Metro gets easy win over Orlando, 2:0
July 13, 2016
Well, maybe a game like this will cure what ails you. Metro put on a complete performance, dominating Orlando in all areas of the field, and easily came out 2:0 victors. Now, the opponent was a team that just fired its coach and was missing its top player... but let's not get too much in that, OK?
Aurelien Collin and Chris Duvall returned from suspension, replacing the injured Gideon Baah, as well as Sal Zizzo. Sacha Kljestan was given a rest in favor of Sean Davis (Felipe took over in attacking midfield for the first time). Alex Muyl stepped in for Gonzalo Veron.
After some early pressure from Orlando, Metro settled into a rhythm. Bradley Wright-Phillips flicked on a Mike Grella cross onto the path of Chris Duvall, but the defender had his shot saved. Then, in the 32nd, it looked that a Grella shot was handled in the box by Orlando defender Seb Hines. The referee pointed to the spot, conferred with his assistant... and called it back. Apparently, the shot might have hit Hines in the face. Metro was furious.
The fury died down five minutes later, when, off a corner, the ball was passed back to Connor Lade, and the diminutive defender slashed a shot across the box and into the top left corner. It was his first career goal in league play (but does give him goals in three types of competitions).
The second half started chipplly, with the referee handing out fouls left and right, mostly to Orlando. After Metro tried to play some tricks on two free kicks, a foul on Felipe in the 59th saw them have a chance just outside the box. There were no tricks this time -- the Brazilian stepped up, the wall was covering the right side of the net, so he just sent it left. It was his second goal off a free kick this year.
Luis Robles didn't have to do much, but did make a spectacular save on a Cyle Larin breakaway. That was Orlando's only chance of the match. Metro could have easily added, but Veron's breakaway shot smashed into Joe Bendik face, drawing blood from the terrible goalkeeper.
When Metro beat Orlando earlier this year, that signaled a turnaround from a terrible slump. One can only hope that history repeats itself...
Lineup: Robles, Lade, Collin, Zubar, Duvall, McCarty, Martins, Davis, Grella, Muyl, Wright-Phillips. Subs: Veron, Wright-Phillips, Perrinelle.
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