In the first game of their Italian tour, the MetroStars fell 3-1 to Serie C power Arezzo at Comunale Stadium in Arezzo.
Arezzo lead 3-0 at the half after scoring on three set-pieces (two free kicks and a penalty when Ezra Hendrickson was whistled for a handball in the box). Recent draft pick Brandon Cloutier pulled one back for New York/New Jersey in the 65th minute, when he took a pass from Miles Joseph and drilled a 16-yard shot into the net.
“I don’t think the score in the first half is a real indication of how we played,” said MetroStars coach Carlos Alberto Parreira. “Yes, we were a little bit nervous, but we were also unlucky to get behind three goals. Overall, I am satisfied with the way we played and though we showed great iimprovement in the second half.”
The Metros next face Genoa of the Serie B on Feb. 20.
MetroStars lineup — Meola, Harty (Lamphear, 75), Zaun (Zavagnin, 25; Zaun left with a minor ribcage injury), Stewart (Da Silva, 46), Hendrickson, Donadoni, Sorber, Cloutier, Kelly (Wood, 46), Joseph, Savarese.
D.C. edges Tampa
D.C United edged the Tampa Bay Mutiny 1-0 in a scrimmage played before 2,000 fans Feb. 13 in St. Petersburg.
Brian Kamler scored the game’s only goal in the 30th minute, when he took the ball up the left side and chipped Mark Dougherty, who had come out to cover the near post.
Regulars Eddie Pope, Jeff Agoos, Richie Williams and Steve Rammel saw time for United, while Cle Kooiman, Frank Yallop, Frankie Hejduk, Steve Ralston, Ivan McKinley, and Evans Wise were in the Mutiny lineup.