Metro, Fire exchange corner kick goals
March 23, 2014
Well, that was a little better. On the road in Chicago, where New York hasn't won since 2005, they dominated possession, but ended with a 1:1 draw. Dax McCarty had the lone Metro goal as the team still stands winless after the first three games of the season.
Mike Petke reshuffled the lineup. Armando's league suspension forced him to the bench, as Ibrahim Sekagya started. Jonny Steele resumed his usual spot on the left side of midfield at the expense of Bobby Convey. Eric Alexander started in the middle, pushing Tim Cahill up front, and Bradley Wright-Phillips to the bench.
It looked bad early on as Chicago struck just six minutes in. Jeff Larentowicz broke free off a corner kick and headed in the opener. But Metro settled down soon after, and started to control the game.
Their lone goal came off a corner as well, in the 21st. After Cahill did well to keep possession in a scramble inside the box, a bad Fire clearance left the ball at the feet of McCarty. The Marty McFly look-alike buried the shot in the upper right corner. This will be all the scoring in the game.
But it wasn't for lack of trying. Early on, Steele sent a nice cross that Lloyd Sam hit side netting with. Late, it was Sam setting up Peguy Luyindula, but the ball comically rebounded off the Frenchman's crotch and was saved. The Fire had their chances as well, with Luis Robles having to make two huge saves. The first, he had to tip the ball over the crossbar off a long shot. The second had him stretch his arms to push the ball wide.
Yet, once again something was missing in that final third. For all the wonder that Titi Henry brings, he can't be the only one who creates. Steele and Alexander were both subpar, Cahill seems to be wasted in a striker role...
Well, let's hope they're starting to figure this out.
Lineup: Robles, Miller, Olave, Sekagya, Eckersley, McCarty, Steele, Alexander, Sam, Cahill, Henry. Subs: Convey, Luyindula.
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