3:1 MetroStars New England Faria Llamosa(OG) Mathis Chacon 03.23.02 · League

The MetroStars opened the 2002 season with a blast, taking apart the visiting Revolution, 3:1 on goals by Rodrigo Faria and Clint Mathis, sandwiching an own goal by Carlos Llamosa.

The first half ended scoreless, although the Metros controlled the ball for a large percentage of it. New England could not create any chances; unfortunately, the Metros attack was also not as credible as one wanted. Only a bicycle kick by Faria that was deflected by Jurgen Sommer can be called a good chance of the half.

The Revs came on fire early in the second, and took the lead as Alex Pineda Chacon (who MLS 2-time Executive of the Year Nick Sakiewicz had called a "supplementary player") opened the scoring, capitalizing on a Metro mistake. However, just three minutes later, in the 53rd, Faria found himself one-on-one with Sommer after a perfect pass for Diego Serna, playing his first regular season game with the Metros. Faria then fought off Llamosa, then easily beat Sommer to tie the game.

In the 72nd minute, the Metros got their first lead of the season, as Llamosa played the fool again, deflecting the return leg of a Serna-to-Faria give-and-go right into his own net for an own goal. five minutes later, Mathis got his first (we hope of many) on the season to set the final score at 3:1.

Sam Forko, the 3rd round pick in this year's draft, started the game at right back, making his Metro debut together with Serna, Brian Kamler, and Winston Griffiths, who was a last-minute sub.

Lineup: Howard, Forko, Jolley, Petke, Kamler, Hernandez, Paule, Villegas, Mathis, Serna, Faria. Subs: Griffiths.