UP NEXT, D.C. UNITED:
The MetroStars will travel to Washington D.C. to take on Eastern Conference rival D.C. United on August 10, 2005. This will be a pivotal game for both clubs in the Eastern Conference playoff race. With a win, the MetroStars will move into fourth place in the Eastern Conference (the final playoff spot).
The Metros will take on the Columbus Crew at home on Sunday, August 14 in their last meeting of the season.
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).
FC DALLAS RECAP: The MetroStars tied Western Conference leading FC Dallas 2-2 on August 6. The Metros were down 2-0 at halftime, but had a strong surge in the second half, led by Youri Djorkaeff who scored both goals for the Metros. Ante Razov assisted on Djorkaeff's second goal.
DJORKAEFF AND RAZOV KEYS TO METROSTARS SUCCESS: The MetroStars are now 4-1-2 on the season when forward Youri Djorkaeff either scores a goal or tallies an assist. The Metros have had similar success when Razov scores a goal or tallies an assist as they have a 2-0-3 record when this happens.
GAVEN VS. UNITED: In only six career games vs. D.C. United Eddie Gaven has scored two goals and tallied three assists. The Judge's first career goal also came against D.C. on July 5, 2003, when he was subbed into the game as a goalie and went on to score the game-winning goal in double overtime. This was also the last time the MetroStars beat D.C. United in Washington D.C.
METROSTARS MULTI-GOAL GAMES: After scoring a double on Saturday, August 6 at FC Dallas, Youri Djorkaeff became the fifth player on the MetroStars to have a multi-goal game this season. The other players to have done this are Amado Guevara on April 30 at Colorado (Hat Trick), Eddie Gaven on May 14 at Chicago, Sergio Galvan Rey on April 16 vs. Kansas City, and Ante Razov on June 18 vs. Columbus. Having five players with multi-goal games leads Major League Soccer, with Columbus (3) having the second most players to have done this in Edson Buddle, Knox Cameron and Frankie Hejduk.
STAMMLER MAKES FIRST CAREER MLS START: MetroStars defender Seth Stammler made his first career MLS start on August 6 at FC Dallas. Stammler played the full 90 minutes in the Metros 2-2 tie.
METROSTARS ACQUIRE ERIC QUILL FROM FC DALLAS: On Friday, August 5th, the MetroStars traded a conditional pick in the 2006 Supplemental Draft to FC Dallas in exchange for the rights to midfielder Eric Quill. Subsequently, Quill was signed by the MetroStars, and per MLS policy terms of the deal are not disclosed.
METROS FINALIZE STADIUM DEAL: The MetroStars, AEG, Town of Harrison, County of Hudson and State of New Jersey reached a final agreement regarding their soccer specific stadium on Thursday, August 4. The agreement will bring a new 20,000 seat stadium and entertainment complex to Harrison, N.J., to serve as the home of Major League Soccer's MetroStars. The new soccer stadium is the highest profile project within the redevelopment of the historic Harrison waterfront, one of the largest urban redevelopment projects in recent state history.
"After a long journey filled with many ups and downs this is one of the proudest days of my life," said Nick Sakiewicz, President of AEG, NY/NJ. "The commitment to deliver on a promise made to MetroStars fans and the people of this area is something that I have never wavered on and, I always knew this day would come. This stadium will be a very special place that will reflect the passion that the people of this area have for the sport of soccer, and the history that has made this area a hotbed of soccer in this country."
AEG, the parent company of the MetroStars, will provide full funding for the construction of the Stadium, approximately $80 million, through a combination of equity capital and Company Guaranteed taxable bonds. AEG will assume full liability for all costs associated with the stadium, including environmental remediation overruns, stadium construction cost overruns and ongoing operating costs of the stadium, including debt service on the bonds. AEG will have the exclusive right to manage and operate the Stadium. AEG will enter into a lease agreement with the MetroStars to play their home games at the venue. AEG will also schedule concerts, international soccer games and other events at the Stadium to produce revenues.
DA SILVA MAKES FIRST PRO START: MetroStars defender Danilo da Silva made his first professional start for the "Red and Black" on August 3 against Rochester. Danilo played 85 minutes in the U.S. Open Cup fourth round game.
UNBEATEN AT HOME IN LAST SEVEN: After going winless in their first five home games of the season, the Metros have put together an unbeaten streak of seven games at home. The Metros are 4-0-3 during this stretch, beating Chicago, Columbus, L.A. and FC Dallas while tying D.C., New England and Colorado.
TV SCHEDULE CHANGE: MSG will no longer carry the telecast of Metros at Chicago on October 5. Instead, they will be covering the game Saturday, Sept. 10 at Kansas City.
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).
WORLD SERIES OF FOOTBALL ON MSG: MSG Network will air the following World Series of Football matches on the following dates:
Tue 8-9 4:00p: Chelsea vs. AC Milan- Boston, MA (R)
Tue 8-9 6:00p: AC Milan at Chicago Fire (R)
Tue 8-9 8:00p: Chelsea vs. AC Milan- Giants Stadium (R)
Wed 8-10 6:00a: Chelsea vs. AC Milan- Boston, MA (R)
Wed 8-10 8:00a: AC Milan at Chicago Fire (R)
Wed 8-10 10:00a: Chelsea vs. AC Milan- Giants Stadium (R)
