Metro zaps Galaxy on a perfect late free kick
May 19, 2013
That's why he is here! For 90 minutes, Juninho was anything but an asset; slowly drifting through the middle of the field, half-effortlessly trying from time to time. Oh, sure, there were a couple of passes that looked promising, but not enough to justify his inclusion for the full 90.
Oh, but the game doesn't stop at 90, does it? So when, in injury time, Juninho served a perfectly bending free kick right onto Tim Cahill's head, all was forgiven. The Australian out-muscled a Galaxy defender, sailed home the lone goal of the match, and made a hero of the previously-useless Brazilian. That's why he is here!
Jamison Olave and Titi Henry made their return after sitting out the game on turf, replacing Heath Pearce and Andre Akpan. Juninho also started, as Eric Alexander went to the right and Lloyd Sam sat.
The game, played in a cold, drenching rain, took place mostly in the midfield. Both defenses did an excellent job thwarting the attack, with the Metro central duo of Jamison Olave and S. Markus Holgersson playing a fantastic match. Also terrific was Roy Miller... yes, you heard that right.
The few times he was called upon, Luis Robles rose to the occasion. He tipped a Robbie Keane free kick over the bar, and then did well to stop LA on back-to-back chances. On the other end, Fabian Espindola was the liveliest Metro, and almost scored in the first half. Carlo Cudicini came out of the net, Espindola placed a shot over him, but the slow roller was cleared off the line.
So the game was scoreless into injury time, when Miller was fouled along the left sideline. Juninho, whose free kicks up to that point were all wasted, sent a ball into the box. Henry did his best to distract the airily-prowessed Omar Gonzalez, and Cahill flew to knock home the winner.
Maybe from now on, Juninho can enter the game at the 90 minute mark?
Lineup: Robles, Miller, Olave, Holgersson, Kimura, Steele, Alexander, Cahill, Juninho, Espindola, Henry. Subs: McCarty, Sam, Barklage.
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