MetroStars Fall In New England, 3-0

MetroStars Relegated To Scoreboard Watching Sunday Afternoon

Foxboro, MA (September 21, 2002) – The New England Revolution (12-4-2, 38 pts.) scored three goals in the first half to defeat the MetroStars (11-15-2, 35 pts.) Saturday night at Gillette Stadium, 3-0, as the 2002 regular season came to a close for both clubs.

The MetroStars need a Columbus Crew (11-11-5, 38 pts.) victory tomorrow afternoon against the Chicago Fire (10-13-4, 34 pts.) to qualify for the last remaining playoff spot of eight place. The Fire hosts the Crew at 4:00 p.m. ET in Naperville, IL.

The game is being televised in the Columbus, Ohio market on Sport! TV. It is also available for subscribers on the MLS shootout package via Direct TV (Ch. 794) or iN DEMAND on digital cable. Online users can listen to the play-by-play call by accessing the official Columbus Crew website link at www.thecrew.com, or scoreboard watching on www.mlsnet.com.

The MetroStars, who hold one point more than the Fire, need a Crew victory to help eliminate the Fire. If the Fire at least ties the Crew to reach 35 points, they will defeat the MetroStars in the first tiebreaker to advance to the playoffs, as a result of winning the season series by three games to one.

The Revolution, buoyed by a home crowd of 20,215, were on the board early in the fifth minute after Taylor Twellman fell in the box during a collision with defender Mike Petke. Twellman, who was awarded a penalty kick by referee Michael Kennedy, knocked home the goal by beating a diving Paul Grafer with a shot to the right corner.

They added to the lead in the 28th minute, when Twellman fired a low cross through the box that found a trailing Wolde Harris. The Jamaican International tapped in the goal as he collided with the right post. Despite lying on the field for several minutes, the Jamaican International was able to return to action.

The Revolution added the third score seven minutes later as Harris fired a shot that bounced off the left post for the final goal with 65 minutes remaining in the game. Braeden Cloutier and Leo Cullen helped set up the score.

The MetroStars played without Clint Mathis and Tim Howard due to red card suspensions. Grafer recorded his first official start at goalkeeper, dating back to September 26, 2000 in a playoff game against Chicago at Soldier Field.

The MetroStars have qualified for the MLS playoffs in four of their previous six seasons. The last time the club failed to reach the playoffs was during the 1999 season.

They must now wait for the tomorrow afternoon’s result to decide if they have a possible first round destiny with the Los Angeles Galaxy or the San Jose Earthquakes.

Scoring Summary: NE --Twellman (PK) 5; NE --Harris (Twellman) 28; NE --Harris (Cloutier, Cullen) 35.

METROSTARS--Paul Grafer, Mike Petke (Nelson Akwari 82), Craig Ziadie, Steve Jolley, Ted Chronopoulos (Brad Davis 67), Mark Lisi (Marcelo Balboa 85), Ross Paule, Andy Williams, Tab Ramos, Rodrigo Faria, Mamadou Diallo. TOTAL SHOTS: 8 (Williams 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 4 (Diallo 2); FOULS: 12 (Petke 4); OFFSIDE: 6; CORNER KICKS: 7; SAVES: Grafer 2; CAUTIONS: Petke 71; EJECTIONS: none; POSSESSION PERCENTAGE: 59%.

N.E. REVOLUTION--Adin Brown, Daouda Kante, Jay Heaps, Carlos Llamosa, Joe Franchino, Leo Cullen, Brian Kamler (Winston Griffiths 71), Braeden Cloutier, Daniel Hernandez, Taylor Twellman (Ian Fuller 90), Wolde Harris (Alex Pineda Chacon 74). TOTAL SHOTS: 11 (Twellman 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 6 (Harris 2, Twellman 2); FOULS: 24 (Franchino 5); OFFSIDE: 0; CORNER KICKS: 4; SAVES: Brown 4; CAUTIONS: Franchino 32; EJECTIONS: none; POSSESSION PERCENTAGE: 41%.

Referee: Michael Kennedy; Assistant Referees: Greg Barkey, Chip Reed; Attendance: 20,215; Weather: Fair, 73 degrees.

www.MetroStars.com

John Neves

Director of Communications

Videos	New Posters	CALENDARS	Books	Magazines	Games