Wizards fight to the end against United

Kansas City hopes hard-earned draw sets tone for 2010

By Curtis Kitchen / MLSnet.com Staff

"You don't want to go into the offseason with your heads down," said Kei Kamara. (Getty Images)

KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- One of the questions facing the Kansas City Wizards entering the team's final game of the 2009 season was whether focus and intensity would be an issue for a group that already knew its season was over.

The answer was a resounding no.

Forward Kei Kamara scored his first Wizards goal in the team's final game, on the first assist of Graham Zusi's career, and the team scratched back in the waning moments of stoppage time to force a draw with D.C. United in thrilling fashion.

It is a game like that, Kamara said, that the team could stick in its back pocket and reference for motivation heading into the offseason.

"That was kind of what we wanted, not losing, not losing this last game at home and getting that point," Kamara said. "It's good because it's a start for next season. You don't want to go into the offseason with your heads down.

"The fact that you didn't go into the offseason losing your last game, it helps coming back for the next year."

Before a Roger Espinoza shot (that appeared on its way into the goal) led to a handball and resulting red card on United's Fred, it didn't appear that Kansas City would have the luxury of avoiding the home loss.

After Kamara's goal in the 30th minute, United struck back with a pair of goals in the 66th and 82nd minutes; the first on a penalty kick from Jaime Moreno and the last score an unassisted header in front of the net from defender Julius James.

Moreno's opportunity came after a questionable foul was whistled on Matt Marquess, who made his first start, and appearance, of the season. Marquess matched up with Fred, who employed a bit of gamesmanship in leaning into Marquess before hitting the ground and inducing the call from referee Ricardo Salazar.

Wizards technical director/interim head coach Peter Vermes wasn't sure if the call was correct, but he did think it opened the door to United's comeback.

"I'm not sure whether [the call] was or wasn't [correct] in regard to the PK," Vermes said. "Not sure if it was or wasn't, but I think it got them back in the game. That changed the game quite a bit."

Vermes also said he thought the call helped keep his team focused.

"The good thing was I said that we had to make sure we stayed focused on defending," Vermes said. "Then we're going to wind up getting a lot of counterattacks, and we have to take advantage of them.

"The counterattacks are what led to those set pieces at the end of the game, and especially the play that we scored on, the PK that we scored on. That was provided to us because we countered very well."

For the game Kansas City was outshot 14-12, but took as many shots on goal as United, did with six apiece.

Though the season is over, team officials said the Wizards will continue with training and fitness for the next few weeks, wrapping up with an exit physical Nov. 9.

Prior to the season finale, forward Josh Wolff was named the team's MVP and awarded the Wizards' Golden Boot award, leading Kansas City with a career-high 11 goals in 2009. Wolff also won the MVP award in 2004 and '05, scoring 10 goals in each of the two seasons. He is currently tied for sixth in MLS this season.

Team captain Jimmy Conrad, who did not dress for the game due to a hamstring injury, was named the U.S. Soccer Foundation Humanitarian of the Year for his outstanding contributions to the Kansas City community throughout the 2009 season, which included accepting a board member position with the Kansas City Zoo. He has won the award at team level four times in his career, three with Kansas City and once with San Jose.

Curtis Kitchen is a contributor to MLSnet.com.