Claudio Reyna remembers his first game in front of a packed stadium.
It was an Olympic qualifier in Mexico City in 1992 and about 55,000 were there to root for the home team.
"I couldn't believe it," Reyna said. "I felt the noise more than anything. It's something I never experienced before and I was in Mexico so the hostility was amazing. We ended up winning, as well, 2-1. After the game we were talking about it forever."
Of course, playing for Sunderland and Manchester City in the English Premiership and Rangers in Scotland, there were other big games played in front of big crowds. But there's nothing quite like that first one.
Reyna isn't likely to play Saturday night, when more than 60,000 fans are expected to pack Giants Stadium to see the Red Bulls take on David Beckham and the Los Angeles Galaxy. He tweaked his left groin early in a 3-0 win over Toronto FC Sunday and he didn't feel much better Friday.
But for the Red Bulls younger players like Joe Vide, Dane Richards and 17-year-old sensation Jozy Altidore, this will be the first time they see the Meadowlands full for an MLS game.
"It's exciting, man. I don't think most of the guys here have had a crowd like that before," Altidore said. "It's going to be something we're really going to take to heart and really try and perform for the fans there and make it a game to remember."
A year ago, 79,000 fans came out to watch the Red Bulls take on Barcelona in a friendly. But that crowd was mostly to see and root for Ronaldinho and Samuel Eto'o. This time around, the selling point is Beckham, but Bruce Arena believes the support won't be as lopsided as it was a year ago.
"I am willing to bet there are some people who are coming out to see us tomorrow as opposed to last year," the Red Bulls coach said.
Playing in front of a packed stadium is also something commonplace for Juan Pablo Angel, who did so on a weekly basis when at River Plate and then Aston Villa. And he's faced Beckham in front of a big crowd at Giants Stadium before. It was May 31, 2005, when England defeated Colombia, 3-2, in front of 50,807 at Giants Stadium. The Red Bulls defeated Chicago, 2-1, in the nightcap of the doubleheader.
"It was great, it was full," Angel said. "Obviously, England is one of the biggest teams in the world and they came here because of all the stars and stuff, but it was a great game, even though we lost."
The Red Bulls, which average 11,573 fans per game, good for second to last in the league in attendance, are hoping that many of those fans Saturday night watching their first game comes back for a future Red Bulls home game.
But of greater concern for New York is getting three points Saturday night. If they do so by putting on a good show, then that's a bonus.
"The non-soccer fan is coming out because they know the name of David Beckham," Clint Mathis said. "The most important thing is to go out and get three points. If we go out and do that, then obviously a lot of fans are going to be there to see David, but also going to be rooting for the home team ... If we can do what we can to win ballgames to keep them there, then yeah, that would be great."
With Reyna likely out and Dema Kovalenko still recovering from facial injuries suffered in a car accident two weeks ago, Arena will probably go with Vide and Mathis as a central midfield pairing with Dave van den Bergh on the left and Richards on the right.
Arena likes Seth Stammler as a central defender and he will probably play alongside Jeff Parke with Hunter Freeman and Chris Leitch on the flanks.
Who will play in goal will be interesting. Jon Conway didn't need to make a save in a shutout win over Toronto and has filled in ably for Ronald Waterreus, who has been sidelined for a total of nine games with a severely sprained left ankle.
"I don't give out starting lineups," Arena said.
In either case, Conway and Waterreus need to be wary of Beckham if there's a set piece in and around the 18-yard box. After all, how can you defend Beckham's famous bending free kicks?
"You've got to hope he doesn't hit it well, that's all you can do," Arena said. "Obviously that's the danger of playing against a player like that -- he can beat you in a lot of ways."
Dylan Butler is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
