Earthquakes 1
MetroStars 0
There are plenty of things the MetroStars can do, but there are three they’ve proven they can’t. They can’t score, can’t respond to adversity, and can’t buy a win at home. Those are three sure ways to kill off a fan base, and so far this young season, the Metros are guilty of all three.
After outplaying San Jose for most of the game, they allowed a goal against the run of play. Instead of responding, they wilted. They suffered a meek 1-0 defeat in front of just 8,274 at Giants Stadium that left them winless at home and averaging the worst attendance in the league – and their history.
Ronald Cerritos’ 60th-minute header – completely unmarked – proved the game-winner. It seemingly took the heart out of the MetroStars (1-2-2), whose five points left them tied for the Eastern Conference cellar.
“We just switched off on the play that led to the goal,” said Bob Bradley. “It rattled us. “When we needed to pick ourselves up and have more to push, I didn’t feel we had enough. That was the part that left me frustrated. When we needed to have guys raise the level of play, I didn’t think we did well enough.”
The Metros dominated play early, with midfielder Amado Guevara hitting the left post from 25 yards out in the 14th minute and F Sergio Galvan Rey flicking a header off the crossbar in the 31st.
But at the hour-mark MF Dwayne De Rosario carried the ball down the left wing and a backheel between two defenders sprung Brad Davis free through the box. The ex-Metro got to the backline and sent a left-footed cross far post to Cerritos, who’d escaped Carlos Mendes for an easy header from the top of the six-yard box.
“As soon as the goal was scored the whole team went down and we didn’t have what it takes to tie it,” said Guevara. “The team just was not ready for it. Emotionally we just didn’t have it at that point. It will be addressed.”
They couldn’t score against a San Jose club that had allowed at least two goals in every game this year, leaving them winless in four home tilts this year, 1-5-4 dating to last season. After averaging 17,195 fans last year, they’ve drawn an MLS-worst average of 8,646 this year; but they won’t use the mausoleum-like atmosphere as a crutch.
“[Shoot], if I knew the answer we’d be undefeated,” said MF Mark Lisi. “I felt like a lot of heads dropped. That’s when you have to dig down deep, move quicker, help each other; I don’t think we had that.”
They can only hope the possible returns of Youri Djorkaeff and John Wolyniec next weekend in Chicago will help, with MF Eddie Gaven saying, “We have good guys in here; maybe guys are too nice, not getting on each other when guys aren’t doing well.”
