Metros and Salt Lake play a surreal scoreless draw
April 2, 2005
Playing in a partial monsoon and a wind that controlled the game, the MetroStars opened their tenth season with a goalless draw against expansion club Real Salt Lake. Balls were skipping on the ground and dying in the air in unfinished parabolas in a bizarre game that was fit to end scoreless.
The Metros' first lineup of the year saw Zach Wells in goal; Jeff Agoos on the left of the defense, with Carlos Mendes and Jeff Parke in the middle and Chris Leitch on the right. Michael Bradley, Amado Guevara, and Mark Lisi started in the midfield with Eddie Gaven floating between them and the frontline of Sergio Galvan Rey and John Wolyniec. Agoos, Mendes, and Bradley made their Metro debut. Guevara wore the captain's armband.
It was Galvan Rey who had the best chance of the first half. With the wind playing all kinds of tricks with the ball, the much-maligned forward received a goal kick from Wells that Leitch had to hold down with his foot to keep the ball from moving. A one-on-one chance against the unsuspecting D.J Countess ended with Galvan Rey shooting at the keeper.
In the second half, Salt Lake got the wind in their back, but couldn't do anything. For some reason, they could not figure out that kicking the ball in this situation would make it go further, and couldn't adjust. They rarely threatened Wells, with our favorite ex-Metro Clint Mathis settling for long shots that went over the bar time and time again. When Real did try to penetrate the Metro defense, Mendes, in a terrific debut, and Parke had their say.
On the other hand, the Metros figured out how to play against the wind, but even so, could not do anything to help their cause. Their best chance came when Wolyniec met a Gaven cross, with Countess making a reaction save. Galvan Rey attempted to head the ball, but lost it in the wind. He was soon taken off for the recovering Mike Magee.
Wells earned his first professional shutout, and Gaven was terrific in making runs on both wings.
Lineup: Wells, Agoos, Mendes, Parke, Leitch, Bradley, Lisi, Guevara, Gaven, Galvan Rey, Wolyniec. Subs: Magee.
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