1:0 New York NY City Fernandez 05.13.23 · League

Let's not kid ourselves: this wasn't great. It was an offensive performance as futile as we've seen one year... with one major difference. On their one real chance of the game, Metro scored... and won 1:0. They won! That was the major difference.

Troy Lesesne's first league game in charge saw an interesting wrinkle that had Dru Yearwood play very high up the field. It didn't work, as the Englishman was completely wasted, wandering around without the ball. Metro was able to pressure the blue poseurs numerous times, but could not do anything once the ball was won. Turnover after turnover meant the first half was as drab as we've seen all year... and that's saying something.

The second half was much of the same. Fortunately, Gerhard Struber's departure did not seem to weaken the defense, as it was once again up to the task, limiting the poseurs to one shot on goal. Metro placed just four shots on target themselves, and none looked to have bothered the keeper... except the one in the 76th. Omir Fernandez pounced on a loose ball at the top of the semicircle, and deftly placed a lob over the dumbfounded goalkeeper and under the crossbar.

Metro did not have much trouble holding the lead, even with a head-scratching nine minutes of injury time added on. So, two games from Lesesne, two 1:0 wins on goals by Fernandez, two triumphs over the two biggest rivals. No, it wasn't great, but considering where we were a week ago, it's a welcome sight.

Lineup: Coronel, Tolkin, Nealis, Reyes, Nealis, Edelman, Casseres, Harper, Yearwood, Fernandez, Barlow. Subs: Stroud, Carmona, Burke, Ndam.