0:0 New York Philadelphia 08.17.13 · League

It was billed as a top-of-the-table clash. Two teams who're rounding into their form. Two teams who have scored their share of goals. The winner would top the East. The loser will be shaken up. And what about the rivalry? Oh, New York and Philadelphia, Philadelphia and New York!

We got a 0:0 draw.

Oh, Metro controlled most of the match, owning the ball throughout. But that final pass, that final shot was not there. One fails to think of an excellent scoring opportunity on Metro's end... perhaps off two corner kicks late in the match. They just didn't have it tonight offensively.

And the Worms? Well, the Worms were rather pathetic. They spent most of the match behind the ball, settling for counter-attacking. Now, those counter-attacks did bring the game's two best chances: first, Metro reject Sebastien Le Toux hit the crossbar. The ball bounced back to Antoine Hoppenot, who pathetically, laughably, missed the open net from close range. (It wouldn't have counted anyway, for he was offside. Still, it was rather funny.) And then, late in the game, Luis Robles did well to stop Hoppenot, who walked in on the Metro goalie. (Seriously, does Hoppenot suck or what?)

The game also saw the return of Tim Cahill and the re-arranging of the defense. Ibrahim Sekagya moved to the center of the back, pushing S. Markus Holgersson to the right at the expense of Brandon Barklage.

So now, Metro is scoreless in two straight, and the road to the top of the East got that much harder. As for Philadelphia?

We don't care about Philadelphia.

Lineup: Robles, Miller, Olave, Sekagya, Holgersson, McCarty, Steele, Alexander, Cahill, Espindola, Henry. Subs: Luyindula, Sam, Barklage.