MetroStars Drop Boca Juniors

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (Wednesday, March 19, 2003) - The MetroStars defeated Argentina’s Boca Juniors 1-0 today at legendary La Bombonera in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Defender Eddie Pope scored the lone goal of the game and Tim Howard shut the door on Boca making a penalty kick save.

“We played a very solid game,” said MetroStars Head Coach Bob Bradley. “We used this opportunity to push some of our key players for 90 minutes. We were happy to be invited by Boca Juniors to play this game at this prestigious stadium.”

In the 68th minute, the MetroStars struck. South Carolina product Tim Glowienka fired a shot that bounced off a Boca Juniors’ defender. Pope pounced on the rebound and blasted a shot past Boca Juniors goalkeeper Christian Munoz to put the Metros up, 1-0. The goal marked Pope’s second of the preseason.

Howard thwarted Boca Juniors best scoring attempt as he stopped Franco Cangeles’ penalty kick in the 83rd minute. The Argentine club earned the spot kick after forward Robert Waltner was taken down in the box.

The game marks the first ever between the clubs at the famous stadium and is the second time the teams have played in the past year. In the previous meeting, the MetroStars defeated Boca Juniors, 3-2, on June 19, 2002, at Giants Stadium.

MetroStars Lineup: GK - Tim Howard; D - Steve Jolley, Eddie Pope, Juan Fontana (Joe Addo 46’); M - Tim Regan, Ricardo Clark, Tim Glowienka, Richie Williams, Michael Doyle; F - Jaime Moreno (Johnny Etcheverry 73’), Mike Magee (Jacob LeBlanc 46’).

Boca Juniors Lineup: GK - Christian Munoz; D - Pedro Mendez, Juan Forchetti, Joel Barbosa, Pablo Alvarez; M - Leonardo Veron, Gabriel Christovao, Diego Cepeda, Jose Galvan; F - Hector Bracamonte (Franco Cangeles 46’), Robert Waltner.

Scoring Summary
MetroStars - Eddie Pope (Tim Glowienka) 68’

MetroStars Roster in Argentina as of March 19:
Goalkeepers - Paul Grafer, Tim Howard, David Comfort
Defenders - Joe Addo, Tim Glowienka, Steve Jolley, Chris Leitch, Eddie Pope, Tim Regan, Craig Ziadie, Juan Fontana
Midfielders - Kenny Arena, Jacob LeBlanc, Jeff Matteo, Jeff Moore, Richie Williams, Ricardo Clark, Johnny Etcheverry, Michael Doyle
Forwards - Jaime Moreno, Mike Magee