Metro takes Open Cup seriously, easily wins 3:0
June 16, 2015
Coming into the Open Cup, we weren't sure what to think. We've heard it before: all the quotes that the team is taking it seriously, only to be struck with reality when the ball is kicked off. That was not the case tonight. Jesse Marsch fielded the strongest lineup possible, and Metro easily dispatched minor-league Atlanta 3:0.
How strong was the lineup? Luis Robles played in the Open Cup for the first time, and the midfield and attack was all first-choice. The defense was reshuffled due to absentees, but did see Ronald Zubar finally return to partner fellow French Damien Perrinelle. Roy Miller and Connor Lade filled out the flanks.
It was obvious early that the teams are not equally matched. Metro got all the goals it would need in the 7th minute. Bradley Wright-Phillips received the ball on the right side of the box and laid it off for Lloyd Sam. The Englishman's blast tore past a stationary, clueless Atlanta goalkeeper Steward Ceus.
Eight minutes later, the lead was doubled. A competently taken corner kick from Felipe was sent on goal by Sacha Kljestan. The shot was saved, but Zubar was on the doorstep to knock home the rebound.
The last goal came in the 70th minute. Mike Grella took two defenders with him, and set up Sean Davis, on for Kljestan at the half, with a nifty backheel. The youngster took a shot from the edge of the box that was touched by Ceus, but slipped through his incompetent fingers and into the back of the net.
On the other end, Atlanta rarely threatened, and Robles had no problems collecting the shutout. Now, with four games standing between Metro and hardware... let's see how serious they really are.
Lineup: Robles, Miller, Perrinelle, Zubar, Lade, McCarty, Martins, Kljestan, Grella, Sam, Wright-Phillips. Subs: Richards, Jean-Baptiste, Davis.
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