Morbid Metro outclassed by Crew, 2:0
July 17, 2010
"Don't worry," the optimist will say. "Thierry Henry is here! It's only one loss, and once he starts playing, there's no stopping us!" Oh, to be an optimist... For what good is Henry if his teammates can't get the ball past the midfield?
If Metro is to do anything this year, they will have to get past Columbus. And the Crew completely outclassed them for the second time this season, this time dumping them by a 2:0 score. But it's not just the scoreline that is concerning; it's the whole team's effort. Columbus OWNED the game, with Metro unable to create any sort of offensive opportunities until late in the match. The New York midfield was pathetic, giving up the ball rather than getting past the midfield line. If this was the clash of the top two teams in the East, it didn't look that way. One team was class; the other, utter feces.
"Clever" Hans Backe was forced to sit Chris Albright, who injured himself in training. Luke Sassano started; so did Roy Miller, pushing Sinisa Ubiparipovic to the right and Dane Richards up top, as the injured Salou Ibrahim sat. Henry watched from the stands.
Columbus' first goal came off a New York turnover in midfield in the 20th minute. a perfect ball split the Metro defense and found Emilio Renteria, who raced alone on goal. Bouna Coundoul got a piece of it, but it was not enough to prevent the goal.
The Crew doubled the lead three minutes into the second half. Tim Ream's weak header failed to clear the free kick, Columbus' Brian Carroll pounced on the ball just outside the box, and curved a slow, well-placed shot into the right side of the goal. And that was all the Crew needed.
For even down two, Metro couldn't create anything. A sad, pathetic loss that all but ends their chances to top the Eastern Conference during the regular season. But yes, Thierry Henry is here. So that's nice.
Lineup: Coundoul, Borman, Ream, Mendes, Sassano, Miller, Stammler, Lindpere, Ubiparipovic, Richards, Angel. Subs: Tchani, Kandji, Robinson.
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