Metros scorched by Fire, 3:0
May 1, 2004
They are not there just yet. The Chicago Fire, who killed the Metros all of last year, did it again, putting on a clinic at Soldier Field. The final score was 3:0, but it could have been much much worse for the Metros. Tenywa Bonseu made two horrendous mistakes that led to the last two Fire goals and Fabian Taylor missed two absolute sitters to give Chicago the shutout.
Mark Lisi came back to the starting lineup as a replacement for Ricardo Clark was the only change from previous week. But the Metros did not show the fluidity in midfield that they exhibited during the first three games, spending most of the first half bunking up. Dipsy Selolwane scored the half's lone goal in the 15th minute, after Chris Armas' one-touch redirection of an Andy Williams pass found him. Jonny Walker came out of the net, but could not help the situation as for the fourth time in as many games, the Metros surrendered the first goal. Mark Lisi almost tied it late in the period, but his shot from what seemed like an impossible angle hit the far upright.
Bonseu came in for the injured Jeff Parke at the half, and... it wasn't good. In the 55th minute, the Fire was breaking on offense, but the Metro defense looked to have the area covered. The ball got to Bonseu, who cleared it... right onto Damani Ralph's foot, who easily made it 2:0.
Then it was Taylor's time to wear the goat horns, as he missed not one, but two goals from an unthinkable range with only the empty net in front of him. First it was off a terrific pass by second half sub John Wolyniec, then off a corner kick. But Taylor's ineptitude was overmatched by Bonseu, who in the 76th minute was completely abused by Ante Razov on the Fire's third and final goal.
Jonny Walker, other than the first goal, had one of those I-will-stand-on-my-head-but-what-can-I-do-if-my-defense-plays-like-this performances. But if there can be something good in this result, maybe this team will realize that it has a long long way to go.
Lineup: Walker, Leitch, Pope, Parke, Ziadie, Lisi, Gaven, Vaca, Guevara, Galvan Rey, Taylor. Subs: Bonseu, Wolyniec, Clark.
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