Missed chances, red cards hurt K.C.
Club will look to build some momentum and gain a playoff berth
In front a crowd of 32,867 -- the largest ever to see an MLS match at Arrowhead Stadium, the Wizards couldn't take advantage of their first-half dominance and then saw Jimmy Conrad and Davy Arnaud sent off in the second. The Wizards will still be in seventh place at the end of the weekend with 36 points, but could see 10th place as close as four points back by Sunday night depending the other results.
With four matches remaining on their schedule and playoff qualification still to be assured, the Wizards intention was clear from the lineup card. To bring more offensive force, Jose Burciaga Jr. and his lethal left-footed strike was moved up to left midfield and usual left midfielder Michael Harrington was pushed back to Burciaga's left back spot. In addition, recent sparkplug substitute Eloy Colombano was inserted up front with Eddie Johnson in place of the injured Scott Sealy.
The Wizards were nearly given a gift in the third minute when midfielder Carlos Marinelli sent in a cross that ricocheted off backtracking defender Troy Roberts and headed toward his own goal, rattling the outside of the left post.
Looking proficient offensively early on, the Wizards penetrated the Galaxy midfield again six minutes later. Davy Arnaud cut in diagonally from the right and found a loosely marked Johnson at the top left corner of the box. Johnson smartly took his time and shot low to Galaxy goalkeeper Joe Cannon's left. The ball hit the post and was cleared quickly.
The Galaxy remained vigorous in their forays into the Wizards end and came close in the 13th minute when midfielder Kyle Martino crossed for forward Alan Gordon in the box. But the header flew wide right.
But the match remained Johnson's to grab. The 23-year-old frontrunner had two more opportunities through the 19th minute as he tested the Galaxy line and won each time. But a 16th goal eluded the U.S. international as he put the first shot into the goalkeeper and the second wide left under pressure from a charging Cannon.
Perhaps Johnson should have traded boots with the Galaxy's Roberts, who nearly put his team down one again in the 32nd minute. He deflected Jack Jewsbury's cross on goal and over Cannon, who went horizontal and tipped the ball over the bar to safety for a brilliant save.
Ten minutes into the second stanza, a good passing sequence saw Marinelli provide the final ball to a streaking Colombano down the inside-right channel. The Argentinean dribbled past the helpless Galaxy netminder to create an open net -- only to ripple the outside netting of the goal, leaving the forward grabbing his head in disbelief.
Two minutes after a play that should have turned the match in their favor, the Wizards found themselves with a larger mountain to climb. Team captain Jimmy Conrad put a late, studs-up tackle into Galaxy midfielder Peter Vagenas and was shown a red card. The ejection immediately injected more intensity into the match and compelled Kansas City coach Curt Onalfo to insert veteran midfielder Sasha Victorine in for Colombano in the 65th minute.
The Galaxy pressed the attack but the Wizards held strong and nearly took the lead on a 40-yard chip from Marinelli in the 72nd minute that flew only a foot over the bar. The home side then threatened again six minutes later after Burciaga was fouled 25 yards out. Taking the set piece himself, Burciaga ripped a rising ball that whisked by the upper left corner and out of play.
But it would take only one Galaxy shot on goal for them to take the lead. In the 80th minute, substitute Gavin Glinton redirected a Mike Randolph cross inside the far post to Kevin Hartman's left. The goal would eventually give the Galaxy a first win on the road since Aug. 26, 2006 - a 5-2 win at D.C. United.
That was sealed moments later as Arnaud clattered late into Vagenas in the 82nd minute to earn the Wizards' second ejection of the match.
Over the final eight minutes of regulation time and an additional four minutes of stoppage time, the Wizards were not able to build upon their 10-3 shot advantage on the night, and more importantly, find the tying goal. It will make for a tense final three games, all against teams seemingly set in the postseason, as the Wizards try to get back after a two-year absence.
Bob Rusert is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
