Rojas gifts game to KC, 1:0
September 12, 2009
Well, the winning ways were bound to end. Tonight, Metro dropped their first under the leadership of Richie Williams, losing to Kansas City 1:0. The lone goal of the match was scored after a dumb play by Jorge Rojas. Metro is now officially eliminated from the playoff race... As. If.
Williams kept the formation the same, but injuries led to Leo Krunpik starting for Mike Petke, Ernst Oebster for Sinisa Ubiparipovic, and Macoumba Kandji -- for Juan Pablo Angel.
The goal came ten minutes into the match. With the entire Metro squad caught upfield on a set piece, Rojas lost the ball at the midfield line, stupidly heading it into the ground. He then failed to chase down Claudio Lopez; Bounda Coundoul made the initial save, but the ball rebounded to Josh Wolff, and with no Metro up close, it was an easy as score as any.
Metro had their chances to tie the game, but it all came down to stupid decisions in the final third. Kandji might have all the skill in the world, but he's still a very raw player who makes stupid decisions much more often than he does not. For example, attempting to split three opponents inside the opposing penalty area is not exactly advisable. And Rojas... what can we say about Rojas. Even when he is on his game, like he was for the second half tonight, he is a little off -- missing passes by inches, missing shots by fee. But when he is off -- like in the first half -- well, it's just another loss in a season to forget.
Carlos Johnson got a second yellow for an altercation after the final whistle, giving him three red cards on the season -- tying the MLS and Metro record owned by Branco.
Lineup: Coundoul, Borman, Krupnik, Boyens, Johnson, Stammler, Rojas, Oebster, Richards, Wolyniec, Kandji. Subs: Zimmerman, Mbuta.
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