3:0 Philadelphia New York Sapong 3 05.06.17 · League

So much for squad rotation, heh? Facing three games in eight days, Jesse Marsch elected to go with the "B" lineup on Wednesday, and lost 2:0. The "A" lineup returned on Saturday... and lost 3:0, to a terrible Philly team mired in a winless season. Winless until tonight, that is.

That "A" lineup was a revert to last week's triumph over Chicago (a triumph that now seems so long ago), with the only difference being Michael Murillo getting his second start at right back.

A disjointed first half saw a good chance for Metro when Kemar Lawrence was due to receive a Daniel Royer cross on the doorstep to the goal... but the Metro defender was plowed down, with no penalty called.

As the second half progressed, Luis Robles made a fantastic save on a short-range header... and then, in the 74th, Aaron Long, with no one around him, lost the ball in what must have been the lights, and it went to Philly. Long rushed back, but C.J. Sapong's shot went off his legs and into the net.

Long had a chance to make amends, but missed just wide off a set piece. Soon after, Bradley Wright-Phillips was but through by Felipe, but his shot went straight at the Philly keeper. The worms went the other way, the cross was headed down in front of the net, and Sapong followed up with his second in the 81st. Four minutes later, Damien Perrinelle was called for a handball at the edge of the box, and Sapong completed his hat-trick from the spot.

So, as it stands, Metro has lost its last five road games, allowing 13 goals in the process. The home confines await... but this road awfulness has to end, squad rotation or not.

Lineup: Robles, Lawrence, Long, Perrinelle, Murillo, Adams, Martins, Kljestan, Royer, Muyl, Wright-Phillips. Subs: Gulbrandsen, Grella, Etienne.