Metro escapes Columbus with a 1:0 victory
May 4, 2013
Soccer is a funny game, isn't it? A week ago, everyone wrote off Luis Robles after his blunder almost cost Metro in Toronto. This week, the goalkeeper came up with a shutout that included a penalty save.
Two weeks ago, the questions whether Tim Cahill would ever score were predominant. Now, the Australian has scored three in two games, including the lone goal of this one, as Metro beat Columbus 1:0.
Earlier this year, Metro lost games that they probably should have won. Today, they won a game that they probably should have lost... but heck, a win is a win.
Juninho returned from his suspension, so Mike Petke put him in central midfield, moving Eric Alexander back to the right at the expense of Lloyd Sam.
The first half was boring.
Columbus clearly held most of the ball, but once again the Metro defense held firm, limiting the hosts to few chances. The break for the Crew was supposed to come in the 72th minute, when Brandon Barklage took down former Metro Eddie Gaven in the box. Federico Higuain stepped up, Robles waited, Higuain fired, and Robles calmly saved. It looked easier than it obviously was.
Moments later, off a Crew free kick, Robles failed to catch the ball, flubbing it over the bar, doing just enough to keep the came scoreless. Then, in the 80th, a rare Metro attack saw a thundering shot by Jonny Steele saved by Columbus keeper Andy Gruenebaum. The ball rebounded back to the middle of the penalty area, where it was met by the head of Cahill, and somehow it became 1:0 Metro.
It stayed with that scoreline through nervous injury time, when Robles was forced to make another save. It stayed that way through the final whistle, as Metro earned their third straight victory... as well as their third straight road victory.
Soccer is a funny game, isn't it?
Lineup: Robles, Miller, Olave, Holgersson, Barklage, Steele, Alexander, Juninho, Cahill, Espindola, Henry. Subs: Sam, Pearce, Luyindula.
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