Metro cornered at Yankee Stadium, 2:0
September 17, 2022
There was time in years past when Metro used the dimensions of Yankee Stadium to its advantage. Numerous corner kicks were converted for Metro goals, as the home side seemed helpless in its own confines. Those times are long gone. Today, it were the blue poseurs who scored two off corners early, making the score 2:0 as the dust barely settled.
Less than a minute in, a corner was redirected in the box and onto the head of Alexander Callens, who easily beat Coronel from close range. In the 23rd, another corner beat the Metro defense for another close-range conversion. It could have been worse, as the poseurs blew a breakaway (this time, not off a corner), choosing to pass as opposed to shoot.
Metro did have a couple of quality chances in the first half. Off a turnover deep, the home side failed to clear the ball. Luquinhas pounced at the top of the box, but his shot was cleared off the line. It turned out to be Metro's only shot on goal of the entire game. Late in the half, it looked like Elias Manoel scored after heading in a rebound off an Aaron Long header (yes, off a corner). Unfortunately, VAR called it back for a clear offside.
The blue poseurs seemed to content to sit on the lead, as Metro could do little to break through. Early in the second half, Morgan got behind the defense to setup Manoel, who tried to round the goalkeeper. Sean Johnson made contact with the ball, with Caden Clark blasting high on the deflection. Later in the half, a quick restart on a free kick sprung Omir Fernandez, but his shot sailed high.
It's a good thing that Metro got some help to already clinch a playoff spot. If this performance happened with a berth on the line, it would have felt even more miserable than it already was...
Lineup: Coronel, Tolkin, Long, Nealis, Duncan, Edelman, Casseres, Morgan, Luquinhas, Clark, Manoel. Subs: Fernandez, Barlow, Reyes.
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