Wizards downed by Sounders FC

Kansas City eliminated from playoff contention prior to match

A first-half goal by Tyrone Marshall put Seattle into the lead before goals by the Wizards' Zoltan and Josh Wolff three minutes apart put the home side ahead. But substitute Roger Levesque answered back to draw Sounders FC level before Jaqua's tap-in sealed their postseason ticket.

Kansas City's playoff elimination came before the game even kicked off as Toronto FC defeated Real Salt Lake and New England drew with Chicago. Those same results meant Seattle had to win if they wanted to seal their place on Saturday night.

Play began with a frantic pace as both sides moved the ball quickly through lively interchanges. Seattle, having won just three of their last 11 games, gained the first strong chance in the sixth minute as Freddie Ljungberg found Fredy Montero at the back post. Between two defenders, the 22-year-old Brazilian made headed for goal, but goalkeeper Kevin Hartman knocked the shot down then collapsed on the loose ball.

Kansas City's attack fell to counterattacking as Sounders FC found their rhythm, and soon took the lead off a Ljungberg corner. Veteran back Tyrone Marshall delivered from close range after a Hartman save had deflected the corner at the near post. The goal was Marshall's second of the season and the 15th of his MLS career.

Seattle clearly realized one goal might not have been enough to clinch a playoff spot, despite the Wizards having won only four times in 13 previous home matches this season. Steve Zakuani, who almost caught Hartman off his line from just inside the halfway line, and Jaqua both rattled Kansas City's crossbar in the 31st and 35th minutes respectively.

Hoping to muster a stronger attack, Kansas City interim head coach Peter Vermes went to five in the midfield to start the second half, inserting second-year midfielder Chance Myers for back Jonathan Leathers.

And soon the equalizer came. Michael Harrington, now at left back, drove a low diagonal ball from 28 yards out on the wing. Zoltan lunged for the splitting service, driving it inside Kasey Keller's left post for his second goal since being acquired during the summer transfer window.

After Keller saved a bullet from Myers in the 53rd, Kansas City took the lead a minute later. Wolff hit for his career high 11th goal as he knocked in a Davy Arnaud cross to the back post with the sole of his left boot.

Forward Roger Levesque came on in the 63rd minute for a struggling Montero, who had missed two prime goal-scoring opportunities early in the half. But Levesque didn't follow suit, scoring his second goal in as many games off another Ljungberg corner to draw Sounders FC level. The ball first was flicked on by Marshall before an open Levesque nodded home at the far post in the 69th minute.

But Ljungberg's energy and invention saw to it that the see-saw battle would not end there. Leaving rookie Matt Besler on the field on the right wing, the former Arsenal man entered Kansas City's box and drove at Hartman before easily picking out Jaqua all alone in the heart of the six, and he had no difficulty finding the open net for his eighth of the season and the match-winner.

Sounders FC, who stormed MLS from the start of the year with three consecutive wins and have had the highest attendance leaguewide all season, can now approach next Saturday's final match of the regular season as a playoff preparation instead of a critical match. However, they will be taking on FC Dallas, one of four teams tied with 39 points for eighth place overall and the final wild card berth.

Meanwhile, the Wizards will close out their 2009 campaign the same day by playing host to D.C. United, another of the teams tied on 39 points, along with New England and Toronto FC, with the playoff race destined to go down to the final weekend.

Bob Rusert is a contributor to MLSnet.com.

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