Metro settles for 2:2 tie in Chicago
September 15, 2007
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Blanco
Segares
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van den Bergh
Angel
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After last year's barrage of draws, this year, ties have been hard to come by. Tonight, Metro got just their fourth deadlock of the season, 2:2 with Chicago. Dave van den Bergh and Juan Pablo Angel had the New York goals. Sadly, Metro couldn't capitalize on a 20-minute man advantage and even allowed the equalizer early during that period.
Van den Bergh moved back to left back for the ineffective Kevin Goldthwaite; Dema Kovalenko, finally healthy to start, took the Dutchman's place at left midfield. Clint Mathis had to miss the game due to a personal problem, so Dane Richards, back from suspension, slid into his right midfield spot. Francis Doe made his first start of the season, for John Wolyniec.
Ten minutes into the match, Metro struck. Off a corner kick, van den Bergh received the ball on the opposite side, and hit a shot through a polluted penalty area. The ball went off Diego Gutierrez and into the Fire net. Originally scored an own goal, it was changed to van den Bergh later in the match.
Ronald Waterreus, back off another shaky performance, made two huge saves in the first half, first on a Chad Barrett breakway, then off a close-ranger header off a corner kick to keep Metro's lead intact.
Waterreus couldn't do anything in the 55th minute, as Chris Leitch collided with Chad Barrett in the penalty area; both went to the ground, but somehow a penalty was called. Cuauhtemoc Blanco beat The Walrus and the game was tied.
In the 69th, it was Metro's turn to take one from the spot, as the Fire's Wilman Conde handled the ball in off a New York corner kick. He was also given his marching orders, as the ensuing yellow was his second of the match. Angel coolly converted the penalty to his right for his 15th league goal, one off the Metro season-season record held by Adolfo Valencia.
But the lead didn't last. In barely a minute, Gonzalo Segares headed in a Blanco free kick to tie the match at twos. That would be the final scoreline; Metro wouldn't be without chances for the rest of the game, but seemed satisfied with a road point.
Lineup: Waterreus, van den Bergh, Parke, Stammler, Leitch, Vide, Reyna, Kovalenko, Richards, Doe, Angel. Subs: Magee, Wolyniec, Freeman.
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