UP NEXT, SECOND LEG AGAINST NEW ENGLAND:
After last weekend's win against New England at Giants Stadium, the two clubs will battle in the tail end of the home-and-home series this weekend at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA. After last weekend's action packed 5-4 MetroStars win, the match is sure to be hotly contested. The "Red and Black" currently trail Kansas City by three points for the final playoff spot in the East.
After the series with the Revs concludes this weekend, the Metros will play three games in the same week against Eastern Conference clubs - two of which against rivals D.C. United. The "Red and Black" host D.C. on October 1st and then travel to RFK Stadium on October 8th. A tilt with Chicago on Wednesday, 10/5 is sandwiched in between.
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).
DJORKAEFF NAMED PLAYER OF THE WEEK: MetroStars forward Youri Djorkaeff was named Sierra Mist Player of the Week for Week 25 of the MLS season. Djorkaeff scored two goals and tallied an assist on September 17 vs. New England. One of the goals was the game winner that helped the MetroStars beat New England 5-4. He is one of three different MetroStars to be named player of the week this season (Amado Guevara twice and Zach Wells).
FIRST FOR MAGS: MetroStars forward Mike Magee set a career high for goals in a game last Saturday when he tallied a double against the Revs.
CAREER HIGHS FOR RAZOV AND BRADLEY: Last Saturday in the MetroStars' 5-4 win over the Revolution, Metros' forward Ante Razov tied a career high in assists and Michael Bradley recorded a career high in assists.
Razov recorded two assists for the first time since June 18, 2003, while Michael Bradley recorded two assists for the first time in his career.
WARD PICKS UP THIRD CAREER ASSIST: Tim Ward got his 3rd career assist last weekend in the MetroStars' 5-4 win over the Revolution, when he assisted on Amado Guevara's goal.
FIVE ALIVE: Prior to last Saturday's 5-4 win over the Revs, the last time the MetroStars scored five goals in a game was on 5/8/04 during a 5-5 tie in San Jose.
MOST GOALS IN '05: Last Saturday marked the first time all season the MetroStars have tallied more than three goals in a match. It also marked the first time in '05 that the New England Revolution allowed more than three goals in a game.
PLAYOFF PUSH: The MetroStars currently stand in 5th place in the East with just five games remaining. The "Red and Black" need to finish in the top four positions to earn a playoff berth.
Team Points
New England 51
D.C. United 47
Chicago 45
Kansas City 43
MetroStars 40
Columbus 30
BACK TO BACK WINS FOR SECOND TIME ALL SEASON:
With the MetroStars' consecutive wins over Kansas City on September 10th and New England last weekend it marked the second time this season that the club has recorded back-to-back wins. The first time came on May 28 vs. Columbus and May 31 vs. Chicago.
FOUR GOALS/ONE HALF: The MetroStars scored four goals in a half for just the second time in team history last Saturday (second half). The only time the club previously did this was on August 20, 2000 in a 5-3 win over Colorado. In that match, the four goals also came in the second half.
MEOLA REACHES CENTURY MARK WITH THE METROS: With his start last weekend against the Revolution, MetroStars goalkeeper Tony Meola played in his 100th regular season match as a member of the MetroStars. There are only three other players who have played more regular season games for the Metros (Mike Petke - 134, Tab Ramos - 112 and Steve Jolley - 104).
UNBEATEN AT HOME IN LAST ELEVEN: After going winless in their first five home games of the season, the Metros have not lost at home in over four months (11 games, last loss vs. SJ on 5/7). The Metros are 6-0-5 during this stretch, beating Chicago, Columbus twice, L.A., FC Dallas, and New England while tying D.C., New England, Chivas USA, Colorado, and Kansas City.
DJORKAEFF AND RAZOV KEYS TO METROSTARS SUCCESS: The MetroStars are 7-1-3 on the season when forward Youri Djorkaeff either scores a goal or tallies an assist. When Razov scores a goal or tallies an assist the Metros have posted a 3-0-4 record.
5 PLAYERS WITH 6+ GOALS: The MetroStars are the only team this season with 5 players that have scored 6 or more goals {Amado Guevara (10), Youri Djorkaeff (9), Ante Razov (7), Sergio Galvan Rey (6) and Eddie Gaven (6)}. No team did it in 2002 or 2003. The MetroStars were the only team in 2004 with five players with 5+ goals. The league record for most players with 6+ goals is 7, by Chicago in 1998.
METRO SOCCER REPORT: MSG will air the Metro Soccer Report this week on Thursday at 10:30 p.m. ET. The show will also re-run on Friday at 6:00 p.m.
