2:0 Columbus New York Meram Kamara 11.22.15 · Playoff

It wasn't supposed to be like this. This team was different. This team scored goals at will. This team dominated the midfield. This team imposed its will on others. This team was going to be the one who finally brought it home.

This team still might... but boy, did they dig a hole for themselves in Columbus. Allowing a goal mere seconds in, and then a dagger late, heading back home for the second leg with an incredibly tall mountain to climb... It's not insurmountable, but it's definitely improbable.

But first things first, and this time, "first" meant nine seconds in. Straight off the kickoff, Metro defenders run into each other, the ball falls to Justin Meram, 1:0 Columbus.

And then, the back-breaker, five minutes left in regulation. A one-goal loss is bad, but it's not terrible, but here is Cedrick Mabwati walking through the Metro penalty area, and here is Luis Robles making a terrific save, only for the ball to drop to a completely free Kei Kamara for the easiest of tap-ins... 2:0. It's not the end, but it certainly feels like it.

And here is the thing -- it could have been worse. The usual midfield dominance was non-existent, offensive forays were feeble, ten corner kicks were wasted, and Metro didn't force Steve Clark to make even one tough save. The team that was shutout just twice all year, and none since May, laid out a big goose egg at the most important time of the year.

It wasn't supposed to be like this...

Lineup: Robles, Lawrence, Zubar, Miazga, Zizzo, McCarty, Martins, Kljestan, Grella, Sam, Wright-Phillips. Subs: Veron, Abang.