3:0 Philadelphia New York Casey 2 Hoppenot 06.23.13 · League

Yes, important players were missing. Yes, the game featured a number of questionable calls. But at the end, one team showed up tonight in Chester, and it wasn't Metro. The 3:0 result, Metro's worst loss of the year, could have been much worse if not for the heroics of Luis Robles... It was that bad.

Suspensions to Jamison Olave and Juninho meant the insertion of Heath Pearce on defense and Lloyd Sam in midfield (Eric Alexander moved from the right to the middle). Brandon Barklage started at right back for Kosuke Kimura.

It looked like the referee would have a good day three minutes into the game, as a Conor Casey breakaway goal was correctly called offside. Alas, four minutes later, nothing could call back an actual goal. Metro failed to clear the ball of a corner, and Casey easily out-jumped Lloyd Sam to open the scoring.

Now, not to hark too much on referee Baldomero Toledo, but the rest of the half saw three huge borderline calls that all went against Metro. First, Titi Henry was clearly brought down in the box, but no penalty was called. Then, a moronic tackle by Sam at midfield was judged to be a straight red. (Should it have been? Maybe not, but it was reckless, and came in a place where Philly could not harm Metro.) Finally, Henry found Dax McCarty off a free kick, and his header looked to have evened the match. But the goal was called back for offside.

One of these calls goes Metro's way? We might have a different match. Instead, left with an uphill battle for the last hour with ten men at the disposal, Metro didn't exactly come out swinging. Oh, Henry did his best to create something offensive. Robles was at times magnificent, denying the Worms time and again. (He couldn't stop two, a Casey shot in the 64th and one by Antoine Hoppenot in the 88th). But other than Henry and Robles? The less said, the better.

So, after a rather fine May, June sees Metro drop three straight. There's still one chance to somewhat redeem the month... And Metro better show up for that one.

Lineup: Robles, Miller, Pearce, Holgersson, Barklage, McCarty, Alexander, Steele, Sam, Luyindula, Henry. Subs: Kimura, Espindola, Akpan.