Metro yawns through 1:0 loss to SJ
October 4, 2009
Another game, another drab match between Major League Soccer's two worst teams. This time, a lone penalty kick separated the two sides as Metro fell for the 18th time in their fruitless 2009 campaign. An uninspired effort looks to have undone much of the progress the team seemed to display under interim head coach Richie Williams.
In midfield, Luke Sassano returned in place of Albert Celades due to the Spaniard's ankle injury, and Sinisa Ubiparipovic played in place of Danleigh Borman on the left flank; Borman was left out of the starting eleven entirely as Jeremy Hall got the call at left back, alongside the central defense tandem of fan-favorite Mike Petke and noted Kiwi stiff Andrew Boyens.
From the opening whistle, the same spineless Metro squad we've seen many times this season showed their faces as San Jose had chance after chance in the early going. Their attacking efforts were rewarded in the 23rd minute when United States deserter Arturo Alvarez dove in the box, earning a penalty kick for the Quakes. Ryan Johnson converted on the ensuing play to reach the double-digit scoring plateau in 2009 after barely earning playing time with the Newark Ironmen in 2007-08.
The second half was much of the same, with indifferent play from an indifferent Metro squad combined with their trademark ineptitude in the final third conspired to keep the scoreline at 1-0. Borman's appearance for Hall in the 57th minute did little to turn the tide in favor of the visitors; the South African was ineffective in the thirty minutes he spent on the pitch after being one of the few bright lights in the otherwise dim recent weeks.
Thankfully, there are only two more games left in this never-ending kick to the groin of a season... two more games left before we get to enjoy yet another dismantling of the coaching staff and playing squad, before the overlords in Austria try to sell what few fans are left on the prospect of a shiny new stadium in 2010 (and likely little else).
Lineup: Coundoul, Hall, Petke, Boyens, Johnson, Sassano, Stammler, Ubiparipovic, Richards, Kandji, Angel. Subs: Borman, Mbuta.
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