Ghosts of Metro past circle in 0:0 tie with Revs
April 8, 2006
On the night when the ghosts of Metro past came from the shadows to grace Giants Stadium, one couldn't help but remember a game ten years ago, an eerily similar home opener in front of a large crowd; a new team trying to bring winning soccer back to the Meadowlands, playing the New England Revolution; and a 0:0 match until the last seconds until Nicola Caricola -- the ghost who wasn't there tonight in body, but perhaps in spirit -- scored into his own net. Tonight, there was no such dramatic horror, as 0:0 was how the game ended. Entertaining indeed.
Metro came out with exactly the same starting lineup as last week, with the only difference being Chris Henderson and Seth Stammler swapping wings, the latter going to the left side. The former had Metro's two best chances of the match -- an open net to shoot at in the first half, which he missed just wide low, and an one-on-one with Matt Reis in the second from a tough angle, which resulted in a save. Metro's only other chances came on free kicks directly in front of the Rev net throughout the second stanza, but neither Youri Djorkaeff nor Amado Guevara, who had a horrible match, could do anything with them. Edson Buddle, who fed Henderson on his opportunities, hit the post himself, but there was not much else.
On the other end, the play of Jeff Parke must be commended. He played a terrific game, winning every ball and every physical battle; we haven't seen an effort like that from him since 2004. Tony Meola did have to make a number of big saves to preserve the shutout... but what else is new.
So after two games, this team stands exactly where last year's was -- 0:0 and 2:2 ties. Well, at least that's better than 1996... Ghost of Caricola be damned.
Lineup: Meola, Mendes, Graham, Parke, Wynne, O'Rourke, Henderson, Stammler, Guevara, Djorkaeff, Buddle. Subs: Canero.
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