4:0 New York Montreal Royer 2 Murillo Wright-Phillips 07.29.17 · League

Perhaps Jesse Marsch was right. Perhaps early season struggles were just a rouse, wool pulled over our eyes. Or, perhaps, he saw those struggles and adjusted, with the new formation (3-4-3? 3-6-1? 3-3-3-1? 5-4-1? 3-2-4-1?) finally playing to the team's strengths. Or, perhaps, Metro just run into an easy patch of its schedule. Whatever the case is, Metro ended July a perfect 5-0 in all competitions, including tonight's 4:0 romp over Montreal.

The sole change from last week was the insertion of Michael Murillo, which resulted in Damien Perrinelle going to the bench and Sal Zizzo playing the left side of the backline. As critical as we've been of Zizzo of the past, he was more than alright tonight.

The whole team was more than alright, in a dominating performance from the opening whistle. Montreal had one real chance the entire game, a breakaway midway through the first half that Luis Robles made a fantastic save to tip the ball over the crossbar.

As for Metro, they attacked early and often. In the 22nd minute, Montreal keeper Maxime Crepeau took down Daniel Royer in the penalty area. The midfielder nailed yet another penalty kick, this time going straight down the middle, fooling the diving Crepeau.

Metro could have enlarged the lead later in the half, but Aaron Long's point-blank chance of a corner was saved off the line. A defender did end up scoring his first Metro goal: it was Murillo, in the 58th. Off another corner, a scramble in the box led to Montreal defenders tripping over each other. Royer pounced on the ball, and hitting it off Crepeau. Three Metro players were standing at the goalmouth, and Murillo knocked it in from close range.

Alex Muyl hit a goalpost after racing down the left flank, then did one better in the 85th, sending a cross that Bradley Wright-Phillips, with a defender on him, redirected across his body for his 80th league goal. Four minutes later, the exclamation point was added by Royer (his sixth in four league games!), when he beat the pathetic Crepeau to the short side.

So, goodbye, magical July! Let's see what August brings...

Lineup: Robles, Zizzo, Long, Murillo, Muyl, Adams, Martins, Davis, Kljestan, Royer, Wright-Phillips. Subs: Veron, Perrinelle, Etienne.