The missed shot
November 29, 2015
The lasting image of this game will likely come from deep into injury time, when Bradley Wright-Phillips' header graced off the post and rolled out. It shouldn't be.
The final score of this one was 1:0 Metro; the final score of the series was 2:1 Columbus. If BWP's shot went in, we would be going to overtime, possibly saving Metro's season. If it goes in, we have an instant classic, an all-time finish, a spectacular comeback...
That's not the story here. No, the story is that Metro was completely outclassed on every area of the field for 180 minutes. Yes, they then scored, yes, they almost tied it, yes, they could have extended the series...
But no; they got exactly what they deserved. Hell, if Luis Robles did not come up with those magnificent saves in the first half -- saves that his defense left him absolutely exposed on, this series would have been over much earlier than injury time. The missed shot here is not BWP's effort; it's Metro's overall ineptitude, when all looked lined up for them to take the title.
For all the talk of a quick goal that needed to give Metro a chance, they didn't get a shot on goal until 47 minutes into the game. For all the talk of a dominant midfield, it fell flat for the second straight match. Yes, they woke up late, yes, they made it close and exciting at the end, yes, if only BWP's header went in...
It didn't, and here we are. The 20th season, for all its promise, ended just like the 19 before it. Now let's see if the Red Bull brass decides to blow it all up again, or stays the course and builds on the foundation.
That being said, after 20 seasons... it would have been nice, for a change, if that shot didn't miss.
Lineup: Robles, Lawrence, Zubar, Miazga, Zizzo, McCarty, Martins, Kljestan, Grella, Sam, Wright-Phillips. Subs: Veron, Abang, Wright-Phillips.
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