METROSTARS v NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION
Sat., Oct. 22, Giants Stadium (7 p.m. ET; FSC; CN8)
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: NE 18 wins, 73 goals; MET 16 wins, 75 goals; 5 ties
2004 HEAD-TO-HEAD: NE 0 wins, 4 goals; CLB 2 wins, 6 goals; 2 ties
AT GIANTS STADIUM:
5/21: MET 2 - NE 2 (Gaven 16; Wolyniec 83 - Twellman 6, 89)
9/17: MET 5 - NE 4 (Magee 7, 76; Djorkaeff 51, 86; Guevara 59 - Joseph 29, 61; Dempsey 71; Twellman 74)
MLS CUP PLAYOFFS: NE 2 wins, 11 goals; MET 1 wins, 9 goals; 1 tie
REFEREE: Ricardo Valenzuela. SAR (bench): Craig Lowry; JAR (opposite): George Vergara; 4th: Mark Geiger
MLS Career: 68 games; FC/gm: 34.2; Y/gm: 4.6; R: 28; pens: 22
2005: 9 games; FC/gm: 31.9; Y/gm: 3.8; R: 4; pens: 5
INJURY REPORT: METROSTARS - OUT: MF Ramon Bailey (season ending IR); DF Danilo da Silva (post-surgery recovery); MF Daniel Garipe (L calf strain); FW Abbe Ibrahim (season ending IR); GK Mike Ueltschey (season ending IR); QUESTIONABLE: DFJeff Agoos (L calf strain); MF Mark Lisi (L ankle contusion) ... NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION - OUT: MF Andy Dorman (L hamstring strain); PROBABLE: MF Shalrie Joseph (R foot bone bruise); MF Marshall Leonard (R hamstring); FW Pat Noonan (L calf strain)
SUSPENDED: none
WARNINGS: none
METROSTARS TEAM NEWS
After six weeks of must-win games, the MetroStars are in the MLS Cup Playoffs. And they're relieved about it. "We're back from hell," Metros captain Youri Djorkaeff said. "The last two months was difficult. We did it and now ... you can see the players are very happy to play in the playoffs. This is important." ...
But after gaining the postseason in dramatic fashion, the club's expectations are higher than just making the playoffs. "This is what we start in January for and we don't want to go home early," Metros interim coach Mo Johnston said. "We don't want to be finished this time of the year. We want to still in the next round and we have that opportunity. If we can make our way into the next round, we can go far." ...
The MetroStars are also preparing for a series that could be equally as dramatic - especially after all four regular-season meeting were decided after the 86th minute. "Those last five, 10 minutes of the match is going to be huge," Tim Regan said. "I think that's where the game is going to be decided both here in Giants Stadium and in Gillette. We're getting ready for a great attack like they have. They can always score, especially at the end of the game. They push forward pretty recklessly but pretty effectively." ...
Djorkaeff was named the club's MVP (voted on by the media) and Player of the Year (fans' selection) during the week. "Youri has brought something special to the team," said Johnston. "He has brought his 'A' game and it has been something for our young players to see." ...
Another talking point around the club has been that it was a goal from Michael Bradley - son of Bob - who put the club into the playoffs. "It's been a tough year for him but he has handled himself with class and has grown as a player," said Johnston of Bradley. "People will think of the goal he scored against Chivas but take away that goal and he's still been a tremendous player for us."NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION TEAM NEWS
While the Revolution begin the series on the road, they are confident of getting a result - which could then mean they would be at home for the final two games on the way to a possible MLS Cup appearance. "The home-field advantage has been huge the last three years. Against Chicago [in '03] we were well-beaten away; they were the better team and deserved to win, but if we had been at home, maybe the balance could have gone the other way," said Revolution head coach Steve Nicol. "Last year, the crowd was behind D.C. the whole game; we were unlucky not to get through, and the home crowd could have tipped the balance in our favor." ...
Still, the Revolution say they are not heading to the Meadowlands to grind out a draw. "We are not going to sit back, even when we are on the road," Revolution midfielder Shalrie Joseph said. "We will keep doing what got us to the top of the Eastern Conference." ...
Of the 37 goals conceded by the Revolution on the campaign, nine were scored by the MetroStars. "I don't expect anything else," Nicol said. "The way they play, they are flinging bodies forward. When you do that, you leave holes behind you, and we hope to exploit that. Everyone wants to go on the road and win, but we wouldn't be too disappointed with a draw, either." ...
Yet while the season series featured some wild games, the last meeting between the teams - a 1-0 Revolution home win on Sept. 24 - might be more indicative of the series to come. "You have to be able to shut teams out in the playoffs," said rookie Michael Parkhurst. "There is not much difference between teams in the playoffs. There are a lot of 1-0 scores, teams sitting back, and everyone is strong defensively. The first goal is important because it could be the only goal of the game." ...
The only real injury concern for the Revolution is reserve midfielder Andy Dorman - who has provided valuable minutes, but will be out with a hamstring strain. Daniel Hernandez and Pat Noonan missed the season finale, but are expected to be available for the first leg.
