Metro does not lose to Revs, 2:2
September 22, 2007
If the season ended at this moment, Metro would face New England in the first round of the playoffs. If one considers how close they've played them this year, that would not be terrible; if one considers the results those close matches provided, it sure is. In fact, in the last two seasons, Metro has failed to beat the Revs in seven tries, with only two draws to their name. That second draw came tonight, as Juan Pablo Angel's late goal knotted the game at twos. It was the Cherubic Assassin's 16th league goal of the year, tying Adolfo Valencia's team record, set in 2000.
This paragraph is usually devoted to lineup changes from last week, but since for the first time this year there were none, we'll jump straight into the match and note two early Metro opportunities, one when Francis Doe almost dribbled the ball into the net, but failed to pass, and the second when Dave van den Bergh fooled the Revs, taking the pass on a short free kick, forcing a save from Matt Reis.
The Revs opened the scoring in the 22nd minute, as a Steve Ralston free kick found Taylor Twellman's head; Seth Stammler was beaten on the play.
Right after the goal, Metro started to attack. A heavy Dema Kovaleno shot was parried, and on the ensuing corner kick, a Stammler shot was cleared off the line. Then, in the 37th, Grandpa Doe took a perfect Dane Richards pass and hit it across his body and into the Rev net. It was his first Metro goal.
Metro had most of the ball in the second, with Doe forcing Reis to make a big save. Sadly, int he 70th minute, New England pressure forced a bad pass from Chris Leitch, and Twellman pounced on it outside the penalty area, beating Stammler to the ball and then Waterreus on the shot.
Down again, Metro pressed on. Jeff Parke almost tied the game, hitting the crossbar on a bouncing header, and then, in the 84th minute, it was time for the Cherubic Assassin. Angel held up his run just enough to stay onside on a Doe head pass, and then split the Rev defense, slicing the ball past Reis for a well-earned point.
But that well-earned point will not be good enough in a playoff game.
Lineup: Waterreus, van den Bergh, Parke, Stammler, Leitch, Vide, Reyna, Kovalenko, Richards, Doe, Angel. Subs: Mathis, Altidore.
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