Impotent Metros subdued by Fire, 1:0
April 22, 2005
Amado Guevara missed a penalty kick and a first-half Chicago goal stood up the rest of the way as the Metros suffered their first loss of the season, 1:0. Of course, the loss comes after two ties and in a third consecutive home game, so the team might have a huge mountain to climb once the dust starts to settle.
The MetroStars started the same lineup as last week, but any flow of play that was generated in the two-goal comeback versus Kansas City was absent in the first half. The Metros could not do anything to penetrate Chicago's third, as balls died in the midfield without going through. And in the 29th minute, the Fire got on the board as Jeff Parke was stripped of the ball by Nate Jaqua. The Chicago striker raced to the net with Parke chasing him, and hit a shot that skipped off Carlos Mendes, directly at Zach Wells. However, the ball bounced off the goalkeeper's feet, over him, and into the net to put the Metros in a hole.
The Metros were forced to make two substitutions at the half, as two Jeffs -- Agoos and Parke -- had to be taken off for two Tims -- Regan and Ward, the latter making his Metro debut. Agoos injured his calf, and Parke suffered a concussion, but what became possibly the youngest back four in league history held up the rest of the way.
But it only held up because the Fire was content to sit back, let the Metro come at them, and not let anything through. They almost did very early in the half, as a perfect ball from Youri Djorkaeff found John Wolyniec in the box, and the striker was immediately taken down by a Fire defender. Unfortunately, Guevara, who was perfect from the spot last year, hit it off the post. And that was that.
Eddie Gaven, his hand wrapped in a massive cast, came into the game the game late for the again-useless Sergio Galvan Rey, and provided some much-needed spark. But it was too little, too late.
Mark Lisi and Chris Leitch both had horrible games, with what seemed every single one of their passes going to the Fire. Another long season?
Lineup: Wells, Agoos, Mendes, Parke, Leitch, Bradley, Lisi, Guevara, Djorkaeff, Galvan Rey, Wolyniec. Subs: Regan, Ward, Gaven.
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