2:1 New York New England Wright-Phillips Royer Nguyen 05.27.17 · League

It looked like the swoon would continue. Yet another penalty leading to an early deficit. A three-game homestand turning Red Bull Arena into unfriendly confines. The offense failing to string passes together or aim shots on goal. And then, something happened.

Metro played their best game of the season, coming from behind to beat New England, 2:1. The final score doesn't tell the disparity of the match, as Metro dominated the play ever since the early Revs penalty.

Jesse Marsch made three changes from a week ago. Michael Murillo's suspension made way for Sal Zizzo. Sean Davis and Daniel Royer returned to the midfield, pushing Alex Muyl and Fredrik Gulbrandsen to the bench.

Just nine minutes in, Aaron Long lost the ball at midfield. The Revs broke in on goal, and Damien Perrinelle took down Diego Fagundez in the box. Lee Nguyen converted.

This time, Metro did not hang its head. The once-vaunted high press came back with a vengeance. Sacha Kljestan relayed passes, Mike Grella and Daniel Royer made things difficult, and Kemar Lawrence flew up the flank. The first half didn't produce a goal, but it wasn't for the lack of opportunities.

The breakthrough came barely a minute into the second, when Lawrence sent a low cross from the left. Revs goalkeeper Cody Cropped got his hands on it, but the ball dropped right in front of him. With Royer applying pressure, Bradley Wright-Phillips ended up with the ball, and slyly backheeled it past the pathetic goalie to tie the game.

The winner also came from a Lawrence cross. In the 74th minute, the blistering Jamaican found Royer, wide open at the right post. The Austrian easily knocked in his fourth of the year.

The only concern from the match (other than the continuing trend of giving up penalty kicks) was Long's injury that forced him to come off the field for the first time all year. Not only was Zizzo forced to move to central defense, but with Aurelien Collin still injured, Metro could be out of options. It's not like signing a central defender wasn't obvious since last season ended?

Lineup: Robles, Lawrence, Long, Perrinelle, Zizzo, Martins, Davis, Kljestan, Grella, Royer, Wright-Phillips. Subs: Veron, Muyl, Lade.