Offense stalls, Rost shuts out Chivas 0:0
July 17, 2011
Earlier this week, replying tersely to the assembled press, Titi Henry remarked that the team needed to win tonight on the road against Chivas USA. Unfortunately both for Titi and fans alike, Metro's 21st game of the 2011 season ended in a draw for the 11th time. It was a boring match to endure with two sides that proved to be inept in the final third; certainly expected from a mediocre Goats side, but disappointing for the high-priced Metro attack.
Returning after the infamous Open Cup debacle, "Clever" Hans Backe fielded what one would expect to be his first-choice eleven going forward, with the exception of Juan Agudelo starting in place of the injured Luke Rodgers. Ex-Hamburg netminder Frank Rost, the club's third designated player, made his debut between the posts.
The total number of scoring chances for both sides could be counted on one hand. In the 32nd minute, Jan Gunnar Solli delivered a gorgeous, swerving drive from outside the box that flew over Goats keeper Dan Kennedy's head and clanged off the crossbar. Just six minutes later, Jorge Flores rattled the woodwork with a long range attempt similar to Solli's. In the 65th, Agudelo took an excellent cross from Joel Lindpere... and headed directly at Kennedy. Nick Labrocca threatened on a breakaway late, but was thwarted by the retreating Solli; Teemu Tainio hit the side netting from just outside the box, and Agudelo missed wide right in injury time to cement the final scoreline.
Rost, seen by many as the last piece of a championship assault, was rarely tested but appeared composed and competent when called upon. It was a notable performance from the German considering that he had little time to meet with his new teammates after signing on Thursday.
The apparent solidification of the goalkeeper position leaves us with only one complaint; can Metro cope when Rodgers is not on the field? Agudelo and Henry have looked disjointed, to put it mildly, when paired together in recent matches. With Rodgers' heel possibly keeping him sidelined for another few weeks, "Clever" Hans will have to earn his salary by coming up with a solution to Metro's offensive output conundrum.
Lineup: Rost, Miller, Ream, Mendes, Solli, Tainio, McCarty, Lindpere, Richards, Henry, Agudelo. Subs: Ballouchy.
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