3:1 New York Toronto Wright-Phillips Bover McCarty Osorio 10.11.14 · League

Some people have called Toronto the "Metro of Canada". Nope. Not even close. While Metro has had their share of failure, at least they have an excellent record in making the playoffs. Toronto? They were 0-for-7 heading into this season. Make that 0-for-8?

In a vital clash of playoff contenders, Metro spanked the visiting Canadians, 3:1. The result put Metro on the verge of clinching a berth, and left Toronto with but just a miniscule lifeline. All this after breaking the bank the previous offseason.

Jamison Olave returned from suspension to push Armando to the bench. Roy Miller's international absence meant that Kosuke Kimura had to step in on the left. Peguy Luyindula's suspension led to a rare start for Ruben Bover.

After a nervy opening 15 minutes, Metro took control of the match. The first goal came in the 26th, when Henry, operating in the middle, found Kimura on the left. The Japanese fill-in sent in a cross in front of the goal that Bradley Wright-Phillips got to before anyone from Toronto could. It was BWP's 25th of the year, two off the league record. It was Henry's 14th league assist, tying Eduardo Hurtado's team single-season mark.

The lead doubled nine minutes later. Henry, now on the right, sent in a shot (cross?) that was punched out by the Toronto keeper. The ball fell to Bover, who zigzagged through the box to send it home. It was the Spaniard's first Metro goal.

After Luis Robles was forced to make a terrific close-range hand save, Metro put the game out of reach. One minute from the end of the half, Lloyd Sam created space on the right, and centered the ball to Wright-Phillips. The Englishman, at the top of the box, took a shot that was bound to miss to the left. Thankfully for Metro, an unmarked Dax McCarty was stationed in the box, and redirected it in.

Toronto got one back in the 55th minute, on a play that was quite likely offside, but we will not dwell on it. The impotent Canadians could do little otherwise. Four minutes from time, frustrations rose as Nick Hagglund elbowed Armando inside the penalty area and was given a red. Metro easily closed out the game afterwards.

Metro can now clinch a playoff spot tomorrow if Houston fails to defeat DC Scum. As for Toronto? They WISH they were the "Metro of Canada"!

Lineup: Robles, Kimura, Olave, Sekagya, Eckersley, McCarty, Alexander, Bover, Sam, Wright-Phillips, Henry. Subs: Armando, Obekop, Christianson.