1:0 Cincinnati New York Denkey 02.22.25 · League

The last time Metro played a season opener on the heels of making (losing) MLS Cup, it was a disaster of incredible proportions. The 3:0 drubbing by expansion Seattle was a harbinger of the horror to come in the 2009 season. This time, a 1:0 loss to Cincinnati wasn't nearly as bad; no, Metro didn't score, but potentially deserved better from an evenly-played match.

Sandro Schwarz decided to open the season in the same formation as the last one ended, with newcomer Alexander Hack joining Sean Nealis and Noah Eile as the three center backs. Omar Valencia made a surprising start on the left, with Cameron Harper on the right, and Daniel Edelman and Peter Stroud in the middle. The rest of the lineup should be obvious: Emil Forsberg in the center, Lewis Morgan and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting up top, and Carlos Coronel in goal.

There were a few shaky moments from the defense early on, including a terrible back pass from Valencia that almost ended up in a goal. Metro started to control the game midway through the first half, which led to the best chances of the match. A rebound fell to Choupo-Moting, who attempted a backheel for what would have been an epic opener, but the shot was saved.

Late in the half, off a turnover, Morgan was floored when attempting to go for the ball, then tried to connect on the rebound while still on the ground. That was saved, and the Forsberg follow-up went off the crossbar. VAR decided that no penalty should be awarded.

After the break, Metro was lucky not to go down on a dangerous goalmouth cross that was miss-hit at the far post, but surrendered the lone goal of the match soon after. In the 70th minute, a long ball dropped in the Metro penalty box. Coronel hesitated, decided to come out, but did not get to the ball. Instead, Cincinnati's 16-million-dollar acquisition, Kevin Denkey, headed home over the Metro keeper.

Metro looked to have run out of gas from that point on, with the home team looking more likely to double the lead than to allow an equalizer. Needing a goal, Schwarz brought on Julian Hall...

(We do not want to bash Hall. He is an excellent prospect who has shown glimpses of relevance. Alas, he still gets lost in the game, and is mostly ineffective off the ball. But this is what we got as the first striker option off the bench.)

Well, at least it wasn't as bad as 2009?

Lineup: Coronel, Valencia, Hack, Nealis, Eile, Edelman, Stroud, Harper, Forsberg, Morgan, Choupo-Moting. Subs: Carballo, Hall, Carmona.