1:0 Philadelphia New York Torres 04.09.11 · League

It doesn't matter if your team controls the ball for two third of a match. It doesn't matter if you can knock the ball around midfield at will. It doesn't matter if you have two players whose salaries dwarf many MLS rosters. All it matters is that a team that can't put a ball in the net, can't win. So yeah, one can blame Tim Ream for the mistake that cost Metro tonight's game in Philadelphia. But when the most ballyhooed signing in MLS history can't put a shot on the net... well, what can you do?

"Clever" Hans Backe stuck to the same lineup as last week, with the only change being the obvious insertion of Dwayne De Rosario for Mehdi Ballouchy. And the lineup did well in the first half, dominating Philly in every aspect of the game. The Worms did have a couple of chances, the best coming from a short-range free kick that went through the Metro penalty area, but harmlessly bounced out of bounds. But Metro completely controlled the match, with Juan Agudelo hitting the woodwork twice: first a low shot that deflected and trickled off the left post, the other when a long ball found him in position, only for the youngster to ring the ball off the crossbar.

And then the second half came. Oh, Metro still controlled the ball, oh, they still knocked it around, but so what? For the usually reliable Ream sent a backpass directly onto the feet Danny Mwangwa, and the Worms were off to the races. Ream caught up to Mwanga, but the striker passed it off to Roger Torres, who slit it under the diving Bouna Coundoul.

This was in the 68th minute, still plenty of time so salvage a tie, right? Wrong. The remainder of the match was a pathetic struggle, without Metro getting a single good chance on goal. And Thierry Henry? The five million dollar man? World Cup champion, legendary goalscorer, etc, etc, etc? Don't get us started.

OK, you got us started. We held off on bashing Henry last year, for yes, he was not fully fit. And we held off this year... until now. The man claims he is completely healthy. The man says he is here to win. Then get it done, five million dollar ban. Get. It. Done. Or at least get off a shot on goal, from crying out loud.

Oh well. The season is young... The season is young.

Lineup: Coundoul, Miller, Ream, Marquez, Solli, Tainio, Lindpere, Richards, De Rosario, Agudelo, Henry. Subs: Rodgers, Ballouchy.