Seattle gives Red Bull Arena its first blemish
May 15, 2010
The streak was bound to end. Six games Metro played in Red Bull Arena if you count exhibition and Open Cup matches; six victories. Number seven proved to be unlucky. Metro suffered through a disjointed match, falling to Seattle 1:0 on a late goal.
"Clever" Hans Backe made three changes to the starting lineup: Jeremy Hall obviously regained his right back spot from the suspended Luke Sassano, Danleigh Borman started at left back for the injured Roy Miller, and Carl Robinson returned from injury, pushing Tony Tchani back to the bench.
The revamped defense wasn't the problem: it was the offense. Metro registered just one shot on goal through the entire match: a harmless long-range attempt by second-half sub Brian Nielsen. Salou Ibrahim had chances at two breakaways in the first, but his feet of stone squashed both opportunities.
Bouna Coundoul was up to his old tricks once again. The sometimes-amazing-yet-fundamentally-unsound goalkeeper started the game with the brain fart, giving Seattle a dangerous free kick after handling the ball outside the penalty area. Midway through the second, he went roaming outside the box, and only an incredible last-second dodge by the ever-improving Borman prevented the slow-rolling ball from finding the corner of the net.
It all fell apart in the 85th minute. A foul in midfield, a quick Seattle restart, Freddy Montero fighting off Mike Petke, and then sliding the ball between the diving Coundoul and the near post.
And now, with undefeated Columbus coming to Red Bull Arena in midweek, one hopes that the team can find its feet before the once-promising season starts sinking further and further.
Lineup: Coundoul, Borman, Ream, Petke, Hall, Stammler, Robinson, Lindpere, Richards, Ibrahim, Angel. Subs: Nielsen, Ubiparipovic, Tchani.
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