League unbeaten run ends in Seattle, 3:1
March 19, 2017
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Dempsey
Morris
Shipp
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Wright-Phillips
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Somehow, Metro entered tonight's game in Seattle not having lost in league play since early July. Now, considering the run was interrupted by both playoff and CONCACAF elimination, it didn't exactly seem like a big deal. Well, now it's not a deal of any kind, as Seattle easily dispatched Metro, 3:1. The streak, for all it was worth, ended at 18 games.
Jesse Marsch made two changes to last week's lineup; Kemar Lawrence was given a personal day, as Justin Bilyeu stepped in, and Fredrik Gulbrandsen got his first start in place of Derrick Etienne in the newly-favored 4-2-2-2.
Metro controlled the ball early on, but, continuing a disheartening theme, failed to penetrate the opponent's box. In the 28th minute, an awful back pass from Damien Perrinelle was jumped on by Jordan Morris. Luis Robles had to react, and the Seattle attacker's extra stride took him through the Metro goalkeeper and to the ground. Clint Dempsey converted from the spot. Late in the half, Robles did well by stopping another breakaway.
In the 57th, Mike Grella entered the game, Metro reverted to the good old 4-2-3-1, and immediately scored. A Sal Zizzo cross found the head of Bradley Wright-Phillips. The Englishman struck it off the woodwork and in.
Unfortunately, Metro failed the rest of the way. In the 66th, Zizzo was abused on the endline, and Bilyeu lost Morris for the go-ahead header. Then, in the 79th, a long shot saw Robles go to his left, but a Harry Shipp redirection saw the ball sneak into the goal, with no chance for the Metro keeper to react.
Losing the streak is not disheartening; it was bound to go one day. What's worse is how Metro played; BWP's goal was one of two shots on frame, the other being a long blast by Felipe. The 4-2-2-2 is clearly not working offensively, and even though the team started the season with two wins, it's hard to imagine that they have another long unbeaten streak in them.
There's still time to figure it out, of course. Remember, last year, before the streak, the team started 1-6... So, theoretically, we're ahead already?
Lineup: Robles, Bilyeu, Long, Perrinelle, Zizzo, Martins, Davis, Kljestan, Royer, Gulbrandsen, Wright-Phillips. Subs: Grella, Etienne, Muyl.
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