They have been down this road before and still succeeded. The difference this time around is the (3-3-1) MetroStars were prepared to fight the good fight without Clint Mathis, who will miss extended duty as a result of playing for the U.S. National Team.
When Mathis went down last year with an ACL tear only 10 games into the season, the MetroStars bonded together and still remained in the championship hunt. But management knew in the offseason it needed to add more depth up front to complement Mathis and budding star Rodrigo Faria. And that’s exactly what it did by snagging Diego Serna with the fourth pick of the 2002 allocation draft.
The former Miami Fusion star led the MLS in scoring over the past two seasons with 87 points (31 goals, 25 assists).
“I’m excited to be here. We have a good team and we are just starting to really play well,” Serna said.
When Serna arrived, his main concern was to fit in and play to the best of his abilities. He feels that he has underachieved so far (1 goal, 3 assists), but with his talent that could change quickly.
“It’s an emotional thing [being sent to another team]. There’s a transitional period,” explained Serna, who will be relied upon to create offense tonight when the MetroStars visit the defending MLS champion San Jose Earthquakes (4-2-1). “I know I can play a lot better. It’s still a feeling-out process.”
Is there a timetable for these kinds of things?
“It doesn’t happen in three or four games,” Serna said. “I need to find a comfort level. Once I do, I’ll be much better.”
And so will the MetroStars.
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The MetroStars sent midfielder Petter Villegas and defenseman Orlando Perez to the D.C. United in exchange for midfielder Mark Lisi and defenseman Craig Ziadie late Thursday night. Lisi and Ziadie will be activated for tonight’s game and both could see playing time.