Road woes continue with 3:1 loss in Columbus
September 18, 2008
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Hejduk
Rogers
Gaven
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Angel
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Even with all the recent wins at home, road success remains a mystery for Metro. Tonight, playing in Columbus, it eluded them once again, as New York failed to hold an early lead, losing to the Crew 3:1.
Metro came out in a 4-5-1 with Jeff Parke playing the unfamiliar right back role in the four defender set; Andrew Boyens started in the middle. Seth Stammler returned to his usual position in defensive midfield, as Jorge Rojas moved to the left in place of surgery-having Dave van den Bergh. John Wolyniec sat.
Metro got on the board in the 21st minute. Juan Pablo Angel was fouled outside the box, and bent the ensuing free kick over the wall and into the upper right corner of the net. Sadly, that was New York's only good chance of the half.
On the other end, good chances were plenty. Ex-Metro Eddie Gaven hit the woodwork early, and Jon "The Bear" Conway had to make a huge save on Pat Noonan's shot. Then, with four minutes left in the half, what looked like a cross from Frankie Hejduk sailed over the penalty area, over Conway's head, and into the net.
It would get worse soon. Seconds in the second half, the Crew's Robbie Rogers abused Dane Richards on the flank, stepped inside, and sent a powerful long shot that beat Conway for the lead.
Metro had their chances during a small stretch in the middle of the period, the best coming off a long Rojas run (his shot sailed just high) and a shot by Wolyniec that was parried. Angel, whose moment of brilliance was not enough, spent most of the game in wilderness, as to call the service non-existent would be an exaggeration.
The Bear came up big a number of times on the other end, stopping a Alejandro Moreno breakaway and then, somehow escaping clean after a rapid success of Columbus shots on goal. Five minutes from time, however, Gaven made it 3:1 and the game became all but academic.
Kevin Goldthwaite was ejected in the 89th minute after an idiotic retaliation on Rogers.
Lineup: Conway, Goldthwaite, Cichero, Boyens, Parke, Pietravallo, Stammler, Rojas, Richards, Magee, Angel. Subs: Wolyniec, Borman.
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