Preseason continues as Metros tie Fire
March 13, 2004 (Official Game Summary)
The MetroStars played to a 1-1 draw with the Chicago Fire today on the campus of Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida.
The Metros first scoring chance of the contest came in the 21st minute. Ricardo Clark played a great ball that found Eddie Gaven in the corner. Gaven controlled the ball and crossed it to Amado Guevara who immediately fired a shot that just missed wide of the Chicago goal.
The Metro had another great chance in the closing minutes of the first half, when Guevara sent a ball over the top of the Fire defense that found the feet of Mike Nugent on the left side of the 18-yard box. Nugent settled the ball and blasted a shot that forced Chicago goalkeeper Henry Ring to make an acrobatic save.
Zach Wells came up with a big save for the Metros in the 53rd minute. Fire forward Nate Jaqua dribbled through the Metros defense and rifled a shot from the top of the 18-yard box to the upper right corner of the net. Wells reacted quickly, and jumped to snag the ball just before it crossed the goal line.
Chicago got on the board first when Dipsy Selolane headed home a cross from Justin Mapp in the 57th minute. Mapp's cross found Selolwane inside the six-yard box, and the striker was easily able to head it into the goal.
The MetroStars evened the score in the 69th minute when Gaven played a great ball through the Fire defense that hit Nugent in stride. Nugent dribble towards the goal, and played a cross that was destined to find a wide-open Freddy Guiran. Before it could reach him however, Fire midfielder Evan Whitfield slid across the goal line in an effort to clear the ball, but instead he deflected it into the net knotting the score at 1-1.
The Metros defense was anchored by Jeff Parke who continuously shut down the Fire offense. Parke, the 60th overall selection in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft, also made significant contributions to the Metro attack as he often pushed the ball forward up the flanks.
The game was the first match for the Metros since returning to Florida for the third leg of their preseason training. As of now the Metros do not have any other matches scheduled for this trip.
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