Commerce City – Former Rapids midfielder Clint Mathis had a successful homecoming in the Meadowlands on Sunday with a goal and an assist in the New York Red Bulls’ 3-0 victory over FC Dallas.
Colorado traded Mathis to New York for two draft picks a week before the season opener. Mathis played for New York’s MetroStars from 2000-03 and was a crowd favorite until his final season, when he went scoreless the last 10 games, got booed routinely and confronted a heckler.
He played for Real Salt Lake in 2005 and the Rapids last season.
It’s no wonder he had a good game against Dallas. In 30 games against the Hoops, he has 19 goals and seven assists.
Two players left the field with hypothermia during the game, which was played in a driving rainstorm.
Tough start for Dallas
Dallas hosts Colorado for its home opener Sunday after three road games. Worse, the Hoops had to play two games in four days on both coasts, beating the Los Angeles Galaxy 2-1 on April 12 before losing at New York on Sunday. Dallas (1-1-1) opened the season with a 2-2 tie against Real Salt Lake.
The Rapids beat Dallas in the first round of the playoffs each of the past two years, both times in Dallas on penalty kicks.
“We know it’s going to be huge,” Rapids midfielder Kyle Beckerman said. “We know the fans hate us. It should be an intense game.”
D.C. United struggling
D.C. United was supposed to be one of the league’s strongest teams this year, but so far it hasn’t shown on the field.
United is 0-2 after losing 2-1 to the Rapids in Commerce City and 4-2 at home against Kansas City. Against the Wizards, D.C. gave up two goals in the first eight minutes – the quickest pair of goals in Kansas City history.
First-year coach Tom Soehn says his team has spent too much time reading how good it’s supposed to be.
Argentine import for K.C.
The Wizards have signed Carlos Marinelli, a midfielder-forward who was labeled the next Maradona when he was a teenager.
The left-footed Marinelli, 25, began his career at Boca Juniors. He has played for Middlesborough in England and Torino in Italy.
