1:3 Atlanta New York Barco Royer Wright-Phillips 2 05.20.18 · League

Normally, we would be head over heels over a third straight road win, and fourth straight overall, especially against such a supposedly formidable opponent. And yet, all of that seems secondary to the sight of Kemar Lawrence carted off the field after lying motionlessly for more than five minutes. Fingers crossed that everything is OK with Kemar... fingers crossed.

The number of storylines is a multitude; we begin with Luis Robles not starting a league match for the first time since coming to Metro in 2012. Ryan Meara was up to the task, making two massive saves early on to preserve a scoreless beginning.

26 minutes in, Meara couldn't do anything after a deflection at the top of the box left the ball with Ezequiel Barco, and Atlanta opened the scoring.

The second storyline will obviously be the refereeing. Soon after the opener, Atlanta looked to have scored the second, with Josef Martinez converting a breakaway. However, VAR determined that the only reason for the breakaway was Martinez clipping Tim Parker, and the goal was called back. Hometown boos continued to rain in the 42nd, when Bradley Wright-Phillips was dragged down in the box. Daniel Royer cleverly chipped it up the middle, and the game was tied.

Metro was thoroughly outplayed most of the first half, but whatever adjustments Jesse Marsch made at the break, worked. Six minutes into the period, a fantastic cross by Michael Murillo was headed in by BWP. Four minutes later, after Atlanta failed to clear the corner, it was another Wright-Phillips header that would prove to be the final goal of the game.

The final goal, but not the final important event. Little before BWP's first, VAR called back a straight red on Jeff Larentowicz. In the 65th, Leandro Gonzalez Pirez crushed Florian Valot at the edge of the penalty area, but was only given a yellow. Then, in the 71st, a straight red was given to Greg Garza for going studs up on Sean Davis.

Metro was now up a man and two goals; the game should have been easy from there. Unfortunately, soon after the ejection, Lawrence, with no opponent around him, collapsed on the turf. The game was paused for a good 10 minutes while he was carted off... thankfully, at the end of that, Kemar was talking and moving his extremities. Also, at the same time, Tyler Adams removed himself from the match with an apparent knee injury.

Pyrrhic victory: a victory or goal achieved at too great a cost. Let's hope this one wasn't one of those...

Lineup: Meara, Lawrence, Long, Parker, Murillo, Adams, Davis, Valot, Royer, Romero Gamarra, Wright-Phillips. Subs: Lade, Etienne, Muyl.