The Record from Hackensack, New Jersey • 13

2 SPORTS THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 1999 S-6 THE RECORD CK 7 i Yugoslavs tie with Croatians A A A (I r-) A II1W arts ,1 7 I i the Confederations Cup In Mexico. The United States finished behind Mexico and Brazil in the Metros fMjo AJr V- A i eight-team international tourna- ment after beating Saudi Arabia 2-0, in the consolation match. Mexico moved ud two daces to No. 9 after winning the Confeder- v. i ASSOCIATED PRESS Crew defender John DeBrlto, left, tackling the ball Wednesday from the Metros' Mike Duhaney.

Tin Associated Pratt BELGRADE, Yugoslavia -Yugoslavia and Croatia played to a 0-0 tie Wednesday in a Euro 200 qualifier delayed for 40 minutes because of a blackout at the Belgrade stadium. The first match between the countries since their bloody 1991-95 war included a huge element of national pride. The game was postponed from March 27 because of NATO's bombing of Yugoslavia. Both teams played nervously, controlling the midfield and trying to launch attacks with long passes. Croatia controlled the play late in the first half, but Yugoslavia took over in the second.

Yugoslav striker Predrag Mija-tovic hit the left goal post in the opening minute, and Croatia's Da-vor Suker struck the right post with a low shot in the 23rd minute. Croatia had another good chance in the 35th minute when Yugoslav defender Sinisa Mihajlo-vic's diving header hit his own goal's crossbar following a cross by Croatia's defender Robert Jarni. In the second half, the only real opportunity came in the 79th minute when Yugoslav free-kick specialist Mihajlovic fired from some 30 yards, but Croatian goalkeeper Drazen Ladic made a spectacular one-handed save. There was a 40-minute blackout at the Red Star stadium starting in the 49th minute, with 50,000 fans chanting "Slobo Go Away" and "Red Bandits," referring to autocratic Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic. A tear gas canister was launched at one of the stands, but there were no injuries.

US. up to No. 20 in world The United States rose 10 places to No. 20 in soccer's world rankings after finishing third in Ex-N. J.

collegian sparks Crew win By TIM LEONARD Stall Writer EAST RUTHERFORD Stern John isn't looked at as one who got away, but he is one now. There are plenty of players scattered around Major League Soccer who have connections to the New York metropolitan area, but the Columbus Crew striker is unquestionably the best. John came to the United States from Trinidad and Tobago to play soccer at Mercer County Community College. Despite starring about an hour from Giants Stadium, the MetroStars never showed any interest. These days, it's easy to say they should have.

John scored three goals, including two within a three-minute span of the second half, as Columbus pulled away for a 4-2 victory over the MetroStars on Wednesday night in front of 7,246 at Giants Stadium. The loss was the eighth in a row for the MetroStars, a franchise record. The MetroStars have lost 14 of their past 15 games. "I was so close. I was already in New Jersey and the league was going on," John said.

"There are players in New York and New Jersey who are good and can play in this league." John's journey to the pinnacle of MLS couldn't have been predicted. He had a tryout with the New England Revolution, but was cut after less than a week with the team. The MetroStars never brought him in for any official workout. John wound up with Columbus only because his cousin, midfielder Ansil El-cock, asked coach Tom Fitzgerald to give him a look. John has proved Fitzgerald to be a genius ever since, with 42 goals in 47 career games.

John showed the form that has sprouted rumors of a transfer to the English Premier ations Cup. World Cup runner-up Brazil extended its lead at the top of the rankings, moving 87 points further ahead of world champion France, which didn't play in the period. Brazil has 842 points and France 755. The Czech Republic is third in the rankings, two points behind France. Only 11 points separate the next six teams, from fourth-placed Italy to Mexico.

Germany and Argentina are fifth and sixth, while seventh-place Spain passed Croatia, which slipped two places to eighth. The Netherlands is 13th in the rankings, with England 14th, Swe- den 15th, and Scotland 32nd. There are 29 European countries in the top 50, seven each from South America and Central Africa, four from central and North America and the Caribbean, and three from Asia. US. women to play Ireland In its first match since winning the Women's World Cup last month, the United States will play Ireland on Sept.

4 at Foxboro, Mass. The U.S. women, who have won two world titles in the 1990s, will play Ireland at 4:30 p.m. That will be followed at 7:30 p.m. by a Major League Soccer game between the New England Revolution and Tampa Bay Mutiny.

The Americans are 20-2-2 this year. gherty after a Brian Kelly free kick. John Wo-lyniec, the MetroStars' first-round pick in the college draft, entered the game in the 72nd minute and scored in the 77th. He ran onto a loose ball in the penalty area and sent a strong finish to the lower-left comer. Wolyniec was cut at the end of training camp and has been playing for the Long Island Rough Riders, who loaned him to the Metro-Stars for Wednesday's game.

His bit of instant offense underscored the complete ineffectiveness of Eduardo Hurtado this season. Hurtado, who missed Wednesday night's game to play for the FIFA World All-Stars against South Africa in Johannesburg as a tribute to outgoing president Nelson Mandela, has not scored in his last 12 games. Crew 4, MetroStars 2 Columbus 2 2 4 METROSTARS 1.1-2 First halt 1. Columbus, John 14 (Maisonneuve, Warzycha), 17th minute. 2.

METROSTARS, Semloll 2 (Kelly), 38th. 3, Columbus, DeBrlto 1 (Warzycha), 47th. Second half 4, Columbus, John 15 (McBride, Lapper). 59th. 5, Columbus, John 16 (McBride, Warzycha), 62nd.

6, METROSTARS, Wolyniec 1 (Vlllegas). 77th. Goalies Columbus, Dougherty; METROSTARS, Ammann. A 7,246 (25.576). League with a goal in the 17th minute, heading a volley from Brian Maisonneuve past Metro-Stars goalkeeper Mike Ammann from what appeared to be an offside position.

His second goal also appeared to be offside, as he took a glancing header from Brian McBride behind the MetroStars defense and flicked a shot over a charging Ammann to give the Crew a 3-1 lead in the 59th minute. John added some razzle-dazzle to his arsenal in the 62nd minute, going airborne to connect on a diving header near the right post. The danger factor of the header made the goal even more exciting. John slid outside the goal, just past the post, as the ball went into the net. The goal gave John his second hat trick of the season and the fifth of his career, a league record.

It also gave him 16 goals this season to move him ahead of D.C. United's Roy Lassiter for the league lead. The entire MetroStars team has 21 goals this season. Mark Semioli knotted the score in the 38th minute, sending a looping header over the outstretched arm of Crew goalkeeper Mark Dou Mets 9, Padres 1 WEDNESDAY Alepa is determined to turn season around Tough summer so far for Englewood man I i his is the weekend Phil Alepa is counting on to reverse what has been a horrible summer. The Englewood resident has won national METS I II SO AVO Henderson 4 12 0 0 0 .325 MFrancorl 1 0 1 0 0 0 .259 Alfonzo 2b 3 1 0 0 1 0 .322 b-Uopez ph-2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 .219 Olerud lb 2 1 1 0 3 1 .307 Plana 4 12 3 0 0 .321 c-Prallpti-c 1 0 0 0 0 1 .282 Ventura 3b 4 2 2 3 1 1 .310 "Hamilton cf 4 0 2 0 1 0 .313 Agbayani rf 5 2 2 0 0 2 .281 ROrdonazss 3 1 3 1 2 0 .260 Yoshii 3 0 0 0 0 0 .189 Total 36 I 15 7 11 SanDltgo AB ft BB 80 AVO Newhan 2b 4 0 0 0 0 0 .136 Owens cl-rf 4 1 2 0 0 1 .283 Gwynn rl 3 0 1 1 0 0 .322 RHIveracI 1 0 0 0 0 1 .217 Nevln3b 4 0 1 0 0 1 .270 VanderWalll 4 0 1 0 0 1 .288 Joyner lb 2 0 0 0 1 0 .235 CReyes 0 0 0 0 0 0 d-WGonzalez ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .333 BDavIsc 4 0 0 0 0 0 .276 Gomez st 2 0 0 0 0 0 .244 Cunnanep 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Magadan 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 .276 StSpencer 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 a-Giovanola ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .200 Almanzar 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 DJacksonss 2 0 0 0 0 1 .229 Totate 33 1 6 1 1 5 METS 311 210 100-1 15 0 SanDltgo 100 ON 000-1 6 1 powerboat championships in the Pro Stock class, but he has struggled through one mishap after another.

This is a year ruled by Murphy's Law: If something bad can happen, it will. And has. But there is still time to salvage the season, which is why Alepa is excited about the summer nationals this weekend at Hampton, Va. It is the first of six consecutive racing weekends that will determine his lAl I KEVIN DeMARRAIS BOATING Rickey hears it from skipper SAN DIEGO Rickey Henderson may have a free pass to the Hall of Fame in his back pocket, but that doesn't mean he's above getting chewed out by his manager. Bobby Valentine had a few words with his left fielder Wednesday about Henderson's slow trot the night before.

Leading off the ninth in a 3-2 loss, Henderson drove a ball to deep left-center that looked like it might leave the park. Henderson didn't do his usual home run routine, pulling on his jersey and trotting widely around the bases, but he did take a slow jog to first as he tried to wish the ball out of the park. The ball dropped at the wall, though, and Henderson had to sprint to make it to second. "I don't think I could have got a triple," he said. And he didn't apologize for not running out the ball.

"I never get out of the box very quickly." Valentine wouldn't say what he told Henderson, and he said he doesn't know if Henderson might have made it to third. But he made it clear he expects more out of Henderson, a team leader. "If that was a triple, I wish he had been on third," Valentine said. "We're absolutely on the same page." TAYLORED PERFECTION: In the 14 years he spent in the minors before making it to the big leagues, Mets reliever Billy Taylor must have been working on his fundamentals. In 300 major league innings, he has not committed an error.

Taylor smiled when asked about the accomplishment. "Might be true," he said. Relievers don't tend to make many errors or have the chance to, but John Franco was sufficiently impressed. "I can't say that," he said of Taylor's feat. BLOOP SINGLES: Roger Cedeno said his sore right hand is feeling better, and he expects to play Friday at home With his 97th walk of the season Tuesday night, John Olerud tied a single-season team record shared by Darryl Strawberry and Keith Hernandez.

T.J. QUINN a-grounded out lor Spencer In the 3rd. b-popped out lor Alfonzo In the 8th. c-atruck out lor Piazza In the 6lh. d-llned out for Reyes in the 9th.

E-DJackson (22) LOB METS 9, San Diego 6. 2B-Ventura (30). Agbayani 2 (1 3). Gwynn (16). Vander Wal (16).

3B-Owens (2). Magadan (1). HR-Plazza (26) on StSpencer: Ventura (28) oil StSpencer. RBI-Piazza 3 (91). Ventura 3 (100).

ROrdonez (42). Gwynn (41). SB-Owena (29). S-YosWi 2. GIDP-Piazza.

Yoshii 3. Runners left in scoring position METS 4 (Altonzo. Ventura, DHamtton 2); San Diego 5 (Owens, Qwynn, Vander Wal. BDavs 2). Runners moved up Henderson 2, Piazza.

DP San Diego 4 (Gomez, Newhan and joyner), (DJackson. Newhan and Joyner), (Nevtn, Newhan and joyner), (CReyes, DJackson and Magadan). "It seems like luck is not following us this year," Alepa said. "It is one of those frustrating years." Still, all is not lost. Two weeks ago at Kent Island, Alepa drove Freedom to two first-place finishes, although he didn't earn the maximum number of points because only three boats were in his race Sunday.

But he was able to move into fifth place with 875 points, just nine points out of fourth. Jim Codling of Seattle has a big lead with 2,003 points, and John Brinton of Westfield is second with 1,565. Alepa says he still has a shot at the championship, but there is no room for error in the remaining races, including the New Jersey state championships Sept. 18-19 on Lake Hopatcong. "We're really revved up," he said.

Several other New Jersey racers are in the thick of the battles for APBA inboard championships. Three Garden Staters are among the top six in the 5 Litre class, with Michael Melina of Rumson first, Glen Mustillo of Eatontown third, and Jay Brennan of Lake Hopatcong sixth. John Schurer of Maple Shade holds a narrow lead over Randy Hurst of Bradley, 111., in the Grand National Hydroplane class, and Louis Mustillo of Shrewsbury is fifth in National Modified. Ann Fitzgerald of Rio Grande, one of the few women on the national circuit, is third in the 2.5 Litre Stock class. Three members of the Nyack Boat Club head to Milwaukee next week to compete in the Lightning class national championship, starting Monday on Lake Michigan.

Joan Hurban of Palisades, N.Y., Judy Hamlon of Norwalk, and Cindy Cox of Nyack, N.Y., represent the Hudson River Yacht Racing Association. They earned a trip to the nationals by defeating four other regional champions two weeks ago in Np 120 Np 75 41 38 Er Bb So 1 1 5 Er Bb So 5 1 3 3 3 0 0 2 1 0 2 1 METS Yoshii 8-8 8an Diego StSpencer 1, 0-6 Almanzar Cunnane CReyes En 5.39 Era 6.33 6.82 4.75 3.23 place in the American Power Boat Association seasonlong standings. Alepa got off to "a crummy start" in the season opener on Lake Hopatcong in mid-May when he had problems with the bow of his boat. A scheduled race a week later on Greenwood Lake was canceled because of high weed growth. A week later, at the APBA's Eastern Divisional championships at Decatur, 111., Alepa said he was running neck and neck for first place when his boat's prop shaft broke.

He fixed that, and the air scoop went, and a possible victory became a wipeout. Alepa headed to Quebec over Fourth of July weekend and after posting one of the fastest times in Saturday's qualifying heat, he got rammed during warm-ups before the start of Sunday's final, sinking his boat, Freedom. Once again, the promise of a big victory was taken from him. He also lost a chance to compete in Ohio four weeks ago, when he was told his class was not competing in a regatta, only to learn later that it had been added. Blast Padres WAGNER: America's Cup his goal Umpires Home, Rapuano; First, Gibson; Second, Pulli; Third.

Carlson. A 24.519 (46.510). How the runs scored METS first: Henderson singled to center. Alfonzo popped out to second baseman Newhan. Olerud singled to center, Henderson to second.

Piazza flied out to center fielder Owens, Henderson to third. Ventura homered to right on the first pitch, Henderson scored, Olerud scored. Hamilton lined out to shortstop Gomez. 3 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. METS 3, Padres 0.

Padres first: Newhan lined out to second baseman Alfonzo. Owens singled to center. Owens stole second. Gwynn doubled to left, Owens scored. Nevin grounded out, third baseman Ventura to first baseman Olerud.

vander Wal struck out. I run, 2 hits, 0 errors, I left en. METS 3, Padres 1. METS second: Agbavani doubled to left. Ordonez singled to center, Agbayani scored.

Ybshii sacrificed, first baseman Joyner to second baseman Newhan, Ordonez to second. Henderson grounded out, second baseman Newhan to first baseman joyner, Ordonez to third. Alfonzo popped out to pitcher Spencer. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. METS 4, Padres 1.

METS third: Olerud struck out. Pia2za homered to left on a 2-1 count. Ventura struck out. Hamilton walked on a full count. Agbavani struck out.

1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 left on. METS 5, Padres 1. METS fourth: Almanzar pitching. Ordonez infield single to short. Yoshii sacrificed, pitcher Almanzar to second baseman Newhan, Ordonez to second.

Henderson flied out to right fielder Gwvrm, Ordonez to third. Alfonzo walked on a full count. Olerud walked, Alfonzo to second. Piazza singled to left, Ordonez scored, Alfonzo scored, Olerud lo third. Ventura walked on four pitches, Piazza to second.

Hamilton grounded out, first baseman Joyner unassisted. 2 runs, 2 hits, errors, 3 left on. METS 7, Padres 1. METS fifth: Agbavani doubled to right. Ordonez singled to left, Agbayani to third.

Yoshii grounded into a double plav, shortstop Gomez to second baseman Newhan to first baseman Jovner, Agbavani scored, Ordonez out. Henderson singled to right. Henderson was out advancing, right fielder Gwynn to shortstop Gomez, Henderson out. I run, 3 kits, 0 errors, I left on. METS Padres 1.

METS seventh: Owens rn as right fielder. Ru Rivera in as center fielder. Ventura doubled to right. Hamilton infield single to short. On Jackson's error, Ventura scored, Hamilton to second.

Agbavani struck out. Ordonez walked on a full count. Yoshii grounded into a double plav, third baseman Nevin to second baseman Newhan to first baseman Jovner, Ordonez out. I mat, 2 aits, 1 error, I left aa. METS Padres I.

like a maniac the whole time. Agbayani's hustle was rewarded when Ordonez, who went 3-for-3 with two walks, singled to center to drive him in. Piazza's home run in the third made it 5-1 Mets, and that was it for Spencer (0-6), who never even came to bat. The Mets weren't much easier on reliever Carlos Almanzar. In the fourth, Ordonez led off with an infield single, though he unwisely dove to beat Chris Gomez' throw.

He didn't need to. Yoshii then moved Ordonez to second on a sacrifice bunt, and after Henderson flew to right he barely made it halfway to first by the time Gwynn caught the ball Edgardo Alfonzo drew a walk. John Olerud then drew his 98th walk of the season, setting a Mets single-season record, and Piazza drove two runs in with a single past third. The next time Agbayani came to bat in the fifth, again leading off, he doubled to right, again almost limiting himself to a single with the velocity of the blast. From Page S-1 In his start five days earlier in San Francisco, Yoshii lost but had a solid outing, giving up two earned runs in six innings.

Yoshii started the bottom of the first by giving up a single to Eric Owens, then an RBI double to Tony Gwynn. Valentine had Pat Mahomes up and throwing in the bullpen, but after Gwynn's hit, Yoshii retired the next 17 batters, losing his momentum briefly when Owens tripled to right on a ball that Agbayani had to grab from behind the bullpen bench. Owens died on base when Yoshii got Gwynn to ground to second to end the inning. The Mets offense regained the pop missing Tuesday night in AI Leiter's 3-2 loss, starting with a leadoff single by Rickey Henderson, then a one-out single to center by John Olerud. Piazza flew out to center, but Ventura, who has shown an amazing knack for the right hit at the right time, blasted a Stan Spencer pitch into the right-field seats for a three-run homer.

In the second inning, Agbayani led off with a scorching double to left center that was hit so hard, he almost limited himself to a single. After Henderson's slow trot on a similar ball the night before, it should be noted that Agbayani made second safely because he ran "I've sailed on old America's Cup boats, but every generation is different," Wagner said. "I am interested in getting down to New Zealand and seeing what the new boats are like. I am not sure which of the other teams are going to be strong. I'm giving everybody credit.

"No matter who we are racing, my job doesn't change. For me, every race is going to be as serious as the next. I am constantly thinking about what needs to be done." The bowman on the practice boat is a crucial position since, among other things, he oversees the boat's approach at the starting line. Crew members from the first string and the backups are likely to overlap, which means that Wagner should participate in the America's Cup. Wagner allows that he will be nervous, but not overwhelmed.

"I've done testing with the team for the last two summers and I guess I must have done something right," Wagner said. "They invited me back." "The one thing I think is pretty certain is that all the teams will have competent sailors and will handle the boats well. Nobody out there is going to go out and screw up consistently. And that's the scary thing. "We know that New Zealand is going to be well prepared and is going to have tremendous sailors," said Baird.

"We just hope that we've been running harder and longer and have come up with a faster boat." Young America has shipped one yacht to New Zealand and is near-ing completion on a second one. It probably will alternate boats in early trial races to determine which is the fastest The team unveiled its tank-testing model Friday at the New York Yacht Club, which despite its name is in Newport and overlooks Narragansett Bay. Wagner was caught up in the festivities, posing with teammates and having his picture taken beside the scaled-down version that was tested in a tank. From Page S-1 from now he is going to be a guy that all the teams are trying to get. We've seen him in the rough and know we want to have him on the team now." Thirteen teams from eight countries are entered in the challenger selection series, including five syndicates from the United States.

The other U.S. challengers are Team Dennis Conner of San Diego; America True and America One, both of San Francisco, and Aloha Racing from Hawaii. Peter Fennelly of Colonia is the only other New Jersey native on the New York Yacht Club team, the first it has fielded since a failed effort as a challenger in 1987. "We are just getting started with the fun part now," said Baird, a Floridian and the only American to have been ranked as the world's No. 1 match racer.

Baird has been involved in the development of the team since 1996. "The hardest thing for me has been waiting to race. Mets schedule Aug. 20 St Louis 7:40 p.m. Aug.

21 SL Louis 1:15 p.m. Aug. 22 St Louis 1:40 p.m. Aug. 23 Houston 7:40 p.m.

Aug. 24 Houston 7:40 p.m. Aug. 25 Houston 7:40 p.m. Aug.

27 at Arizona 10:05 p.m. Aug. 28 at Arizona 10:05 p.m. Aug. 29 at Arizona 8:05 p.m.

Aug. 30 at Houston 8:05 p.m. Aug. 31 at Houston 8:05 p.m. Sept 1 at Houston 8:05 p.m.

Ventura now has 100 RBI on the season for the third time in his career. His career-high is 105 (1996 with the White Sox.) The Mets' record is 117, by Bernard Gilkey (1996) and Howard Johnson (1991). rn In Hi liiifi "nfif i Hi Hi, it ctjj.