Metro fights back for point in KC, 1:1
May 27, 2014
After the three-game stretch we just had, we gotta look at the bright side here. It wasn't a loss; a 1:1 tie, a much-needed point, and a valiant fight back after a terrible first half. Oh, yeah, that terrible first half, which Metro was lucky to escape down buy a single goal. But we're trying to look at the bright side here.
Mike Petke made two changes from last weekend: one was forced by Jonny Steele's international departure, as Ruben Bover got his first start since last season's opener. The other was forced by Armando's ineptitude, as the terribly-haircutted one made way for Ibrahim Sekagya.
To call Metro flat out of the gate would not do it justice. They were beyond insipid, as KC poured it on early. There were shots cleared off the line by Chris Duvall and Sekagya, there was a free kick that rang off the lower side of the crossbar and was lucky not to go in... And then there was a goal, nine minutes in, from Toni Dovale, on a shot taken from outside that went through the penalty area and around Luis Robles.
Metro's defense settled, but their attack was flaccid for the rest of the first period. This all changed at the break. Whatever Petke said, worked, as this was a different team that walked out for the second stanza. Five minutes in, a terrific long pass from Titi Henry beat the offside trap and was received by Bradley Wright-Phillips. The Englishman tucked it around Eric Kronberg for his league-leading 11th of the year.
There were more changes after that. A good bounce led to another Wright-Phillips chance, but Kronberg recovered to make a save. Off a free kick, Sekagya found himself in the box with the ball at his feet and no defender on him, but fired high and wide. A long Luyindula shot was parried Kronberg... Where was this in the first half?
On the other end, the defense held firm, on one occasion forcing Dom Dwyer into a comical backtracking from the goalmouth and out of the box. Robles did have to make a big two-handed save on a late KC shot, but the point was saved.
Yes, just a point. But we're trying to look at the bright side...
Lineup: Robles, Convey, Olave, Sekagya, Duvall, McCarty, Bover, Alexander, Sam, Wright-Phillips, Henry. Subs: Luyindula, Armando, Akpan.
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