MetroStars Pick Up Big Win in 3-1 Defeat of Dallas

Secaucus, NJ (Thursday, September 5, 2002) – The MetroStars won their league-leading seventh road game and improved to 9-3-0 when they scored two or more goals in a game this season as they defeated the Dallas Burn, 3-1, Thursday night at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas.

Rodrigo Faria scored his career-high 10th & 11th goals of the season, while Andy Williams continues to set his own career-highs with his 14th &15th assist to give the MetroStars the valuable three points to end a four-game losing streak to the Burn. The team also improves to an impressive 15-0-2 when Clint Mathis scores in a regular-season game.

The win gives the MetroStars (11-12-2) 35 points and a share of a first place in the Eastern Conference with the Columbus Crew with just three regular season games remaining on the season. The Crew, who won the season series, hold the tie-breaker against the MetroStars for first place overall in the East.

Clint Mathis scored the earliest Metro goal this season in the second minute of play. Rookie defender Nelson Akwari intercepted a pass at midfield from Ronnie O’Brien and immediately sent the ball up field to Andy Williams, who eventually found 2002 Rookie of the Year candidate Brad Davis on the left flank charging towards Burn goalkeeper Matt Jordan. Davis sent a high cross that Mathis headed into the lower right corner for the opening goal.

The Burn tied it 12 minutes later. Ryan Suarez, who managed to fight his way into the box after receiving a throw-in by O’Brien, beat off a charging Mike Petke in time to send a low roller through the box to an unmarked Ronald Cerritos. The El Salvadorian international tapped in the tying goal.

The first half ended with a barrage of shots by the Burn, who managed to attempt five shots in the final two minutes of regulation and three of extra time, but could not get the go ahead goal after a strong defensive effort by Tim Howard (eight saves total) and the back line.

Rodrigo Faria scored the game-winner in the 62nd minute. Jeff Moore fought off several Burn players just outside the center circle to send a pass up head to Faria. Suarez tried to knock the ball in the opposite direction, but could not enabling Faria to get a clear one-on-one opportunity and goal against Jordan.

Faria put it away in the 73rd minute by taking a high cross from surprise substitute Mamadou Diallo to head it past Jordan for the third goal. Williams began the play by splitting the defense to send a through ball to Diallo, who had enough time to fire the cross to an open Faria inside the box.

Diallo, who was treated all week with a left ankle injury, was put in the line up card after a pre-game warm up session demonstrated he could play off the bench. Tab Ramos also saw his first action in two months playing the final five minutes of the game.

Scoring Summary:

MET--Mathis (Davis, Williams) 2

DAL--Cerritos (Suarez, O'Brien) 14

MET--Faria (Moore) 62

MET--Faria (Diallo, Williams) 73

METROSTARS--Tim Howard, Ted Chronopoulos, Mike Petke, Nelson Akwari, Steve Jolley, Ross Paule, Jeff Moore, Andy Williams, Clint Mathis (Mamadou Diallo 60), Brad Davis, Rodrigo Faria (Tab Ramos 85). TOTAL SHOTS: 16 (Faria 6); SHOTS ON GOAL: 6 (Faria 2, Diallo 2); FOULS: 11 (Chronopoulos 3, Petke 3); OFFSIDE: 4; CORNER KICKS: 3; SAVES: Howard 8; CAUTIONS: none; EJECTIONS: none

DALLAS BURN--Matt Jordan, Ryan Suarez, Paul Broome, Tenywa Bonseu, Steve Morrow (Carl Bussey 80), Chad Deering, Joselito Vaca, Oscar Pareja (Edward Johnson 70), Ronnie O'Brien, Jason Kreis, Ronald Cerritos (Bobby Rhine 57). TOTAL SHOTS: 18 (Cerritos 5); SHOTS ON GOAL: 10 (Cerritos 5); FOULS: 17 (Suarez 4); OFFSIDE: 1; CORNER KICKS: 6; SAVES: Jordan 3; CAUTIONS: Pareja 41; EJECTIONS: none

Referee: Ricardo Salazar; Assistant Referees: Steven Davidson, Alex Scott

Attendance: 7,913; Weather: Sunny, 94 degrees.

Source: MetroStars.com

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