Lame penalty call sends Metro to yet another tie, 1:1
June 3, 2006
The Red Donkeys didn't deserve to win this game, but a horrible penalty kick call prevented them from doing just that, as for the fifth time in nine games this year, a lead turned into lost points. Chris Henderson scored his first goal for Metro in the first half, but the Kansas City reply midway through the second settled the final score at 1:1... Metro's sixth tie this year.
Amado Guevara returned from suspension to reclaim his spot in the midfield, which meant that Youri Djorkaeff played up top in place of Edson Buddle. And in the 18th minute, Djorkaeff had an excellent chance completely against a run of play, when a flicked-on goal kick found him one-on-one against KC keeper Bo Oshoniyi, but Youri shot wide.
Metro got on board in the 30th minute off a Mark Lisi free kick. A streaking Steve Jolley met Lisi's ball on the endline and headed it across the goalmouth onto Henderson, who knocked it with enough power right into Oshoniyi, who attempted to knock it out but failed, as the ball ricocheted off him and into the net.
It was all Kansas City from all point on; even the little possession Metro held prior to the goal was erased. Tony Meola was forced into a number of huge saves, but he couldn't do anything in the 58th minute, as Jeff Parke barely knocked Scott Sealy -- outside the box! -- Sealy exaggerated, flying to the turf (one must point out that he was carded for diving in a later episode), yet referee Tim Weyland pointed to the spot, and Jose Burciaga converted.
Meola stopped Sealy on a breakaway, but at least the Wizards had breakaways -- Metro could do nothing to penetrate the Kansas City defense. The best chance of the second, a blast by substitute Buddle, went wide of the net. The lack of depth on the squad is incredibly alarming; after usual starter Buddle, the only option off the bench seems to be Peter Canero... And what kind of option is that?
It could be worse, though. We could be the Los Angeles Galaxy. But then, they won the double last year. So...
Lineup: Meola, Jolley, Mendes, Parke, O'Rourke, Lisi, Henderson, Stammler, Guevara, Djorkaeff, Peguero. Subs: Buddle, Canero.
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