Awful PK call costs Metro in Houston, 2:2
July 4, 2014
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Barnes
Davis
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Wright-Phillips 2
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The thing about bad calls, is that in the long run, they are supposed to even out. You lose some, you win some... At least in theory.
And yet once again this season, Metro was on the wrong end of a terrible penalty call, and had to settle for a tie in Houston, 2:2. Some theory.
The starting lineups were barely announced (Tim Cahill replacing injured Peguy Luyindula was the only Metro change), when Houston struck. 40 seconds into the match, an unmarked Gilles Barnes headed into the ground and over Luis Robles. Not exactly Cahill in the same stadium last year, but nothing to write home about.
In the 13th minute, Metro gone one back seemingly out of nowhere. Eric Alexander sent a perfect deep ball that reached the foot of Bradley Wright-Phillips. The high-scoring Englishman did well to beat the offside trap and calmly slipped it past Tally Hall from far into the penalty area.
Metro had the run of play for the rest of the half, but wasted numerous set piece opportunities, and went into the break tied. In the second, a brilliant backheel from Titi Henry found Cahill all alone in the center of the box, but the Australian's one-timer was inches wide.
Metro got the lead in the 72nd. Henry found Ambroise Oyongo on the left side, and the youngster took Andrew Driver to school. With the Houston midfielder not knowing what circled past him, Oyongo sent a cross into the box that Wright-Phillips swiftly redirected with his head into the upper right corner. It was the Englishman's 14th goal of the year, and Oyongo's second assist in his second league start.
And now, we come to the awfulness. With Houston pressing, the ball ended in the Metro box, and went off the shoulder of Chris Duvall. Now, we went over this before: a shoulder is part of the arm. And yet, the imbecilic Ismail Elfath pointed to the spot, and ex-Metro Brad Davis calmly converted to his left.
Some might tout the result as a four-game lose-less streak in league play, but we'll lament the points stolen. This bad call theory better prove right, before it's too late...
Lineup: Robles, Oyongo, Miazga, Olave, Duvall, Sekagya, Alexander, Cahill, Sam, Wright-Phillips, Henry. Subs: Steele, Armando.
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