1:3 New York San Jose Angel Convey 2 Wondolowski 11.04.10 · Playoff

The stars seemed to line up. A terrific road victory, and now the home leg at Red Bull Arena, where Metro defense has been impregnable as of late. Sure, you could see them allow one goal. But two? Three? Never!

Stupid, stupid stars...

It's terribly disappointing. They allowed the first just six minutes in, the second in the 76th, after dominating the 70 minutes in between. And then, after immediately replying through Juan Pablo Angel -- his last Metro goal, undoubtedly -- tying it on aggregate, fell on a Chris Wondolowski header in the 81nd.

Disappointment in Roy Miller, who failed to clear the ball on the first goal and then was soundly beaten on the third. Disappointment on Rafa Marquez, who let Bobby Convey waltz by him to score the opener. Disappointment in Mehdi Ballouchy, who shot straight into Jon Busch from a point-blank range. Disappointment in Bouna Coundoul, who over-committed on San Jose's second. Disappointment in Hans Backe, who didn't substitute until it was too late. Disappointment in Thierry Henry, whose appearance was too little, too late. Disappointment in the whole team, who stopped defending after Angel's goal resurrected them for a brief moment. Disappointment...

It's hard to put it into words. We've seen seasons end fourteen times before, always in disappointment. This one is up there. This one is up there.

Lineup: Coundoul, Miller, Ream, Mendes, Albright, Marquez, Ballouchy, Lindpere, Richards, Agudelo, Angel. Subs: Henry, Hall, Ibrahim.