Metro can't break through wind, snow, Crew
April 7, 2007
A terrific first half was followed by an up-and-down second, and at the end, nothing was settled, as for the third straight year Metro opened the season with a draw, this time tying the Crew 0:0 in cold, snowy Columbus.
Metro started its 12th season with Ronald Waterreus in goal, Todd Dunivant, Carlos Mendes, Seth Stammler, and Marvell Wynne across the back, Claudio Reyna and Dema Kovalenko in central midfield, Dave van den Bergh on the left, Dane Richards on the right, with Jozy Altidore and John Wolyniec up front. New York dominated the entire first half, controlling the ball for almost the entire 45 minutes. Metro's two best chances forced tough saves from Crew keeper Andy Gruenebaum; first on a long Kovalenko shot, and then off a sharp angle Altidore attempt. We also saw our first ridiculous call of the season, as Jozy was pushed down at the edge of the Crew box, but was somehow called for the foul.
Sadly, the breakthrough that seemed certain early in the game did not come after the break either, as the Crew started seeing more of the ball, forcing Waterreus to make a number of big saves to preserve the draw. Van den Bergh had the best opportunity of the period for Metro, placing a shot into the upper left corner, only to be denied by Gruenebaum.
Clint Mathis made his return as a 61st minute sub, but did not see much of the ball. Late in the game, Sinisa Ubiparipovic because the fifth Metro to make his debut on the night. He did so wearing his first name on the back because his last was deemed too long for the lettering, and seeing the hack job they did on KOVALENKO, or the tree-shaped VAN DEN BERGH, that was probably for the best.
Lineup: Waterreus, Dunivant, Mendes, Stammler, Wynne, Kovalenko, Reyna, van den Bergh, Richards, Wolyniec, Altidore. Subs: Mathis, Ubiparipovic.
|
