Inept Metro shutout once again, 1:0 by Fire
March 30, 2019
Last year, when the first choice lineup was on the field, you can be assured that Metro would deliver. Today, for the first time in 2019, that was the case -- Kemar Lawrence and Alejandro Romero Gamarra both made their regular season debut -- but no one delivered. Metro put out a flat, lifeless performance, losing to the Fire 1:0. They recorded just a single shot on goal.
One could make the case that it wasn't such a big deal that Metro didn't bring any major reinforcements over the offseason. After all, this was a team that broke the MLS point record, why mess which something that obviously worked? Well, there is one obvious flaw with that logic: Metro lost a player, but didn't replace him. And it wasn't just a player, it was the best defensive midfielder in MLS.
Last year's team ran through Tyler Adams; his tireless work in front of the defense not only tormented opposing midfielders, it also kick-started the attack. With no disrespect with Sean Davis, who was so good when playing in front of Adams, or Marc Rzatkowski, Adams' supposed replacement (but not really, since he was on the roster last year!), this is not where their strengths are. And the Metro midfield, so dominant a year ago, has fallen flat yet again.
The lone goal of the match came in the 48th minute. A Fire shot rebounded off the right goalpost and then bounced off Tim Parker and into the net. It barely crossed the goal line, but for the Fire, "barely" was enough.
It was enough because Metro was absolutely inept. And Metro was absolutely inept because Red Bull decided not to replace Tyler Adams.
Lineup: Robles, Lawrence, Long, Parker, Murillo, Davis, Rzatkowski, Muyl, Royer, Romero Gamarra, Wright-Phillips. Subs: Ivan, Jorgensen, Lade.
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