BRADENTON, Fla. - The MetroStars were defeated 2-1 by Real Salt Lake in their first preseason game of 2006. Midfielder Mark Lisi netted the lone MetroStars goal in the 62nd minute.
"We were a little rusty," said MetroStars head coach Mo Johnston after the loss. "We gave too many balls away and we failed to capitalize on a number of chances. But this is just our first preseason game, there is a long way to go."
Salt Lake scored the game's first goal in the 41st minute after Chris Brown led rookie midfielder Mehdi Ballouchy down the right sideline with a deft through ball. Ballouchy carried the ball to the 18 and sent what appeared to be a cross into the box towards Seth Trembly. Rather than taking a shot, Trembly let the ball go untouched, and it found its way into the net past goalkeeper Tony Meola.
In the second half, a soft foul was called on Carlos Mendes in the box, resulting in a Salt Lake penalty kick. Jamie Watson stepped to the spot and beat Metros netminder Jon Conway to the left side, giving RSL a 2-0 lead in the 48th minute.
The Metros got on the board in the 62nd minute after Jordan Cila sprung Eddie Gaven loose down the left side. Gaven sent a cross into the box that was deflected by RSL 'keeper Jay Nolly. However, Lisi gathered the loose ball at the top of the 18 and fired past Nolly, cutting the Metros' deficit in half, 2-1.
The "Red and Black" had two other scoring opportunities in the second half, but neither resulted in a goal. In the 75th minute, Jordan Cila's shot was stopped by a diving Nolly after Cila got behind the RSL defense and in the 86th minute, trialist Piotr Swierczewski sent a beautiful cross into the box from the right side that Gaven headed on net, but the save was made.
During his postgame comments, Johnston lauded the play of defender Taylor Graham, Canadian national team player Adrian Serioux (who joined the team yesterday) and Chris Henderson.
MetroStars: Tony Meola (Jon Conway 46'), Seth Stammler (Tim Regan 46'), Taylor Graham (Carlos Mendes 46'), Marvell Wynne II (Jeff Parke 46'), Adrian Serioux (Elie Ikangu 46') Chris Henderson (Mark Lisi 46'), Carlos Fangueiro (Piotr Swierczewksi 46'), Bjarni Gudjohnsen (Peter Canero 46'), Mike Magee (Blake Camp 46'), Youri Djorkaeff (Eddie Gaven 46'), Thiago Martins (Jordan Cila 46')
RSL Starters: Jay Nolly, Nelson Akwari, Gustavo Cabrera, Douglas Sequiera, Mehdi Ballouchy, Chris Brown, Seth Trembly, Carey Talley, Diego Walsh, Jeff Cunningham, Atiba Harris
Discipline Summary:
MET: Taylor Graham, Caution, 30'
Scoring Summary:
RSL: Ballouchy (Brown), 41'
RSL: Watson (Penalty Kick) 48'
MET: Lisi (unassisted) 62'
Officials: Richard Heron, Steve Taylor, Sean Hurd
Weather: Brisk 50 degrees, sunny
