Supposedly-unbeatable-at-home Toronto dumped, 4:1
August 21, 2010
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De Rosario
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Marquez
Nane(OG)
Angel
Robinson
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A week ago, Rafael Marquez's mistake proved game-changing, as Metro lost a home game. Today, the Designated Player proved his worth, scoring the first and creating the second as New York walked all over Toronto, 4:1. It is the Canadian club's first home loss in over a year, and Metro's first regular season sweep over an opponent since beating Dallas in 2007.
"Clever" Hans Backe didn't have to be so clever this week, keeping the lineup the same. In the 16th minute, Metro faced their first severe test. New York failed to clear a free kick, Nick LaBrocca's shot rung off the crossbar, and Bouna Coundoul made an impressive save on the follow-up.
The play settled, and Metro started to get more and more of the ball. The turning point came in the 35th minute, when, with Metro pushing forward, Tony Tchani knocked the ball back to Marquez, who unleashed a killer bending shot from way outside the penalty area and into the net.
Six minutes later, Marquez contributed once again. He swung in a short free kick from the right side into the front of the net. With no Metro players in sight, two Toronto defenders had a chance to clear the ball into safety. Instead, Joseph Nane knocked it into his own net for a two-goal lead.
Toronto got within one four minutes into the second half. Off a sharp angle, Dwayne De Rosario fought off Carlos Mendes and slotted a shot past Coundoul. The Metro goalkeeper, who made a number of tough saves in the first, was beaten on what looked like an easy save.
But tonight, Metro didn't pay for a mistake. In the 61st minute, a Dane Richards cross was blatantly handled in the box by Nana Attakora. The Toronto defender and his neckbeard were given their marching orders, as Juan Pablo Angel converted the penalty kick straight down the middle and off Stefan Frei's hands. Then, in the 77th minute, Frei misjudged a Richards cross and the ball fell to Carl Robinson. The second-half sub easily tallied his first Metro goal, doing so against his former team.
Overall, a terrific victory that puts a stranglehold on second in the East. Now if only Thierry Henry started scoring...
Lineup: Coundoul, Miller, Ream, Mendes, Albright, Marquez, Tchani, Lindpere, Richards, Henry, Angel. Subs: Ibrahim, Robinson.
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