Metro settles for third straight tie, 1:1 with Fire
September 9, 2017
Back in 2011, when the grizzled "Clever" Hans Backe roamed the Metro sidelines, ties for the norm. 16 times Metro ended a game with a draw, which tied that year's Chicago Fire for most in MLS history (that far). In fact, Metro and the Fire drew both times they met that regular season.
The story in 2017 has been different. Until recently, Metro's regular season results have been mostly binary, with only two ties in their first 24 games. However, the tide has turned, as Metro tied its third straight match, this time, against their old drawing partner, Chicago. 1:1 was the final score.
Kemar Lawrence anf Fidel Escobar stepped in on defense, Sal Zizzo switched back to the wing, and Tyler Adams moved up in midfield as Damien Perrinelle sat and Sean Davis had to sit out due to yellow cards.
Metro struck first, just eight minutes into the game. On a play that started as a corner kick, Escobar sent a ball into the box, where it was headed by the set piece taker, Sacha Kljestan. Somehow, the Fire defense left Bradley Wright-Phillips unmarked, and he easily pounced on the ball and slammed in his 95th goal in all competitions.
Metro was saved by the woodwork twice in the first half, but Chicago would break through in the 66th. A long ball was sent into the box. Escobar was the only defender back, as the Fire attacker saved it from going out, centering it instead. There, it was Nemanja Nikolic's time to pounce, and the game was tied.
Luis Robles made a fantastic save on a close-range attempt to keep the game level, but it was Metro who controlled the ball the rest of the way. Sadly, the forays into the Fire end were met with a multitude of defenders, and a tie is what we got.
Now, all those ties back in 2011 meant Metro needed to win its regular season finale to make the playoffs. Just a reminder...
Lineup: Robles, Lawrence, Long, Escobar, Lade, Zizzo, Adams, Martins, Kljestan, Muyl, Wright-Phillips. Subs: Veron, Keita.
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