E. RUTHERFORD, N.J. - When is an MLS game more than just a game? When there are more subplots than a weekday soap opera. Such is the case for the MetroStars and Columbus Crew when they meet Saturday night at Giants Stadium.
First, there's the June 7 trade that saw popular forward John Wolyniec move from the MetroStars to the Columbus Crew for veteran Ante Razov and a partial allocation.
While Wolyniec didn't look the part of potent striker, he always seemed to find a way to score the big goal, whether as a starter or a "super sub." In his three-plus seasons playing for his hometown team, the Staten Island, N.Y. native scored 18 goals and had eight assists.
Now Wolyniec wears No. 11 in Columbus colors and will walk into the visitors locker room at Giants Stadium on Saturday night.
"It's part of the business but at the same time I don't think you ever get used to it," Metros defender Jeff Agoos said. "It was tough for Woly to leave. I only knew him for half the year here but I thought I was fairly close to him and he's a great guy, a great guy to have in the locker room, a talented forward and we certainly miss him. It's going to be strange to see him line up against us Saturday night but that's just part of how this sport works."
Even though it may be a bit strange for the Metros to see Wolyniec wearing the Crew's black and gold instead of their red and black, they know their friend will play his hardest to beat his former team.
"Woly's a great competitor; I expect nothing less than his 100 percent effort to beat me every time we go up against each other, which is good," said Metros defender Chris Leitch. "I think it's going to be great; it's going to be fun. I'm sure Woly's looking forward to it too; I'm sure he's going to be looking to kill us, kick, claw, whatever he can do. It should be a good time."
Razov's time in Columbus was marred by a very public falling out with Crew coach Greg Andrulis. After starting the Crew's first five games, Razov came off the bench in the next two games and didn't dress for the following three games.
Razov made his MetroStars debut Sunday in a disappointing scoreless draw at home against rival D.C. United last Sunday. He played 69 minutes before being replaced by rookie Abbe Ibrahim.
"It's another game, it's just coincidence that it's so soon ... I'll just play whoever the next game on the field," Razov said after Thursday's training session. "I just want to get back on the field to prove my game right now."
But just as Leitch and the Metros expect a tough game from their former teammate, Razov expects the same from the Crew.
"It will be a tough game. They play hard, those guys are true pros out there," he said. "I don't know what they're lineup is going to be like. Even when I was there guys were in and out of the lineup with injuries and whatnot. I know they'll play hard though."
Added Metros coach Bob Bradley: "Johnny was a very good player for us, we're excited to have Ante. The jerseys get changed and the game gets played."
Bradley knows the game will be emotional for many involved. But he is just hoping for a better performance from his squad, especially after Alexi Lalas replaced Nick Sakiewicz as president and general manager of the club Monday. That is the final subplot in a very busy - and interesting - two weeks off the field for the Metros.
"We didn't have our best day against D.C. The good news was that we still stuck together as a team and took a point, not what you want at home but still there was a good sign," he said. "It was not our best game of late. We actually had some pretty good ones so it's important now in the next game that we come out in the beginning better and try to impose our game on Columbus and win at home."
Dylan Butler is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
