MLS Sporting Kansas City

Wizards Tie Chicago Fire 1-1 Sunday in Front of Sellout Crowd

Published on October 5, 2008 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release


The Kansas City Wizards tied the Chicago Fire 1-1 Sunday in front of a packed house of 10,385 at CommunityAmerica Ballpark in Kansas City, Kansas. Defender Michael Harrington scored a second-half equalizer just after halftime. Chicago went in front through a penalty kick from Mexican superstar Cuauhtémoc Blanco in first-half stoppage time. After the match, Kansas City finds itself one point out of the final spot in the 2008 MLS Cup Playoffs with three matches remaining.

Kansas City controlled the run of play for much of the first half before Chicago scored late in the period. Free kicks in the 6th minute and 42nd minute led to near misses from distance from Jonathan Leathers and Herculez Gomez, respectively. After a short free kick, Leathers launched a right-footed bomb from 30 yards out that missed the right upright by less than a foot. Then, late in the half, Gomez hit a free kick from 30 yards out that dipped down over the wall and skimmed the crossbar before going out of play.

In the 45th minute, Wizards defender Harrington was called for handling the ball in the penalty area after a cross sailed near the end line at the back post. Former Mexico international Cuauhtémoc Blanco stepped up and buried the ball in the lower-right corner of the goal for a 1-0 Fire lead going into the half.

Harrington immediately leveled the match after halftime, creating the final 1-1 score line just three minutes into the second half. Midfielder Herculez Gomez started the play, putting forward Josh Wolff through between defenders on the right flank. Wolff held up the ball, then played a long-distance cross to Harrington pushing forward from his left back position. Harrington did a quick step over and cut to his right, bending a hard-hit shot inside the far post past a helpless Jon Busch for his second goal of the 2008 campaign. Wolff and Gomez each recorded their third assist of the season on the play.

Kansas City is now one point behind the Colorado Rapids and FC Dallas for the final playoff spot with three matches remaining. Two of the Wizards final three will be played at friendly CommunityAmerica Ballpark, where Kansas City is 6-2-4 this season. The Wizards are 7-2-4 overall at home on the year, counting a 2-0 win over the Los Angeles Galaxy that was played at Arrowhead Stadium. Next Saturday, Kansas City hosts the New England Revolution at 7 p.m. CT at CAB in an important game for the playoff push.

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