Up Next, KANSAS CITY:
After last week's draw with Kansas City, the Metros will take on the Wizards once again, this time on the road on Saturday, September 10. The game will mark the tail end of a pivotal home-and-home series between two clubs who are battling for spots in the Eastern Conference playoff race.
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).
ORANGE UNIFORMS: The MetroStars wore commemorative orange Nike jerseys Saturday night, September 3, during their match against the Kansas City Wizards. The MetroStars conducted a raffle during the game benefiting the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts of two humanitarian aid organizations- AmeriCares and the American Red Cross. The auction for the game-worn jerseys raised $14,200.
AmeriCares will receive the donations made by those bidding on the game-worn and signed commemorative orange Nike jerseys, while the Red Cross will receive the donations for unique items donated by MetroStars players and staff. These items include, but are not limited to, autographed guitars signed by President and General Manager Alexi Lalas and defenseman Jeff Agoos, an all-inclusive fishing expedition- with all gear and tackle provided by Orvis- with goalkeeper Zach Wells and Captain Anthony Grassi of Finchaser Charters (www.finchaser.com), or an all-inclusive day of fly-fishing with goalkeeper Tony Meola and guide Paul Hritz of Outcast Fishing Adventures (www.outcastfishingadventures.com).
DA SILVA OUT: MetroStars defender Danilo da Silva recently had successful surgery to repair a tear in his right lateral meniscus (right knee). The MetroStars Head Team Physician, Dr. Edward Decter, performed the surgery at the St. Barnabas Ambulatory Care Center. Da Silva is expected to need 3-5 weeks to recover.
Da Silva injured his knee during a team's practice two weeks ago.
Da Silva was signed by the MetroStars on May 13, 2005. Since joining the team, the 18-year-old defender has appeared in five games for the Metros registering a total of 62 minutes.
PLAYOFF PUSH: The MetroStars currently stand in 5th place in the east with just seven 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, seven points ahead of the Metros.
THE TIMES, THEY ARE A CHANGING: Last weekend marked the first time that Tony Meola played against his former club, the Wizards, in Kansas City. 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).
TIES: With the tie with Kansas City, the MetroStars became only the fifth team in MLS history to record 10 or more ties in a season. Coincidently, the other four clubs to finish in double-digits in ties, all did so in the 2004 season (Columbus (13), Colorado (11), San Jose (11) and Los Angeles (10)).
AGOOS RETURNS TO STARTING LINEUP; LISI, RAZOV APPEAR: MetroStars defender Jeff Agoos returned to the MetroStars lineup as a starter last Saturday. Agoos had been sidelined with a left calf strain, which he suffered against Columbus on August 14. Midfielder Mark Lisi returned as sub in the 75th minute after missing the past three games with a quad contusion.
Forward Ante Razov returned to the lineup in the 56th minute and scored the game-tying goal in the 88th minute. Razov, along with goalkeeper Mike Ueltschey, traveled to Germany on August 15 and underwent successful surgeries to repair sports hernias. Dr. Ulrike Muschaweck performed the surgeries.
UNBEATEN AT HOME IN LAST 10: After going winless in their first five home games of the season, the Metros have not lost at home in over three months (10 games, last loss vs. SJ on 5/7). The Metros are 5-0-5 during this stretch, beating Chicago, Columbus twice, L.A. and FC Dallas while tying D.C., New England, Chivas USA, Colorado, and Kansas City.
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 three more times (on Friday at 7:00 p.m. ET and on Saturday at 11:00 a.m.).
Metrostars launch all-access: The MetroStars launched MetroStars All-Access on Thursday, March 31 on MetroStars.com. The show, which will air every Wednesday, will bring fans inside the "Red and Black" and show them a side of the club that they cannot get anywhere else.
