2003 Playoffs - Metrostars v Revolution

2003.11.01 MetroStars v NE Revolution - MLS Eastern Semi-finals

The game was off to a controlled start and the first real scoring opportunity came in the 17th minute, when the Revolution converted their first shot of the game. Right back Jay Heaps advanced down the right side combining a give-and-go with Jose Cancela, Heaps continued his run unopposed until finally driving a shot into the box, which was redirected in mid-air by Fabbro past MetroStars keeper Jonny Walker...

The MetroStars had difficulty getting past the Revolution defense, which limited the Metros opportunities to long distance shooting, never threatening keeper Adin Brown...

in the 65th minute, the Revolution added another goal, Cancella sent a pass to Fabbro, inside the box, where he sent a heel pass back toward the top of the box. Pat Noonan ran onto the ball and turned on it, curling the ball low inside the right post for the 2-0 score.

Nov 9 at Gillette Stadium, Foxboro, Ma...the Revolution and Metros would play in a 1-1 draw, advancing the Revolution into the next round on aggregate score of 3-1...

The Revolution would lose to the Chicago Fire in the Conference finals, who would eventually lose to the San Jose Earthquakes for the MLS Championship...

Freekick - cover features Mike Magee and Ricardo Clark

The Future is Now

2003 Metrostars

2003 Freekick game program, the mini poster mentioned on the cover was a centerfold of the Home Depot Center.

Great thrill to open the program and find a photo of your son playing 3v3 soccer in the bubble before the game, especially when he beats the defender!
I like this Pepsi ad with the cartoon players, Clint Mathis (with mohawk), Carlos Ruiz, Landon Donovan, Demarcus Beasley and Cobi Jones...

2003 - MetroStars v LA Galaxy

2003.04.19 MetroStars v LA Galaxy, Giants Stadium

The LA Galaxy earned their 3rd consecutive 1-1 road draw of the early 2003 season.

The match was marred by 5-yellow cards in a hotly contested game from the opening whistle, as MetroStars defender Steve Jolley set the tone of the game by taking down Galaxy forward Carlos Ruiz in under 2-minutes into the game.

Overwhelming pressure by the Galaxy gave them the 1-0 lead in the 20th minute. The goal sparked the MetroStars offense as the team led by Amado Guevara mounted an offensive surge. In the 42nd minute Metro defender Joey DiGiamarino was upended by Ezra Hendrickson in the Galaxy penalty area, earning the MetroStars a penalty kick. Jaime Moreno calmly placed the ball hard and low past LA keeper Kevin Hartman for the left corner goal, knotting the game at 1-1.

This was Moreno's first goal with the MetroStars, after playing for DC United from 1996-2002. Moreno would play 11 games for the MetroStars scoring 2 goals before returning to the United.

Bob Bradley

Complimentary mini-poster (centerfold)

Art work was in the same style as the Pepsi ads int he magazine, features:

Josh Wolff, Syan Suarez, Pablo Mastroeni, Carlos Ruiz, Landon Donovan, Taylor Twellman, Clint Mathis, Kyle Martino, Demarcus Beasley and Bobby Convey.

2004 - Metrostars v LA Galaxy

2004.08.04 MetroStars v LA Galaxy, Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ

The MetroStars faced the LA Galaxy in a physical match that produced 3 yellow cards and 1 red. Amado Guevara scored first for the Metros on a penalty kick, his 5th in 5 attempts this season.

Eddie Gaven would increase the score on a brilliant sidefooted shot after he slipped past the defense to pick up a through ball from Mike Magee. 3 minutes later John Wolyniec would hit a volley in misair on a pass from Cornell Glenn.

The Metros maintained their hold on first place with the 3-0 victory...

2004 - MetroStars v SJ Earthquakes

2004.07.10 Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ

On goals by John Wolyniec and Amado Guevara, the MetroStars ended a 3-game losing streak, defating the San Jose earthquake 2-0.

Wolyniec's goal came  off a perfect through-ball from Craig Ziadi, for Wolyniec's 4th goal of the season.  Guevara scored on a penalty kick in the second half stoppage time...

Michael Bradley

MetroStars (MLS 2004-2005)

Heerenveen (Eredivisie 2006-2008)

Borussia (Bundesliga 2008-2011)

Aston Villa (Premier League 2011)

Chievo Verona (Serie A 2011)

United States National Team (2006- )

2010 FIFA World Cup

2004 - Metrostars v NE Revolution

2004.09.11 MetroStars v N E Revolution, Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ

The MetroStars earned their firs victory over the NE revolution in 11 matches. The Revs took a 2-0 lead within 15 minutes of the start of the game. The Metros scored in the 30th minute on a Mike Magee penalty kick, when Ricardo Clark was pulled down by Joe Franchino.

Just before the half ended Magee chipped the ball into the box, where Eddie Gaven blasted the ball into the net to tie the match.

In te 69th minute Cornell Glenn ran onto a John Wolyniec through ball beating an off-balanced Matt Reis, the Revolution keeper for the game winning goal...

2002 - Metrostars v KC Wizards

2002.05.25 Metrostars v KC Wizards..Lockdown, What it takes to be a forwards worst nightmare...When defending is an art, MLS' elite defenders explain how playing in the back involves a lot more than just being big and strong... Ted Chronopoulos, Pablo Mastroeni, Eddie Pope, Jeff Agoos...

Metrostars 1 - KC Wizards 1

KC opened the scoring in the 10th minute when midfielder Chris Klein muscled a low shot past Tim Howard at the left post. The play began with a long pass from defender Nick Garcia that found teammate Preki approximately 25 yards from from the goal on the right flank. Preki eluded Metrostars defender Jeff Moore before hitting the streaking Klein as he cut toward goal...

Working up the center of the field Mamadou Diallo scored in the 41st minute. Holding defender Garcia off with his back, Diallo spun to receive a feed from Tab Ramos. Diallo left-footed the ball past KC keeper Oshoniyi into the right corner of the net from 10 yards out...

2002 - MetroStars v Chicago Fire

Brian McBride -Columbus Crew

2002.04.20 Giants Stadium - MetroStars v Chicago Fire

Chicago rookie Kelly Gray one-timed a hard shot past Tim Howard in the 26th minute to give the Fire a 1-0 led, assisted by Chris Armas and Ante Razov...

Chicago midfielder Demarcus Beasley scored the insurance goal in the 80th minute, assisted by Dema Kovalenko, leading the Fire to a 2-0 victory...

For the MetorStars, Clint Mathis played in 100th career MLS game, while Tab Ra,os was ejected in the 34th minute and Steve Jolley saw his team-record consecutive minutes played streak end at 5,238 (58 games) due to a hamstring injury in the 9th minute...

2002 Metrostars v LA Galaxy

2002.06.15 Metrostars v LA Galaxy...Freekick game program featuring the MLS Strike Force - Demarcus Beasley, Josh Wolff, Brian McBride, Landon Donovan, Clint Mathis...5 American strikers with the same mission: to showcase the attacking abilities and flair of US soccer players.

Metrostars 5 - Galaxy 0

Mamadou Diallo left his mark on the Galaxy scoring 4 of the Metrostars 5 goals. Diallo struck in the 27th minute on an assist from Andy Williams and Brad Davis. Diallo scored again in the 36th minute unassisted. In the 58th minute Diallo scored his 3rd goal assisted by Ross Paule and Andy Williams. Brad Davis found the net in the 60th minute assisted by Tab Ramos and Andy Williams. In stoppage time Daillo took a penalty kick for his 4th goal of the game.

Tim Howard posted his first shutout of the season and his career 9th shutout.

2001 - Metrostars v NE Revolution

2001.09.07 Metrostars v NE Revolution...Freekick program featured Wolde Harris on the cover. Harris, a Jamaican International earned 28 caps with the Jamaican National Team. Playing at Clemson University, Wolde would break into the MLS in 1997 with the Colorado Rapid...

Taking the lead early, Rodrigo Faria scored after 5 minutes of play, heading in a Daniel Hernandez corner kick. The Revolution would tie the game on a shot from Jamaican international Andy Williams (would would join the Metrostars for the 2002 season).

Faria would sore his second goal in the 27th minute with a header off a Petter Villegas corner kick. The third goal for the Metrostars came in the first-half injury time, when Adolfo Valencia (Colombian International) headed in a Steve Jolley Corner kick...

2001 Metrostars v Chicago Fire

2001.09.01 Freekick MLS Program featuring Hristo Stoitchkov of the opposing Chicago Fire. The program featured stories on rising stars Eddie Johnson, Dallas Burn and Santino Quaranta, DC United...Life in a new land, about foreign born players coming to the MLS...Ray Hudson, head coach Miami Fusion...

The same program was used for 3 games, Sept 1 v Chicago Fire, Sept 7 v NE Revolution and Sept 12 v Miami Fusion...The cover would be changed for each issue to represent the opposing team...

1996 - Metrostars - Inaugural game

1996.04.20 Giants Stadium - Metrostars Inaugural Game...v NE Revolution.

Originally called the Empire Soccer Club, the team would switch to the MetroStars, which signed Tab Ramos, the first player to be signed to an MLS contract. Tony Meola and Italian player Roberto Donadoni from AC Milan would be added.

After losing their first game at Los Angeles 2-1, the Metrostars opening in Giants Stadium before a crowd of 46,826. the Metrostars' Nicola Caricola would score an own goal to give the NE Revolution the 1-0 victory with 13 seconds remaining in the game...

The MetroStars issued a free newspaper/program called Freekick that was distributed to all fans. Freekick featured Tony Meola on the cover, a Welcome to Major League Soccer from commissioner Douglas G. Logan and articles about the MLS, International Stars coming to the MLS, Individual team previews, Kellogg's association with the MLS, Tony Meola: Home At last, and Soccer Town, USA (Kearny, NJ)

In the Article: American Stars Coming Home by Brian Trusdell, Eric Wynalda is quoted "Two or three years from now, I think we should take our champion and play the best in Europe and I guarantee, we'll beat them."