[nas] Metros v China (R)

Mike Magee And Mike Nugent Lead Metros Over China, 2-1
Paul Grafer Makes Three Saves; Magee Records Goal and Assist

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ (Tuesday, September 9, 2003) - The MetroStars
defeated
the Chinese National Team 2-1 tonight at Giants Stadium in an
international
exhibition.  MetroStars 19-year-old forward Mike Magee tallied a goal and
an
assist to give the team an edge over the 2002 FIFA World Cup participant.

MetroStars forward Mike Nugent scored the game-winner in the 67th minute
on
an assist by Magee.  The Princeton product held off a China defender as
he
collected a pass from Magee in the box.  Nugent fired a shot on goal, and
China's goalkeeper Li Jian could only get his fingertips on it.  The ball
then bounced across the goal line before China defender Xiao Zhanbo could
clear it.  The goal put the Metros up 2-1, and is Nugent's second career
tally for the Metros.  He scored his first in a 4-0, Third-Round U.S.
Open
Cup win against the Mid Michigan Bucks on July 16.

The MetroStars found themselves up on the Asian nation, in the 30th
minute.
Honduran midfielder Amado Guevara lobbed a 40-yard long ball down the
center
of the field.  Magee slipped in behind the China defense, settled the
ball
with his chest, and flipped a shot over Jian.  The ball settled into the
back of the net to put the Metros up, 1-0.  

China scored an equalizer in the 56th minute, to tie the game 1-1.  China
World Cup midfielder Zhao Junzhe sent a through-ball to Zhang Shuo.  Shuo
muscled through two MetroStars defenders and took a low shot.  Grafer
deflected the shot with his left leg, but the force of the shot caromed
the
ball into the goal.

The MetroStars outshot China 14 to 11 in the team's first international
match since a 2-0 loss to Colombia in 1997.  The Metros found a way to
crack
the stingy China defense and create chances on Jian early in the match. 
In
the second minute, MetroStars midfielder Edgar Bartolomeu gathered a long
ball up the left wing from Guevara.  The Angolan winger sent in a cross
threading two China defenders and finding forward John Wolyniec.  The
Fordham product miss-hit a shot that Jian smothered.  

China answered with chances of their own.  In the 22nd minute, China
earned
a freekick deep along the left wing.  The ball was sent into the box and
headed out.  World Cup veteran Junzhe blasted a 20-yard shot and Grafer
made
a diving stop to punch it to safety.

The MetroStars return to MLS action on Saturday, September 13 against the
rival New England Revolution at 7:30 p.m. ET at Giants Stadium.  The game
will be broadcast live on MSG Network and will be simulcast in Spanish on
Fox Sports New York.  It will also be available live on WADO 1280 AM. 
The
last time the two teams squared off was a wild affair on July 12th. The
Metros down three goals 65 minutes into the contest at Gillette Stadium,
rallied in the final 35 to record an improbable draw with the Revolution.

MetroStars.com Man of the Match: Mike Magee (MetroStars)

MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER QUOTE SHEET 
SEPTEMBER 9, 2003 - METROSTARS 2, CHINA 1

MetroStars Coach Bob Bradley
On the game...
"It worked out well for us.  We had some players who needed a chance to
get
some minutes.  We were able to get some new combinations on the field and
experiment a little bit while still getting guys the minutes they
needed."

On the opportunity to play some of the more inexperienced players...
"It's an exhibition game but you want to play well, you want to see young
players show that they are improving.  You want to represent yourself the
right way and still win games.  I think we have a good perspective on
things.  There are still things that we want to accomplish on a night
like
this, I think we did."

On playing a different formation than usual...
"We've worked on flexibility in training and this game gave us an
opportunity to use it in a game situation., particularly three defenders
in
the back."

MetroStars Rookie Mike Magee
On getting minutes...
"I think Bob knows what I'm capable of.  I'm a 19 year-old rookie, my
main
priority is to work on things and get better.  It would be awesome if I
could play over the other forwards, but if I don't no big deal.  I've got
enough minutes, more than I expected."

On scoring...
"I'm always thinking about scoring goals from the moment I step on the
field.  It's my job as far as soccer playing goes."

MetroStars Forward Mike Nugent
On the experience received from this game...
"These exhibition games are a perfect opportunity for guys who don't get
to
play a lot.  We get a chance to have a good run and show what we can do. 
A
good team needs to be deep.  As a forward I'm always thinking about
scoring
goals.  If we were up three goals I'm still trying to score."

On scoring...
"I didn't think I hit it hard enough and I think he sort of stumbled on
the
turf.  I was just fortunate that he helped it get through.  I just have
to
keep working hard.  Getting towards the end of the season we will need
guys
to step up and score some goals.  As a player, I always want to be on the
field and not on the bench.  Its exciting for me to get out there."  

BOXSCORE
                1       2       F
China           0       1       1
MetroStars      1       1       2

Scoring Summary:
MetroStars: Mike Magee (Amado Guevara) 30'
China: Zhang Shuo (Zhao Junzhe) 56'
MetroStars: Mike Nugent (Mike Magee) 67'

Disciplinary Summary:
China: Wei Xin (yellow card) 33'
MetroStars: Jacob LeBlanc (yellow card) 39'
MetroStars: Juan Forchetti (yellow card) 69'
MetroStars: Eddie Gaven (yellow card) 77'

Lineups
China: GK-18-Li Jian; D-17-Xiao Zhanbo, 2-Li Ming (6-Lou Gang 85), 12-Wei
Xin; M-21-Xu Yunlong (19-Qi Hong 20) (4-Zhou Ting 46), 3-Yang Pu, 15-Zhao
Junzhe, 5-Liu Jindong, 26-Zheng Bin; F-9-Du Ping (25-Yang Lin 74),
20-Zhang
Shuo.

Substitutes not used: GK-1-Liu Yunfei, GK-22-Sun Shoubo, 16-Ji Mingyi,
11-Li
Xiaopeng, 13-Liu Xin, 23-Wang Anzhi, 24-Li Yi.

MetroStars: GK-30-Paul Grafer; D-3-Chris Leitch (14-Joe Addo 46), 6-Juan
Forchetti, 5-Steve Jolley (22-Kenny Arena 46); M-2-Ricardo Clark (19-Tim
Regan 46), 11-Jacob LeBlanc, 4-Edgar Bartolomeu, 20-Amado Guevara
(24-Eddie
Gaven 46); F-13-Clint Mathis (12-Jose Galvan 46), 15-John Wolyniec
(25-Mike
Nugent 46), 7-Mike Magee.

Substitutes not used: GK-1-Jonny Walker, 17-Joey DiGiamarino.

Statistics              China           MetroStars
Shots                   11              14
Saves                   9               3
Fouls                   15              20
Corner Kicks            2               5
Offsides                1               1

Referee: Terry Vaughn (USA)
Referee Assistants: Robert Fereday (USA), Craig Lowry (USA)
Fourth Official: Alex Prus (USA)

Weather: 66 F / 19 C, Partly Cloudy
Attendance: 7,611

www.metrostars.com

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