Despite numbers, Wizards settle for draw

Kansas City rallies in second half with first-time goal from Zoltan

Zoltan Hercegfalvi equalized for the Wizards in the second half after Luis Angel Landin had put the Dynamo into the lead -- the first MLS goals for each -- as the Dynamo clinched a playoff berth and Kansas City's playoff chances got a little bit slimmer.

Former Dynamo forward Kei Kamara had the best opportunity early on to open the scoring for Kansas City. In the 14th minute, Claudio Lopez whipped in a beautiful ball behind the Dynamo defense and into the path of Kamara. Kamara had slipped his marker, Geoff Cameron, and had an open net to shoot at, but Kamara's effort frustratingly went off the post.

The turning point of the match should have come in the 17th minute as Dynamo forward Cam Weaver slid recklessly into the back of the feet of Santiago Hirsig, earning an immediate dismissal from referee Jorge Gonzalez.

Despite the man advantage, Kansas City struggled to string together passes in the first half. Their two best chances both came from set pieces. In the 24th minute, Lopez struck a beautiful free kick from 25 yards out, but hit the side netting. Then in the 25th minute off a corner kick, the ball again fell to Lopez, this time 35 yards out, but his effort again was just wide.

The Wizards were subsequently punished for not capitalizing on their man advantage in the 26th minute. Brian Mullan played a beautiful left-footed rolling cross to the far post where Landin calmly tapped it home from a tight angle almost on the goal line to give Houston a 1-0 lead.

The match slowly started to turn in the second half. Kansas City started stringing together more of the ball and forcing Houston to chase possession for long stretches.

In the 58th minute, the Wizards almost had the opening they were looking for as Jack Jewsbury found a hole in the Dynamo defense and was one on one with Dynamo 'keeper Pat Onstad. His first touch though let him down, as the ball went aimlessly out for a goal kick.

While the opportunities weren't plentiful for the Wizards, their possession started to wear down the Dynamo defense. In the 73rd minute, K.C. finally got a deserved equalizer. As Kansas City strung together several passes, the ball fell to Lopez about 35 yards straight out.

With no one pressuring him on the ball, Lopez was left picking out the target of his choice, chipping a ball over the Dynamo defense and finding second-half substitute Zoltan racing into the box. Hercegfalvi sent a first-time right-footed volley past Dynamo 'keeper Pat Onstad for his first MLS goal and the equalizer.

With the tie, the Houston Dynamo punched their ticket to the playoffs, now tied with the LA Galaxy atop the Western Conference. The two teams meet on Sunday, Oct. 18 in a game that will likely determine home-field advantage for the postseason.

The Wizards still sit on the outside looking in at the playoffs with three games left to play. K.C. currently has 32 points with three games remaining and trail the New England Revolution, who have 38 points and hold the last playoff spot. The Wizards travel to face Chivas USA next Saturday at The Home Depot Center.

Dwain Capodice is a contributor to MLSnet.com

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