1:4 MetroStars DC United Magee Agoos(OG) Olsen 2 Moreno 10.01.05 · League

It's not over yet, but it might as well be. Needing points in the worst fashion, the MetroStars allowed four goals in a pathetic second half, losing to DC Scum 4:1. An own goal by Jeff Agoos off a terrible giveaway by Chris Leitch tied the game early in the second, as DC scored soon after and later added two insurance goals. The loss was the Metros' first at home since May.

The MetroStars were forced to make one change from the lineup they used the past two games, as Amado Guevara's suspension led to the inclusion of Mark Lisi. The field in the first half seemed tilted, but Metro defense denied DC Scum any good chances. The goal came in the 19th minute, off a free kick by Lisi. He played it short to Youri Djorkaeff, who in turn crossed it into the box. Mike Magee snuck past the DC defense, his head meeting the ball and perfectly placing it into the bottom left corner past the diving Nick Rimando.

But Metro defense came unglued in the second half. In the 47th minute, Leitch failed to clear the ball, and Dema Kovalenko sent it into the box, where Agoos ran into Tony Meola and knocked the ball into the Metro net. Eight minutes later, an unmarked Ben Olsen rose and headed the ball in, and that was that. DC added two late goals to set the margin.

And it's not that the Metros lost the game, it's how they lost it. Even down a goal for thirty minutes, they played without any sense of urgency, not forcing Rimando to make a single save through the entire match! It was truly a pathetic effort. Yes, they still have a chance to get to the playoffs (with Kansas City losing to Chicago, Metro is still three points back with a game in hand), and who knows, they just might do it, but since they will likely have to go through this DC team to make it, why not spare us the embarrassment?

Lineup: Meola, Ward, Agoos, Mendes, Leitch, Bradley, Magee, Lisi, Gaven, Djorkaeff, Razov. Subs: Galvan Rey.