Bouna Time self-implodes in 2:0 loss to Goats USA
April 10, 2010
Even as Metro was shutting out its opposition through the first two matches of the season, a question about the competency of its starting goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul lingered. Yes, these were shutouts, but Coundoul's play was erratic. Huge saves were interlocked with baffling decisions, with only luck preventing the Metro goal from being penetrated. But at the end, those were shutouts. Those were wins.
Not so today. For Coundoul's horrible brainfart destroyed Metro chances in Los Angeles, as they fell to Chivas USA 2:0 for the first loss of the young season.
"Clever" Hans Backe, back from his surgery, re-took charge by not making any changes from last week's starting lineup. The first half was a tepid affair, with few chances on both sides. Metro's best opportunities came off a corner kick that Mac Kandji failed to knock in and on a Kandji header from a perfect Joel Lindpere setup that went just high. Right before the break, Metro breathed a sigh of relief as Chukwudi Chijindu broke free on goal, only to miss wide right.
But two minutes into the second half, that sigh became one of horror. Jesus Padilla's shot ricocheted off a Metro defender and off the right post. The ball was rolling straight at Coundoul, who was set on the ground in the middle of the net, with no one applying pressure; all he had to do was pick it up. Somehow, the Metro keeper made a mockery of the position by knocking the ball into his own net. We're still not sure how he managed to do that.
From that point on, Backe through caution to the wind, giving Salou Ibrahim his debut and later inserting Conor Chinn for a four-forward attack. But today, that attack proved fruitless. Metro did have their share of chances, with Ibrahim missing wide left from close range being the worst of them all.
And then, as the clock was striking 90 and most Metro players upfield, Padilla beat Jeremy Hall to the ball. Coundoul, who usually roams the top of the penalty area, was daydreaming on the goalline, and the Goats attacker slotted the ball to the short side. That was 2:0, and that was game.
Now, we don't want to make it seem like this is an anti-Coundoul rant. If anything, Bouna has proved during his time in MLS that he is an above-average goalkeeper. And today, the team's attack blew so many chances that they must be held at fault as well. It's just... tonight he cost us a point. Let's hope it's not a start of a trend.
Lineup: Coundoul, Miller, Ream, Petke, Hall, Ubiparipovic, Stammler, Lindpere, Richards, Kandji, Angel. Subs: Ibrahim, Tchani, Chinn.
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