UP NEXT, KANSAS CITY:
After last week's bye, the Metros will take on the Kansas City Wizards at home on Saturday, September 3. The game will mark the front end of a pivotal home-and-home series between the two clubs who are battling for spots in the Eastern Conference playoff race. The tail end of the series will take place on Saturday, September 10 in Kansas City.
After the series with the Wizards, the Metros start another home-and-home series with an Eastern Conference Club - the New England Revolution. The "Red and Black" host the Revs on September 17th and then travel to Foxborough on September 24th.
Tickets are available for all MetroStars home games at the Continental Airlines Arena box office and at all Ticketmaster outlets. Tickets will also be available through Ticketmaster by phone for callers in New Jersey (201-507-8900), New York (212-307-7171), and for Spanish-speaking customers throughout New York and New Jersey (212-307-4757).
PLAYOFF PUSH: The MetroStars currently stand in 5th place in the East with just eight games remaining. The "Red and Black" need to finish in the top four positions to earn a playoff berth. D.C. United sits in fourth place, just five points ahead of the Metros.
Team Points
New England 45
Kansas City 41
Chicago 39
D.C. United 38
MetroStars 33
Columbus 27
SECOND HAT TRICK FOR AMADO: With his hat trick on August 21, MetroStars midfielder Amado Guevara became the first player in MetroStars history to record two hat tricks in the same season (4/30 @ Colorado, 8/21 vs. Chivas). He also tied the MetroStars record for most hat tricks by a MetroStars player in team history (Clint Mathis).
The league record for the most hat tricks by a player in a single season is three (Stern John 98', Cobi Jones 98', Diego Serna '00). Coincidently, Guevara is the first person to have two or more hat tricks in a single season since Serna did it in 2000.
THE TIMES, THEY ARE A CHANGING: This weekend will be the first time that Tony Meola will play against his former club, the Kansas City Wizards. After spending 1996-1998 with the MetroStars, Meola was traded to the Wizards where he played through the 2004 season. Meola had considerable success with the club, highlighted by a MLS Cup Championship in 2000. (Also worth note is that MetroStars assistant coach Mo Johnston was the captain of that K.C. team).
CAPTAINS: Youri Djorkaeff was the captain for the Metros on August 21 despite Amado Guevara being on the field. It marked the first time this season that Guevara has played in a game when he has not served as captain. "We won our last game with Youri as captain so we decided to leave it alone," said MetroStars head coach Bob Bradley.
REGAN, SUAREZ, WARD RETURN TO STARTING LINEUP: MetroStars defenders Ryan Suarez, Tim Regan and Tim Ward returned to the MetroStars lineup as starters last Sunday. Suarez had been sidelined with a right MCL sprain, which he suffered against San Jose on July 23. This marks his second start and second game with the MetroStars. Tim Regan has been out since July 9 (vs. LA) with a broken right foot. Rookie Tim Ward had been hampered with a hamstring injury and made his first start since May 25 at Kansas City.
RAZOV AGAINST THE WIZ: MetroStars forward Ante Razov has a stellar track record against the Kansas City Wizads. Throughout his career, Razov has tallied nine goals and six goals over the 15 games that he has played in.
BRADLY VS. THE WIZARDS: Over his first seven years as a head coach in Major League Soccer, MetroStars skipper Bob Bradley has a 14-6-2 record against the Kansas City Wizards. His record against Kansas City's coach Bob Gansler is 11-5-2.
UNBEATEN AT HOME IN LAST NINE: After going winless in their first five home games of the season, the Metros have not lost at home in over three months (nine games, last loss vs. SJ on 5/7). The Metros are 5-0-4 during this stretch, beating Chicago, Columbus twice, L.A. and FC Dallas while tying D.C., New England, Chivas USA and Colorado.
TOMS RIVER DAY: The MetroStars, St. Barnabas Health Care System- Toms River Community Medical Center will host a Community Day on Wednesday, August 31 in Toms River, New Jersey. The event is being held as a thank you to Toms River and the surrounding towns for their support of the MetroStars during the 2005 season.
Included in the day's festivities will be soccer clinics for children, a visit from Metro the Mascot, and an autograph and picture session with current MetroStars players. The MetroMobile will also be there with many give-aways for children of all ages. The league wide youth development program, "Dribble, Pass, Shoot" (DPS) will also be in attendance.
THE COMEBACK KIDS: The MetroStars have made second half comebacks in their past two wins and in their tie against Chivas USA. The first comeback win came against FC Dallas on July 27 when the team was down 2-1 at halftime, winning 3-2 and the second came on August 14 vs. Columbus when the Metros were down 1-0 at halftime, winning 2-1. Last weekend the Metros were down 3-1 at the break, and came back to score two unanswered goals in the second half to tie.
DJORKAEFF AND RAZOV KEYS TO METROSTARS SUCCESS: The MetroStars upped their record to 6-1-2 on the season when forward Youri Djorkaeff either scores a goal or tallies an assist. When Ante Razov scores a goal or tallies an assist the Metros have posted a 2-0-3 record.
PARKE SUSPENDED AGAINST KANSAS CITY: MetroStars defender Jeff Parke will be suspended for the MetroStars home game on September 3, 2005 against Kansas City due his caution point total over the past three matches. MLS players are forbidden from acquiring more that 11 caution points in three games. In the 51st minute against Chivas USA when he received a card for "pushing and holding" it pushed him over the 11 point threshold to 12 points-thus leaving him suspended for this weekend's tilt agains the Wizards.
METRO SOCCER REPORT: MSG will air the Metro Soccer Report this week on Thursday at 11:00 p.m. ET. The show will also re-run three more times (on Friday at 6:30 p.m. ET and 11:00 p.m. ET and on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. ET).
