Metros lifeless in 1:0 loss to DC
October 2, 2004
A deflected early goal stood for the rest of the match as the MetroStars failed to clinch second place in the East, falling to DC Scum 1:0. Although first place in the conference is still theoretically achievable, the Metros are now resigned to scrapping it out for playoff positioning in the last two games.
The MetroStars started exactly the same lineup as last week, but that had to change early as Mike Magee left the game in the 27th minute after suffering a small concussion earlier. But before the injury, he sent in a perfect pass to John Wolyniec in the 9th minute; Wolyniec one-time a slow shot past Rimando that ex-Metro Ezra Hendrickson saved off the goalline.
DC scored against the run of play in the 24th minute. Freddy Adu hit a shot off Jeff Parke that ricocheted into the upper left corner of the Metro net. Ten minutes after, Amado Guevara stripped Hendrickson and had a one-on-one with DC goalie Nick Rimando, but the keeper made the save.
And that was all she wrote; DC clogged the midfield with their hack-a-Metro strategy, and the second half went without any dangerous chances on the Scum end. DC time wasted all the way to the bank; when all was said and done, all the Metro possession could only produce semi-chances on long shots from Glen and second-half sub Fabian Taylor. Some great defense to stop a couple of late DC breakaways kept the difference at one.
The Metros will miss at least Guevara and Eddie Pope, and probably some of Jonny Walker, Eddie Gaven, Glen, Taylor, and Ziadie next week with international absences. But who knows, maybe this team can rise to the occasion one again...
Lineup: Walker, Leitch, Pope, Parke, Ziadie, Flores, Clark, Guevara, Gaven, Magee, Wolyniec. Subs: Glen, Taylor, Brenes.
|
