GALAXY PREVIEW: METROSTARS NOT IN MOOD TO FEUD.PASADENA - If the Galaxy's first-round MLS See multilevel security. playoff series against New York/New Jersey had been played a couple of weeks ago, there would be plenty of storylines worth discussing. Last week, Galaxy players suggested that MetroStars coach Octavio Zambrano Octavio Zambrano (born February 3, 1958 in Guayaquil, Ecuador) is a soccer coach, one of the all-time winningest coaches in Major League Soccer history. Zambrano moved to the United States from his native Ecuador in 1980 to attend Chapman University and later played in the and Galaxy coach Sigi Schmid Siegfried "Sigi" Schmid (born March 20 1953 in Tübingen, West Germany) is a soccer coach who currently heads the Columbus Crew. Schmid moved from Germany to Torrance, California in 1962. He received a B.S. in economics from UCLA in 1976, and an M. are not that fond of each other, even though the coaches claim mutual respect for one another. Moreover, six MetroStars players - including all-stars Daniel Hernandez Daniel Demetrio Hernandez (born July 23, 1976 in Tyler, Texas) is an Mexican-American soccer defender. Hernandez played college soccer at Southern Methodist University from 1994 to 1997, where he was a First Team All-American as an attacking midfielder. and Steve Jolley
But as far as Zambrano is concerned, none of that matters. Zambrano's MetroStars not only face the daunting daunt tr.v. daunt·ed, daunt·ing, daunts To abate the courage of; discourage. See Synonyms at dismay. [Middle English daunten, from Old French danter, from Latin task of upsetting the Galaxy in the first round, they will have to do it without two key players: Clint Mathis Clint Mathis (born November 25, 1976 in Conyers, Georgia) is a soccer forward/midfielder who currently plays for the New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer after making his name with the MetroStars. and Tab Ramos Tabare (Tab) Ramos (born September 21, 1966 in Montevideo, Uruguay) is a retired U.S. soccer midfielder, considered one of the most skillful players to ever wear the US jersey. , who are out with season-ending injuries. Add to that the terrorist attacks in the MetroStars' hometown and it's understandable why revenge is the last thing on Zambrano's mind heading into today's 6 p.m. game at the Rose Bowl. ``I hate to disappoint anyone who thinks there is that old motivation there again, but our motivation is much bigger than that now,'' Zambrano said. ``Our motivation comes from the fact that some awful things have happened to our city. ``Our motivation has nothing to do with selfish things or personal agendas. We have an opportunity to give a great effort and make some people happy back home. We want to give the people of New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of something to cheer for, because they're in desperate need of that.'' These two clubs split during a two-game series during the regular season, each winning at home. However, injuries to the MetroStars leave Zambrano feeling his team is a big underdog in this series. ``Clint Mathis has been injured for a few months now, and he's still our team's leading scorer, so that kind of tells you how much this team has struggled offensively,'' Zambrano said. ``We're in a position where we're really going to have to dig deep to come out with a positive result. But don't count us out by any means; this team has shown incredible resolve this season.'' So, too, has the Galaxy. After winning the Champions' Cup in January and advancing to the final of the U.S. Open Cup in October, the Galaxy is in position to win three championships this season. Not even the recent absence of Luis Hernandez, who skipped a practice last week without notifying team officials, has dented the Galaxy's determination. ``We have played with and without Luis and been successful. Our drive is bigger than one player,'' Galaxy defender Paul Caligiuri said. ``We feel very confident we can match up all around the field with these guys. If we play to our standards, we anticipate coming out as winners.'' Galaxy defender Greg Vanney said any personal motivation on New York's part won't bother L.A. ``This is the first round. Nobody wants to go out in the first round, regardless of your opponent,'' Vanney said. ``I'm sure there is motivation for guys like Jolley and Hernandez who didn't feel they got a fair shake here. But our motivation is the pride within our organization. There have been two MLS championship games we have lost and we desperately want to change that.'' GALAXY vs. NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY Time: 6 p.m., at the Rose Bowl TV/Radio: No TV; 1190-AM, 1020-AM (Spanish) Playoff format: First round, best-of-three series. First team to accumulate five points wins series based on three points for a win Three points for a win is a standard used in many sports leagues and group tournaments, especially in football (soccer), in which three (rather than two) points are awarded to the team winning a match, with no points to the losing team. and one point for a tie. If the series is tied on points at the end of the three-game series, an additional 20-minute sudden-death mini-game will follow to determine the winner. The teams split the season series, each winning 2-0 at home. Matchup: Galaxy striker Luis Hernandez missed Tuesday's practice without notifying team officials but is expected to play if his hip-flexor injury is not hampering him. The Galaxy (14-7-5) finished with the second-highest scoring offense with 52 goals. New York/NJ (13-10-3) has struggled offensively since losing Clint Mathis, boasting a paltry 38 goals this season. The MetroStars backline backline the upper outline of the body's silhouette viewed from the side. , led by goalkeeper Tim Howard and former Galaxy players Daniel Hernandez and Steve Jolley, will limit the Galaxy's scoring chances. Both clubs will wear Statue of Liberty Statue of Liberty great symbolic structure in New York harbor. [Am. Hist.: Jameson, 284] See : America Statue of Liberty perhaps the most famous monument to independence. [Am. Hist.: Jameson, 284] See : Freedom patches and black armbands to observe the victims and heroes in the recent terrorist attacks. Fans should get to the stadium at least an hour before kickoff. - Fred J. Robledo CAPTION(S): box Box: GALAXY vs. NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY (see text) |
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