Sublime Guevara conquers heat, Rapids
July 14, 2006
In 90-degree heat on a weekday afternoon in front of a three-digit number of fans, Metro played their best game of the year, beating Colorado 1:0 on a penalty kick goal by Amado Guevara. The margin was not indicative of how well the team played, and Guevara, wearing the captain's armband, was in form not shown since last year.
Jon Conway replacing the injured Tony Meola was the Red Donkeys' only change from last week. Only change in the lineup, that is, because the first half they played was nothing like the one against Dallas, as Metro played well in the heat and dominated for long stretches. Guevara shot high after stealing the ball in one sequence, and late in the half won the ball and shot high again, but the two excellent chances sandwiched an actual goal from the Honduran. In the 35th minute, Chris Henderson had his shirt pulled in the box and the Donkeys earned their first penalty kick of the year. Guevara went right, the opposite of his usual way; Joe Cannon guessed the other direction, and Metro was up early for the first time in weeks.
Guevara had two other great chances in a second half, this time shooting wide, first on a breakaway and then of a give-and-go with Jean-Philippe Peguero. He created opportunities as well; the perfect through ball that Edson Buddle misfired on from inches away and the clever flick-on that Jerrod Laventure couldn't convert come to mind. But it the missed chances shouldn't be cried over, because if Guevara continues playing like this, the goals will come; it was Amado's command of the midfield and the fearless look in his eyes when moving forward which we've missed so much.
On the other side of the field, Conway was rarely tested and the Metro backline did well in stopping Colorado's advances, recording his first shutout as a Donkey. The result gave Richie Williams his first win as a head coach in MLS.
The result is the first 1:0 win on a penalty kick goal in club history since Alex Comas' shot lifted Metro over the same Rapids in 2001.
Lineup: Conway, Stammler, Mendes, Parke, Wynne, O'Rourke, Henderson, Magee, Guevara, Peguero, Buddle. Subs: Laventure, Vide.
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