Metros solve Fire problem, Bradley wins 100th
July 25, 2004
It took more than two years, but the Metros finally beat the Fire, coming back to win 2:1 on a second-half goal by John Wolyniec. The win is one hundredth in Bob Bradley's illustrious MLS career, and his first against his former team, nine games in the making.
With Craig Ziadie and Ricardo Clark injured, Tenywa Bonseu got a start at right back, of all places. Joselito Vaca and Mike Magee slid back into the midfield, with Amado Guevara assuming most of the defensive responsibilities.
The Fire's goal came in the 25th minute, after a mistake on the defensive end by Eddie Gaven. The youngster failed to win the ball in the box, and Chris Armas overpowered him to put one past Jonny Walker. But that was all the Fire wrote; Walker was terrific the rest of the way, stopping everything left and right and the Metro defense was up to the task, finally clamping down on Metro killer Damani Ralph and the rest of the Fire.
In the 43rd minute, Gaven was taken down by Logan Pause in the box. Guevara stepped up to score a penalty kick for a third straight game, once again going to his left, and once giving no chance to the keeper. The teams went into halftime tied, and stayed that way in the 57th minute. This is when Magee sent a wonderful through ball to John Wolyniec, who had lots of empty space on the left side. The blond assassin took a few steps and sent a perfectly placed ball over Henry Ring and into the Chicago net.
Cornell Glen had two good chances to extend the Metro lead, but was wide, and passed it off to Vaca on a two-on-two, the latter missing. Nonetheless, the defense made the score stand and the Metros finally threw the Chicago gorilla off their back.
Danny Szetela was at the game -- and NOT with Columbus, if that says anything, and was serenaded by Metro fans for a good five minutes. At halftime, he was talking to Nick Sakiewicz, and told MetroFanatic that his fate is not known yet, but will likely be decided in a conference call Sunday.
Lineup: Walker, Leitch, Pope, Parke, Bonseu, Vaca, Gaven, Magee, Guevara, Glen, Wolyniec. Subs: Taylor, Regan.
|
