Other Soccer News...

Mathis Return Can’t Spark Metros in 3-1 Defeat

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ (August 17) – The MetroStars slumped to their third consecutive regular season defeat Saturday night, surrendering three goals in the final 25 minutes and falling to the Dallas Burn, 3-1, on NASL Reunion Night at Giants Stadium.

Prior to the match, 22 former NASL players took part in a half-field, 10-minute mini-game. Former Cosmo and all-time NASL scoring champion Giorgio Chinaglia scored the game’s only goal with a left-footed shot from eight yards.

Antonio Martinez scored two goals to lead the Burn and Ronald Cerritos netted the other. MetroStars midfielder Ross Paule scored his second goal of the season in the 48th minute.

U.S. World Cup hero Clint Mathis, playing for the first time since July 6, debuted as MetroStars captain as both the Metros and Burn teams wore retro NASL uniforms. The MetroStars wore an all-white kit similar to the Cosmos’ home uniforms, and Dallas wore red jerseys with white shorts and red socks in the style of the Dallas Tornado.

Mathis delighted fans in the early going with a neat backheel to strike partner Rodrigo Faria, but the resulting shot was wide left. Faria made his own chance after 16 minutes, knifing through the Burn defense on a 40-yard run, but ran himself into a bad-angle shot that didn’t trouble Burn goalkeeper Matt Jordan.

It was a physical first half, with three yellow cards, but the MetroStars had the better of possession and better chances, highlighted by a 35th minute free kick from Mathis. The mohawked striker found Faria at the six-yard box, but his bicycle kick was right at Jordan.

MetroStars midfielder Brad Davis was an architect of the game’s opening goal three minutes into the second half. He found Faria in the left corner and the Brazilian did well to return the favor at the top of the box. Paule met Davis’ cross at the near post and flicked his header backwards over Jordan for the game’s first goal.

Mathis continued to trouble the Burn as the MetroStars looked to build upon their lead. A counter attack in the 62nd minute gave him a chance to shine and he unleashed a right-footed rifle from the top of the box that Jordan did well to parry with a dive to his right. Mathis chased down the rebound, but his shot from a bad angle hit the outside of the right post. Mathis then exited the game in favor of Mark Lisi in the 67th minute.

Just one minute later, Dallas tied the match. Antonio Martinez’s corner kick deflected to a wide open Ronald Cerritos, and his blast, just one minute after coming on as a sub for Bobby Rhine, beat Tim Howard after deflecting off the back of Burn captain Oscar Pareja.

Mamadou Diallo returned from his abdominal strain four minutes later in the hopes of restoring the lead. He turned Paul Broome with his first touch to create space in the box, but dragged his left-footed shot wide of the near post.

With just under 15 minutes to play, Pareja struck again, this time playing a through ball for a wide-open Martinez on the left wing. The Colombian made no mistake, forcing Howard to commit before slotting his left-footed shot home for the go-ahead goal.

The MetroStars almost responded in the 83rd minute. Ted Chronopoulos crossed from the left wing and Faria climbed well at the penalty spot to beat everyone to the ball, but his header caromed off the crossbar.

Dallas wrapped up the match with a great individual effort from Martinez. He latched onto a cross at the top of the penalty area and squared up against Paule. Martinez pushed the ball around one side of Paule and darted around the other before toe-poking past Howard with his left foot.

GAME SUMMARY

MetroStars 1 Dallas Burn 3

Saturday, August 17, 2002; Giants Stadium; East Rutherford, NJ

1 2 F

MetroStars 0 1 1

Dallas Burn 0 3 3

Scoring Summary:

MET—Paule (Davis, Faria) 48’

DAL—Cerritos (Martinez) 67’

DAL—Martinez (Pareja) 76’

DAL—Martinez (Vaca, Cerritos) 86’

BURN—Matt Jordan; Ryan Suarez (Jorge Rodriguez 59), Steve Morrow, Tenywa Bonseu, Paul Broome; Joselito Vaca (Ronnie O’Brien 87), Chad Deering, Oscar Pareja, Antonio Martinez; Jason Kreis, Bobby Rhine (Ronald Cerritos 66). TOTAL SHOTS: 15 (Deering, Cerritos 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 3 (Martinez 2); FOULS: 12 (Suarez 3); OFFSIDE: 4; CORNER KICKS: 8; SAVES: Jordan 5; CAUTIONS: Deering 11’ ; Bonseu 34’ ; Suarez 53; EJECTIONS: none; POSSESSION PERCENTAGE: 51%

METROSTARS—Tim Howard; Craig Ziadie (Nelson Akwari 88), Mike Petke, Steve Jolley, Ted Chronopoulos; Jeff Moore, Andy Williams, Ross Paule, Brad Davis (Mamadou Diallo 71); Rodrigo Faria, Clint Mathis (Mark Lisi 67). TOTAL SHOTS: 13 (Faria 6); SHOTS ON GOAL: 6 (Mathis, Faria 2); FOULS: 12 (Chronopoulos 3); OFFSIDE: 0; CORNER KICKS: 8; SAVES: Howard 0; CAUTIONS: Davis 20’; Jolley 53’; Williams 56’; EJECTIONS: none; POSSESSION PERCENTAGE: 49%.

Referee: Kevin Stott; Assistant Referees: Robert Fereday, Steve Taylor

Attendance: 12,471; Weather: Partly cloudy, 81 degrees, 51% humidity.

www.MetroStars.com

Videos	New Posters	CALENDARS	Books	Magazines	Games