2:2 tie with Colorado ends Metro preseason
March 27, 2004 (Official Game Summary)
|
 |
de la Torre
Pegero
|
Nugent
Magee
|
|
|
|
|
The MetroStars played to a 2-2 draw with the Colorado Rapids in front of 4,204 fans tonight in their final preseaon match of the year at the Virgil T. Blossom Athletic Center, in San Antonio, Texas.
The Rapids got on the board first when Antonio de la Torre notched a goal in the 32nd minute. De la Torre controlled the ball 40-yards from the goal on the right flank, dribbled though the MetroStars defense, and ripped a shot that found the right side of the goal, to give the Rapids a 1-0 advantage.
Colorado built on their lead in the 48th minute, when Pedro Pegero turned a Metros miscue into a two-goal lead. The play started when John Spencer played a Rapids corner kick into the 18-yard box that Metros goalkeeper Zach Wells was unable to smother. Wells got a hand on the ball however, and it bounced to the top of the box, where Pegero settled it and blasted it into the goal, for a 2-0 lead.
The Metros started their comeback in the 58th minute, when Mike Nugent headed home a goal to cut the Rapids lead to 2-1. The play was set up when Mark Lisi played a ball from the left side across the box and over the Rapids defenders to Nugent, who easily headed the ball into the goal. Tonight's game marked the first of the preseason for Lisi, after having ankle surgery in the off-season.
The Metro got the equalizing goal in the 70th minute from Mike Magee. Lisi garnered his second assist of the night when he played a great ball from the right side of the 18-yard box to Magee. The 19-year old forward met the ball in the air, and headed it into the right side of the net. Like Lisi, tonight marked the first appearance of the preseason for Magee, who was sidelined by hernia surgery.
Despite the early deficit, the Metros took to the offensive early in the contest, when in the second minute Eddie Gaven took the ball deep into the 18-yard box, and played a cross to Nugent. Nugent settled the pass, and fired a shot that beat the Colorado goalkeeper Joe Cannon, but went just wide of the goal.
In the 26th minute the MetroStars got a great scoring opportunity when Amado Guevara sliced through the Rapids midfield, and played a great ball through the defense that found Nugent alone with Cannon. After one touch, Nugent fired a shot towards the upper-right corner that Cannon was able to snag just before it crossed the line.
|
