3:2 New York Chicago Wright-Phillips Grella Kljestan Larentowicz Accam 09.11.15 · League

26 minutes into the game, Metro was down two goals, and all seemed lost. Just "seemed", of course, for Metro immediately pulled one back, and then scored two more to escape with a 3:2 win over Chicago. It often wasn't pretty, but considering how it started, it was more than satisfying.

Jesse Marsch started the same lineup that demolished DC two weeks ago, and it looked to pay off early. Metro's attack created numerous chances, leaving Chicago to sit back and counterattack. It was on one of those, in the 14th minute, when Damien Perrinelle brought down Kennedy Igboananike outside the box. Somehow, eyesight-challenged Armando Villarreal pointed to the spot. Luis Robles guessed right, but Jeff Larentowicz still converted.

12 minutes later, another counterattack doubled Chicago's lead. David Accam received the ball with oodles of space on the right side. He fought off Connor Lade, got into the penalty area, and got Robles to commit. With the Metro goalkeeper on the ground, Accam calmly tapped it into the empty net.

Before the dust settled and we started to lament losing a game to a last-place team, Metro responded. A terrific feed from Sacha Kljestan went through traffic and found Bradley Wright-Phillips at the edge of the box. The Englishman took an intelligent touch and placed the ball into the bottom left corner.

A few minutes later, another counterattack found Accam with acres of space, this time on the left. Thankfully, this time the Fire striker shot wide. And then, in the 38th, Lloyd Sam found Mike Grella in the box, unmarked, with his back to the goal. The bearded attacker turned around (still with no defender on him), shot, and tied the game.

The game-winning goal came on a penalty, and, once agian, Villarreal proved his incompetence (see, we can bash horrible referees even when it benefits us). In the 71st, Sam was barely touched, but went to the ground inside the box. Again, Villarreal pointed to the spot. This time, Kljestan sent Sean Johnson the wrong way and Metro had their lead.

The defense shaped up and didn't leave the Fire many chances, counterattack or not. The win put Metro top of the East for the first time all year.

So, no, it definitely wasn't all lost.

Lineup: Robles, Lawrence, Perrinelle, Miazga, Lade, McCarty, Martins, Kljestan, Grella, Sam, Wright-Phillips. Subs: Veron, Wright-Phillips, Zubar.