Metros beat U.S. U-17s in preseason

ATLANTA (SI.com) -- The MetroStars defeated the United States under-17 national team 4-0 in a scrimmage Wednesday at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.

Newly acquired MetroStars forward Jaime Moreno notched the first goal in the rout, while three preseason invitees scored a goal apiece.

The Chicago Fire U-17 team 2-0 on Wednesday to give coach Dave Sarachan his first preseason win in three tries with his new team. The Fire got goals from 2003 second-round pick Damani Ralph and Craig Capano. A week earlier, the U-17s had defeated the Fire 2-1 with two goals from phenom Freddy Adu, who recently received his U.S. citizenship.

On Thursday, MetroStars trialist Daniel Garnero dashed up the right Wing in the 28th minute and sent a through ball to an on onrushing Moreno. The Bolivian international gathered the pass in stride as he split two defenders and blasted a shot into the net to put the Metros up 1-0.

South African international Dillon Sheppard doubled the Metros' lead just two minutes later. MetroStars forward Clint Mathis laid off a pass to Sheppard, and the invitee unleashed an 18-yard left-footed shot into the top right corner of the net past the diving goalkeeper.

In the 44th minute, Mathis was fouled just outside the U.S. box drawing a foul. Spanish midfielder Mario Rosas stepped up and curled the direct kick around the four-man wall and into the lower left corner.

Forward Gabriel Valencia and midfielder Mark Lisi teamed up to score the last goal in the 60th minute. The duo performed a give-and-go in the box and Valencia finished the sequence by placing a shot past the helpless goalkeeper to increase the Metros lead to 4-0.

MetroStars second-round pick Eddie Gaven played the first half for the U-17s in the scrimmage.

MetroStars First Half Lineup: GK - Tim Howard; D - Steve Jolley, Eddie Pope, Tim Regan, Craig Ziadie; M - Kenny Arena, Dillon Sheppard, Daniel Garnero, Mario Rosas; F - Clint Mathis, Jaime Moreno.

MetroStars Second Half Lineup: GK - Scott Vallow; D - Torres Mestre, Joaquin Alvarez, Marco Velez, Jeff Moore; M - Mark Lisi, Chris Sanje, Tim Glowienka, Troy Cowell; F - Gabriel Valencia, Jacob LeBlanc.

Scoring Summary:

MetroStars - Jaime Moreno (Daniel Garnero) 28'
MetroStars - Dillon Sheppard (Clint Mathis) 30'
MetroStars - Mario Rosas (Unassisted) 44'
MetroStars - Gabriel Valencia (Mark Lisi) 60'

2003 MetroStars Preseason Positional Roster:

Goalkeepers - Paul Grafer, Tim Howard, Scott Vallow;
Defenders - Joaquin Alvarez, Tim Glowienka, Steve Jolley, Torres Mestre, Eddie Pope, Tim Regan, Marco Velez, Craig Ziadie;
Midfielders - Kenny Arena, Troy Cowell, Carson Fagan, Daniel Garnero, Jacob LeBlanc, Mark Lisi, Mario Rosas, Jeff Moore, Chris Sanje, Dillon Sheppard;
Forwards - Clint Mathis, Jaime Moreno, Gabriel Valencia.

 

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