3:1 Rochester MetroStars Palguta Carabajal Rivas Galvan Rey 08.03.05 · Open Cup

Truly pathetic. For the second straight year, the MetroStars went out of the Open Cup without winning a single match, losing to a lower-division team. This time, it was to the Rochester Rhinos, with the 3:1 scoreline not indicating the disparity of the match. Of course, the only thing we could go by was the radio broadcast by two Rochester yahoos, who kept calling the eventual Metro goal scorer "Ray"; but nonetheless.

With Amado Guevara and Jeff Parke injured and Youri Djorkaeff staying home to rest his hamstring, and Tony Meola, Ante Razov, and Jeff Agoos rested (the latter two would make sub appearances), the Metro lineup was re-shuffled. Chris Leitch moved over to the left side of the defense, with Danilo da Silva playing on the right and Seth Stammler partnering ex-Rhino Carlos Mendes in the middle. The starts were da Silva's first as a Metro and Stammler's first since last year's Open Cup. Mike Magee came back to the lineup for Djorkaeff, and Ibrahim for Razov.

The Rhinos struck in the 20th minute, as Wells couldn't hold a header by Scott Palguta. Ten minutes later, the Rhinos doubled the lead as Mendes, who by all accounts was terrible, was taken to school by Mauro Carabajal, who then beat Wells. Rochester owned the first half, as the Metros could not keep possession or attempt a single shot. And then the Rhinos made it 3:0 in the 58th, when Rene Rivas converted a penalty kick after a Stammler foul.

Razov's insertion seemed to energize the Metros, as they had a number of chances late, with Galvan Rey knocking in a Tim Ward feed off a corner with five minutes left in regulation.

Wake up, Bob Bradley. It's time for this team to step up. We know there was no Guevara and Djorkaeff, but this result... is pathetic.

Lineup: Wells, Leitch, Mendes, Stammler, da Silva, Bradley, Lisi, Magee, Gaven, Galvan Rey, Ibrahim. Subs: Razov, Ward, Agoos.