1996 New York/New Jersey MetroStars season

March 2026 August 2023 New York/New Jersey MetroStars MetroStars wordmark 1996.png 1996 ITA Eddie Firmani (until May 24)POR Carlos Queiroz (after May 28) USA John Kluge USA Stuart Subotnick MLS Conference: 3rdOverall: 7th MLS Cup Playoffs Conference Semifinals Giovanni Savarese (14) Giovanni Savarese (14) _METROSTARS_96h _METROSTARS_96h _METROSTARS_96h _METROSTARS_96h _whitetopline 000000 FFFFFF 000000 000000 000000 _METROSTARS_96a _METROSTARS_96a _METROSTARS_96a _METROSTARS_96a _nikehoopsmls FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF 000000 true 1997 The 1996 season was the first season in New York/New Jersey MetroStars's existence, in the first season of American Major League Soccer. They played their home games at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The team played 38 matches in the season including 35 Major League Soccer games and 3 friendlies. Eddie Firmani coached the team for their first eight games before being replaced by Carlos Queiroz.Queiroz takes over the MetroStars The team is now known as the New York Red Bulls; the entire organization is known as Red Bull New York. Players These totals come from 32 league matches and 3 playoff played in 1996. Only displaying players who capped 5 games or more. Player Position GP (GS) Minutes Goals AssistsUSA Rhett HartyDefender34 (34)284511USA Peter VermesMidfielder33 (33)297011USA Tony MeolaGoalkeeper32 (32)288000VEN 1930 Giovanni SavareseStriker29 (16)1702141USA Tab RamosMidfielder28 (28)2428310ITA Nicola CaricolaDefender28 (28)235720USA Miles JosephMidfielder27 (26)219745USA Jeff ZaunDefender24 (22)179500USA Matt KnowlesMidfielder24 (17)176700USA A.J. WoodStriker23 (15)123252ARG Cristian da SilvaMidfielder22 (13)126800USA Rob JohnsonStriker21 (12)123643ITA Roberto DonadoniMidfielder20 (20)1800310USA Damian SilveraMidfielder17 (9)95301USA Chris UngerMidfielder16 (12)102911USA Ted GillenDefender16 (10)85200COL Antony de ÁvilaStriker11 (10)92083USA Mickey KydesMidfielder11 (7)55600MEX Edmundo RodriguezStriker11 (5)47301COL Rubén Darío HernándezStriker10 (9)83603IRE Kieron O'BrienMidfielder8 (4)31111USA Manny LagosMidfielder6 (6)48302USA Andrew RestrepoDefender5 (4)34300USA Chris BrauchleMidfielder5 (3)32300 Source:Statistics Results Regular season 1 1996 04 13 Los Angeles Galaxy 2–1 https://fbref.com/en/matches/277a5474/LA-Galaxy-NYNJ-MetroStars-April-13-1996-Major-League-Soccer MetroStars Jones 37 Armas 38 Noamouz 56 Kydes 14 Silvera 75 Savarese 77 Rose Bowl Pasadena, California 69,255 Brian Hall L 2 1996 04 20 MetroStars 0–1 https://fbref.com/en/matches/4da033b4/NYNJ-MetroStars-New-England-Revolution-April-20-1996-Major-League-Soccer New England Revolution Harty 48 Vermes 58 Burns 79 Caricola 87 o.g. Giants Stadium East Rutherford, New Jersey 46,826 Raul Dominguez L 3 1996 04 27 MetroStars 0–2 https://fbref.com/en/matches/0c9a5dae/NYNJ-MetroStars-Columbus-Crew-April-27-1996-Major-League-Soccer Columbus Crew Knowles 33 Zaun 44 Vermes 58 Bliss 13, 15 Thompson 87 Giants Stadium East Rutherford, New Jersey 26,416 Zimmerman Boulos L 4 1996 05 04 MetroStars 3–3 https://fbref.com/en/matches/8c4da505/NYNJ-MetroStars-Tampa-Bay-Mutiny-May-4-1996-Major-League-Soccer Tampa Bay Mutiny Kydes 46 Kooiman 72 o.g. Savarese 73 75 Viera 51 58 Valderrama 53 pen. Lassiter 83 2–1 Vermes Hernández Savarese Ramos Vásquez Pittman Valderrama Lassiter McKinley Giants Stadium East Rutherford, New Jersey 38,621 Esse Baharmast SW 5 1996 05 12 D.C. United 1–1 https://fbref.com/en/matches/3bfdec00/DC-United-NYNJ-MetroStars-May-12-1996-Major-League-Soccer MetroStars Harkes 11 Huwiler 24 Peay 36 Restrepo 21 Ramos 2 36 77 Knowles 52 Savarese 64 1–2 Agoos Medved Crawley Díaz Arce Harkes Savarese Vermes Caricola Hernandez Donadoni RFK Stadium Washington, D.C. 14,722 Kevin Stott SW 6 1996 05 16 MetroStars 3–0 https://fbref.com/en/matches/29b83fad/NYNJ-MetroStars-Colorado-Rapids-May-16-1996-Major-League-Soccer Colorado Rapids Savarese 11 30 75 Joseph 41 Harty 62 Butterworth 16 Harbor 17 Giants Stadium East Rutherford, New Jersey 14,121 Raul Dominguez W 7 1996 05 19 New England Revolution 2–0 https://fbref.com/en/matches/207954fc/New-England-Revolution-NYNJ-MetroStars-May-19-1996-Major-League-Soccer MetroStars Ukrop 4 Naveda 9 Paul Keegan 18, 86 Wélton 26 Aunger 36 Caricola 46 Harty 88 Foxboro Stadium Foxborough, Massachusetts 20,131 Arturo Angeles L 8 1996 05 22 Kansas City Wiz 2–1 https://fbref.com/en/matches/595611f8/Kansas-City-Wiz-NYNJ-MetroStars-May-22-1996-Major-League-Soccer MetroStars Prampin 82 Preki 87 Caricola 21 Savarese 26 da Silva 43 Ramos 56 Vermes 70 Arrowhead Stadium Kansas City, Missouri 8,916 Ali Saheli L 9 1996 05 30 MetroStars 1–2 https://fbref.com/en/matches/eae54fcf/NYNJ-MetroStars-DC-United-May-30-1996-Major-League-Soccer D.C. United Kydes 26 Wood 27 Knowles 45 Rammel 19 Gori 23 Sanneh 32 Williams 38 Giants Stadium East Rutherford, New Jersey 25,322 Zimmerman Boulos L 10 1996 06 02 Dallas Burn 0–1 https://fbref.com/en/matches/ae218c88/Dallas-Burn-NYNJ-MetroStars-June-2-1996-Major-League-Soccer MetroStars Rodriguez 2 66 67 Vermes 60 Wood 62 Cotton Bowl Dallas, Texas 10,610 Kevin Terry W 11 1996 06 09 MetroStars 0–4 https://fbref.com/en/matches/ec5578bd/NYNJ-MetroStars-LA-Galaxy-June-9-1996-Major-League-Soccer Los Angeles Galaxy Caricola 0 65 Knowles 80 Hurtado 14 26 81 p Razov 86 Giants Stadium East Rutherford, New Jersey 53,250 Kevin Terry L 12 1996 06 16 MetroStars 0–1 https://fbref.com/en/matches/27d5085b/NYNJ-MetroStars-San-Jose-Clash-June-16-1996-Major-League-Soccer San Jose Clash Baba 4 Vermes 26 Baicher 14 Iroha 58 Giants Stadium East Rutherford, New Jersey 18,404 Kevin Stott L 13 1996 06 19 MetroStars 0–0 https://fbref.com/en/matches/b46f5730/NYNJ-MetroStars-Dallas-Burn-June-19-1996-Major-League-Soccer Dallas Burn Álvarez 33 Lozzano 50 2–0 Knowles Lagos Joseph Haynes Lozzano Santel Soñora Giants Stadium East Rutherford, New Jersey 14,322 Esse Baharmast SW 14 1996 06 26 MetroStars 2–0 https://fbref.com/en/matches/42c2421b/NYNJ-MetroStars-Kansas-City-Wiz-June-26-1996-Major-League-Soccer Kansas City Wiz Savarese 50 Ramos 52 Gutiérrez 30 Giants Stadium East Rutherford, New Jersey 16,103 Ruben Rodhas W 15 1996 06 30 Columbus Crew 0–4 https://fbref.com/en/matches/8d5f7bba/Columbus-Crew-NYNJ-MetroStars-June-30-1996-Major-League-Soccer MetroStars Cozier 70 Caricola 23 Ramos 27, 79 Vermes 29 Harty 41 Savarese 76 Unger 90 Ohio Stadium Columbus, Ohio 17,261 Rich Grady W 16 1996 07 04 Colorado Rapids 2–1 https://fbref.com/en/matches/e78a0f34/Colorado-Rapids-NYNJ-MetroStars-July-4-1996-Major-League-Soccer MetroStars Kinnear 61 Caricola 68 o.g. Trittschuh 83 Ramos 58 Mile High Stadium Denver, Colorado 20,117 Esse Baharmast L 17 1996 07 10 MetroStars 3–2 https://fbref.com/en/matches/e14e51a4/NYNJ-MetroStars-Dallas-Burn-July-10-1996-Major-League-Soccer Dallas Burn Harty 32 Caricola 35 Savarese 48 77 Johnson 49 Ramos 53 Meola 63 Álvarez 32, 63 pen. Kreis 65 Sánchez 66, 90 Giants Stadium East Rutherford, New Jersey 17,416 Ruben Rodhas W 18 1996 07 21 Los Angeles Galaxy 3–0 https://fbref.com/en/matches/07e5aa7f/LA-Galaxy-NYNJ-MetroStars-July-21-1996-Major-League-Soccer MetroStars Vanney 22 Motajo 24 Hurtado 33 Cienfuegos 58, 71 Karapetyan 65 Ramos 7 Caricola 51 Rose Bowl Pasadena, California 17,137 Tim Weyland L 19 1996 07 24 San Jose Clash 0–1 https://fbref.com/en/matches/7feeef70/San-Jose-Clash-NYNJ-MetroStars-July-24-1996-Major-League-Soccer MetroStars Rodas 29 Zaun 12 Johnson 29 Spartan Stadium San Jose, California 15,096 Kevin Stott W 20 1996 07 28 MetroStars 4–1 https://fbref.com/en/matches/aa315b35/NYNJ-MetroStars-San-Jose-Clash-July-28-1996-Major-League-Soccer San Jose Clash Savarese 31 Johnson 36 Caricola 38 Vermes 51 Wood 80 Harty 88 Emenalo 9 Wynalda 39 pen. Doyle 0 42 Lewis 0 81 Giants Stadium East Rutherford, New Jersey 21,212 Rich Grady W 21 1996 08 03 New England Revolution 1–1 https://fbref.com/en/matches/95197a1d/New-England-Revolution-NYNJ-MetroStars-August-3-1996-Major-League-Soccer MetroStars Moore 42 Naveda 64 Wylie 79 Ramos 38 Zaun 39 Donadoni 52, 54 Johnson 60 Joseph 72 3–2 Moore Aunger Naveda Sawatzky Joseph Knowles Donadoni Wood Vermes Foxboro Stadium Foxborough, Massachusetts 20,162 Arturo Angeles L 22 1996 08 11 Colorado Rapids 0–2 https://fbref.com/en/matches/d3ccd5a6/Colorado-Rapids-NYNJ-MetroStars-August-11-1996-Major-League-Soccer MetroStars Bartlett 88 Donadoni 14 Zaun 15 Joseph 34 Mile High Stadium Denver, Colorado 8,880 Esse Baharmast W 23 1996 08 14 MetroStars 4–0 https://fbref.com/en/matches/8339a4c4/NYNJ-MetroStars-New-England-Revolution-August-14-1996-Major-League-Soccer New England Revolution Wood 12 Johnson 17 73 Ramos 55 de Ávila 81 Lips 38 Naveda 55 Giants Stadium East Rutherford, New Jersey 20,711 Joshua Patlak W 24 1996 08 17 Tampa Bay Mutiny 3–1 https://fbref.com/en/matches/1531ded7/Tampa-Bay-Mutiny-NYNJ-MetroStars-August-17-1996-Major-League-Soccer MetroStars Lassiter 13 36 Kooiman 24 Knowles 23 Joseph 64 Donadoni 67 pen. Houlihan's Stadium Tampa, Florida Frank Gorog L 25 1996 08 21 MetroStars 2–3 https://fbref.com/en/matches/9086490b/NYNJ-MetroStars-DC-United-August-21-1996-Major-League-Soccer D.C. United de Avila 26 65 Ramos 36 Harty 48 Zaun 56 Agoos 27 Williams 34 Etcheverry 45, 79 Díaz Arce 56, 77 Pope 59 Giants Stadium East Rutherford, New Jersey 20,416 Arturo Angeles L 26 1996 09 01 Kansas City Wiz 2–2 https://fbref.com/en/matches/64916860/Kansas-City-Wiz-NYNJ-MetroStars-September-1-1996-Major-League-Soccer MetroStars Silvera 70 o.g. Takawira 76 Hennessy 15 Wood 45 Ramos 83 3–1 Chung Johnston Preki Sorber Ramos Harty Donadoni Wood Arrowhead Stadium Kansas City, Missouri 11,139 Steve Olson L 27 1996 09 04 MetroStars 0–2 https://fbref.com/en/matches/fba95f93/NYNJ-MetroStars-Tampa-Bay-Mutiny-September-4-1996-Major-League-Soccer Tampa Bay Mutiny Hejduk 6 Dougherty 76 Lassiter 80 Giants Stadium East Rutherford, New Jersey 16,102 Tim Weyland L 28 1996 09 06 D.C. United 1–2 https://fbref.com/en/matches/8dba49b8/DC-United-NYNJ-MetroStars-September-6-1996-Major-League-Soccer Metrostars Sanneh 17, 50 Agoos 31 Rammel 88 Vermes 13 de Ávila 18, 76 Joseph 30 Caricola 37 da Silva 45 RFK Stadium Washington, D.C. 8,053 Zimmerman Boulos W 29 1996 09 10 MetroStars 3–1 https://fbref.com/en/matches/ff1290ff/NYNJ-MetroStars-LA-Galaxy-September-10-1996-Major-League-Soccer Los Angeles Galaxy Ramos 9 Joseph 23 35 Harty 33 de Ávila 56 Onalfo 15 Moyajo 38 Vanney 60 Giants Stadium East Rutherford, New Jersey 19,111 Esse Baharmast W 30 1996 09 15 Columbus Crew 2–0 https://fbref.com/en/matches/cb29b50b/Columbus-Crew-NYNJ-MetroStars-September-15-1996-Major-League-Soccer MetroStars McBride 3 Carrera 14 Yeagley 34 Caricola 6 Vermes 21 Ohio Stadium Columbus, Ohio 31,550 Robert Sheker L 31 1996 09 18 MetroStars 1–0 https://fbref.com/en/matches/4f305f31/NYNJ-MetroStars-Columbus-Crew-September-18-1996-Major-League-Soccer Columbus Crew de Ávila 9 Ramos 82 Silvera 84 Iribarren 44 Warzycha 63 Giants Stadium East Rutherford, New Jersey 14,007 Kevin Terry W 32 1996 09 21 Tampa Bay Mutiny 4–1 https://fbref.com/en/matches/2c03b4e0/Tampa-Bay-Mutiny-NYNJ-MetroStars-September-21-1996-Major-League-Soccer MetroStars Lassiter 11 30 Diffley 56 Viera 57 Galderisi 75 da Silva 2 49 68 Houlihan's Stadium Tampa, Florida 11,145 Frank Gorog L Playoffs Conference semifinals Game 1 1996 09 24 MetroStars 2–2 https://fbref.com/en/matches/88719fdb/NYNJ-MetroStars-DC-United-September-24-1996-Major-League-Soccer D.C. United de Ávila 38 Savarese 75 Díaz Arce 24 Williams 44 Moreno 56 6–5 de Ávila Donadoni Ramos Joseph Knowles Silvera Savarese Zaun Meola Johnson Vermes Agoos Etcheverry Moreno Díaz Arce Sanneh Harkes Gori Williams Peay Pope Causey Giants Stadium East Rutherford, New Jersey 14,416 Esse Baharmast SW Game 2 1996 09 27 D.C. United 1–0 https://fbref.com/en/matches/d303470a/DC-United-NYNJ-MetroStars-September-27-1996-Major-League-Soccer MetroStars Etcheverry 5, 72 Moreno 0 89 Zaun 47 Caricola 62 RFK Stadium Washington, D.C. 21,442 Paul Tamberino L Game 3 1996 10 02 D.C. United 2–1 https://fbref.com/en/matches/a40faa34/DC-United-NYNJ-MetroStars-October-2-1996-Major-League-Soccer MetroStars Peay 61 Rammel 67 Díaz Arce 89 pen. Caricola 38 Joseph 57 de Ávila 86 Meola 89 RFK Stadium Washington, D.C. 20,423 Brian Hall L Friendlies #D0F0C0 Win 1px solid #AAAAAA #FFDB58 Draw 1px solid #AAAAAA #F08080 Loss 1px solid #AAAAAA Date Home Away Score Metro Goal(s)May 24MetroStarsFiorentina0–4June 5MetroStarsSporting CP1–1WoodNovember 15Pennsylvania NativesMetroStars1–2Savarese 2 Source:Schedule Final standings Place Eastern Conference P W (so) L (so) F A GD Points1 Tampa Bay Mutiny 32 20 (1) 12 (3) 66 51 +15 582 D.C. United 32 16 (1) 16 (3) 62 56 +6 46 3 NY/NJ MetroStars 32 15 (3) 17 (2) 45 47 -2 394 Columbus Crew 32 15 (4) 17 (5) 59 60 -1 37 5 New England Revolution 32 15 (6) 17 (2) 43 56 -13 33 Place Western Conference P W (so) L (so) F A GD Points1 Los Angeles Galaxy 32 19 (4) 13 (4) 59 49 +10 49 2 Dallas Burn 32 17 (5) 15 (3) 50 48 +2 41 3 Kansas City Wiz 32 17 (5) 15 (2) 61 63 -2 41 4 San Jose Clash 32 15 (3) 17 (6) 50 50 0 39 5 Colorado Rapids 32 11 (2) 21 (4) 44 59 -15 29 References See also 1996 Major League Soccer season Category:New York Red Bulls seasons New York New Jersey MetroStars New York New Jersey MetroStars Metrostars