A WIN WOULD BE NICE Metros aim for 1st victory vs. Fire
Jeff Parke on Friday's game: It’s just a huge game for us to get those three points instead of getting a tie. We have to come out and get a win this weekend to get ourselves back into the hunt." Linda Cuttone/Sports Vue Images
By Michael Lewis
BigAppleSoccer.com Editor
It's too early in the MLS season to call any game a must win, but Friday's 8 p.m. home encounter with the Chicago Fire (1-1-1, four points) certainly comes close to one.
While last Saturday's comeback tie against Kansas City might feel good when you count Sergio Galvan Rey's two goals, the Metros (0-0-2 two) haven't taken full advantage of their opening two home games. They have only accrued two out of a possible six points.
For the record, the Metros are in last and sixth place in the Eastern Conference, trailing the first-place Columbus Crew (2-1-0, six points) while the remaining four teams -- Chicago, D.C. United, Kansas City Wizards and New England Revolution -- are bunched up with four points apiece. But it's so early in the season that three-point wins can work wonders moving up and down the table.
So, is how much is this a must-win situation?
"Definitely it is for me," defender Jeff Parke said on Wednesday. "The last game we came back from a two-goal deficit and we got the draw. But we all felt we should have won that game.
“This game is against one of our rivals. We’ve had bad luck with them in the past years. It’s just a huge game for us to get those three points instead of getting a tie. We have to come out and get a win this weekend to get ourselves back into the hunt of things.”
Once the Metros' nemesis, the Fire has been rebuilt over the past several months. Chicago has lost strikers Damani Ralph and Ante Razov, who drove the Metros crazy.
Ralph scored seven goals and added two assists in nine games before he departed for F.C. Rubin Kazan (Russia). Razov collected 11 goals and four assists in 16 matches before his trade to the Crew.
"It's great, because those two forwards are respected and are very good players," Parke said. "But you still have to deal with the force that they have. (Nate) Jaqua, who gets up in awhile and another one who is a bit quick. They both make good runs, so you have to deal with them. Plus, they have some big players and deal with their set pieces."
In the place place or Ralph and Razov are the 6-3 Jaqua, Andy Herron (doubtful, left ankle sprain) and Chris Rolfe (questionable, left groin strain).
"It's tough because they work well off of Jaqua," Parkes said. "He gets up and wins a lot of the air services and then we've got to be in behind them. Now, you're running back to your goal and they're putting on the pressure. We've just got to just keep an eye on them and to know where their other forwards are playing."
The Metros are coming off a season in which they allowed a league-high 47 goals (while scoring an MLS-best 47 as well).
Asked how much that hurt his pride, Parke replied: "I think It hurts a lot. Once you hear that and if anyone heart that, you're just mad, because 'They must have a bad back four.' We had solid players there last year. Sometimes we were unlucky.
"We've got to be stronger and more demanding on each other. You don't want to look at the guy next to you and say, 'Yeah, sorry, man.' Just keep working harder with each other. Everybody says, 'Hey, they scored the most, but they gave up the most. You put it kind of put it on your back, on your shoulders and you try to throw it away and try to forget last year's performances and you don't keep them with you. You look forward instead of back."
The Metros revamped their defense in the pre-season. They traded team captain and central defender Eddie Pope to Real Salt Lake and obtained 36-year-old veteran Jeff Agoos for the left fullback spot and Carlos Mendes for central defense. Chris Leitch moved from left to right fullback, taking over for the departed Craig Ziadie. Parke is the only player who retained his position.
"We're still trying to get adjusted to each other, how each other plays," Parke said. "It's tough because none of us have played together, except for me and Leechie. And we still need our work and our timing and knowing where each other is.
"We try to build upon each day and get to know each other better."
Michael Lewis can be reached at SoccerWriter516@aol.com. He will only answer e-mails and letters that have names.
