E. RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Clint Mathis didn't know that the New York-based MLS team is now 21-0-4 when he scores a goal. And while he didn't have the exact numbers etched on his brain, Mathis did know he's enjoyed success against FC Dallas throughout the years.
"I didn't realize that," Mathis said of the record. "I knew back with the MetroStars there was something, so hopefully I can score more often and keep that going."
He added to that account Sunday, scoring a goal and setting up another to lift the Red Bulls to a 3-0 win at Giants Stadium. It was the return to New York that Cleetus had dreamed of.
"To come in and be somewhere I used to call home and do now, to come in and this really be my first game for the team starting, it's a home opener and get a 3-0 win and be a part of that as far as netting that and getting an assist, I couldn't ask for anything better," Mathis said.
His career numbers against Dallas are mind-boggling. In 30 games, Mathis has 19 goals and seven assists, including five goals and two assists in eight playoff games.
"I had a great time in the 3 1/2 years I was here," Mathis said. "Hopefully we can continue to make those bright days and those highlight reels like I used to, more importantly, just get the 'Ws'."
After scoring 33 goals for the MetroStars before heading to Germany to play for Hannover 96, Mathis had just five goals in the past two seasons for Real Salt Lake and Colorado. His production and his confidence dwindled by the day.
Mathis requested a trade to the Red Bulls, in part to try to rekindle some of the magic that made him one of the top scoring threats in Major League Soccer. While the jury is still out if that could happen, Mathis is off to a pretty good start.
"Clint can play in this league, he knows that," Red Bulls boss Bruce Arena said. "I think he had a good day today; especially with the loss of Claudio [Reyna], we needed a little more leadership and creativity in the middle and a guy that can hold the ball a little bit better, and he did that for large parts of the game."
Reyna failed a gameday fitness test after missing training for the week because of a left thigh contusion suffered in a collision with teammate Dane Richards last Saturday night in Columbus. Had the game carried playoff implications, had the weather conditions been different, the former U.S. national team captain believes he probably could have played. But there was no need to risk additional injury, not in Week 2 of the long MLS season.
"Today, with the weather they thought what would be the point," the Red Bulls captain said. "The trainer said 'I don't think you should go' and I think it's probably the right decision. As much as I wanted to play, it just meant sense. I wasn't ready at all."
Reyna watched the game from an upper box and liked what he saw from his team, especially the budding partnership between Mathis and 17-year-old Jozy Altidore. It was Mathis' near-post corner kick that Altidore nodded past Dallas goalkeeper Shaka Hislop in the 18th minute. And then Altidore returned the favor, touching a Richards pass to Mathis, who scored his first goal for the Red Bulls in the 34th minute.
"I think Clint's a great player, so its easy to play off of him, no matter who it is," Altidore said. "He has a great nose for the game and whenever he's around, you feel you can always put that one-touch ball to him and spin off."
Unlike the last time he was here, Mathis didn't lift up his jersey to show an "I Love NY" T-shirt.
"Everybody knows I love New York," Mathis said. "Once you hit 30, you get too old for that."
But Mathis and Altidore wasn't the only story. For a second consecutive game, the Red Bulls defense, which was tweaked a bit by Arena, earned a clean sheet. Hunter Freeman, acquired in a trade with Colorado last month, started in place of Marvell Wynne on the right side and Jeff Parke started alongside Carlos Mendes as Seth Stammler provided cover in the midfield.
Ronald Waterreus made two first-half saves, including a diving stab of a low, hard Kenny Cooper shot, but he left the game at the half because of hypothermia, the same reason Hoops defender Clarence Goodson left in the 48th minute. Waterreus was replaced by Jon Conway, who made three second-half saves to preserve the shutout.
"It was hard for me moving my body," said the former Dutch international. "It was not that I was going to die I think, but I didn't really feel like it was a wise decision to go on."
Dylan Butler is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
