAL: 11 (Razov 4); FOULS: 17 (Wolff 4, Kovalenko 4); OFFSIDE: 2; CORNER KICKS: 7; SAVES: Thornton 4; CAUTIONS: Walsh 14; EJECTIONS: none.

Referee: Kevin Stott; Assistant Referees: Steven Davidson, Francisco Sanchez; Attendance: 14,576; Weather: Partly Cloudy, 84 degrees, humidity

www.MetroStars.com

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