Metro allows blue team to come back, 2:1
August 24, 2019
Metro came out flying out of the gate. An early goal broke the ice. When this team is on, it's a beauty to watch, we thought. And then, the beauty had its face carved up and spit out, as NYCFC dominated the entire middle of the match, and run off 2:1 winners.
Kemar Lawrence and Tim Parker came back to their usual starting spots for the Rece Buckmaster and Amro Tarek, the latter suspended. Usual starters Sean Davis and Marc Rzatkowski were rested for Vincent Bezecourt and Alex Muyl. Up front, Bradley Wright-Phillips finally got the starting not at the expense of Tom Barlow.
Metro started with the maddening press, and it paid off early. Ten minutes in, off a turnover, Alex Muyl and Alejandro Romero Gamarra played a give-and-go, which ended with Muyl slicing through the box and piercing the net. Metro could have doubled its lead soon after, but BWP miffed a cross in what would have been an empty net.
Armas recalled the press midway through the period, and it was time for the blue poseurs to dominate. Woodwork was hit twice, Luis Robles was forced to make two tough saves, and then, in the 43rd, Michael Murillo pushed Maxi Moralez in the box. The victim hit his penalty kick straight down the middle to tie the game. Then, Robles was pressed again, turning away a dipping free kick at the last possible moment.
The second half started much the same, with another goalpost hit from close range. Then, off a deep throw-in, Heber, surrounded by Metro defenders, back-heeled a pass into the net for a 2:1 lead. It could have been worse, as soon after that, Keaton Parks somehow missed a point-blanked header that looked destined for the empty net.
The flow of the game changed in the 65th, when Josh Sims made his debut. The Englishman was lively on the ball, but could not break through. The game got frantic in injury time, when poseur Ronald Matarrita was given a red card for headbutting Murillo. Alas, Metro's best chance went wasting when Barlow tripped in the box on what should have been a goalmouth opportunity.
So much for beauty. The up-and-down season trickles towards its inevitable conclusion...
Lineup: Robles, Lawrence, Long, Parker, Murillo, Casseres, Bezecourt, Muyl, Romero Gamarra, Royer, Wright-Phillips. Subs: Rzatkowski, Sims, Barlow.
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