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Kansas City Wizards Defeat Chivas USA 1-0 Saturday Night in First Match of Semifinal Series

October 27, 2007 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release


The Kansas City Wizards earned a 1-0 victory Saturday in Game 1 of the 2007 Western Conference Semifinal Series on a Davy Arnaud free kick from 35 yards out and stellar goalkeeping from veteran goalkeeper Kevin Hartman. The return match of the two-game, aggregate-goal series is scheduled for next Saturday, October 3 at 9:30 p.m. CT at the Home Depot Center. The Wizards are now 10-2-1 all-time at home in the playoffs and set a new postseason attendance record.

Kansas City was the aggressor early, as forward Scott Sealy intercepted a pass in the 2nd minute and sent an early ball wide for midfielder Sasha Victorine on the left flank. Victorine took a touch then played a ball along the ground to streaking forward Eddie Johnson. Johnson rounded 'keeper Brad Guzan, but his touch took him to the end line as the Chivas USA defender recovered. Johnson laid the ball off but a cross was cleared and the threat ended without a shot.

Victorine was again part of a dangerous opportunity in the 5th minute, as he played midfielder Kurt Morsink into the penalty box. Morsink cut inside a defender and fired toward the back post, but Guzan was able to cover the shot for one of his two saves.

In the 12th minute, Kansas City nearly turned defense into offsense. Defender Jack Jewsbury cleared a bouncing ball deep into the Chivas half as Sealy outran defender and former Wizards teammate Shavar Thomas to the ball. Sealy spun around Thomas in the penalty area and took a shot from close range that Guzan tipped up and over the cross bar to deny the opportunity.

Chivas created its first dangerous opportunity in minute 31 as midfielder Sacha Kljestan collected a free ball near the center circle. Kljestan played ahead for streaking midfielder Francisco Mendoza who cut into the penalty area and fired toward the back post. His effort missed wide without troubling Hartman.

Kansas City recorded the game's lone goal in the 35th minute after forward Eddie Johnson was fouled by Chivas midfielder Paulo Nagamura 35 yards from goal. Arnaud stepped over the ball as Chivas set up a three-man wall. Arnaud surprised everyone, striking the ball just over the wall toward the near post. The dipping shot glanced off of Nagamura before bounding inside the six-yard area and bouncing over the outstretched Guzan for Arnaud's third-career postseason goal.

Chivas almost leveled the match in the 40th minute through former Wizards midfielder/defender Alex Zotinca. Zotinca collected a free ball in midfield and shot from over 30 yards. His line-drive effort forced a diving punch from Hartman, but the ball bounced free in the penalty area. Forward Laurent Merlin slid to redirect the loose ball, but Hartman was able to collect the shot cleanly.

The Wizards continued attacking in the second half, nearly scoring in the 48th minute. Kansas City got shots inside the penalty area from Victorine and defender Jack Jewsbury, but Chivas USA defenders blocked both.

Chivas USA's first opportunity of the second half came in the 62nd minute when Kljestan spun the ball wide for left back Jonathan Bornstein on the left side of the Wizards penalty area. Bornstein carried toward the end line and cut the ball back for substitute forward John Cunliffe, but the rookie's effort from seven yards out hit off the top of the cross bar and went over.

Los Rojiblancos had another opportunity through a substitute as midfielder Ramon Nunez worked a give-and-go with Mendoza near the top of the arc. Nunez lined up a shot from 20 yards out, but the ball sailed high.

Kansas City created the game's final opportunity in the first minute of second-half stoppage time. Defender Michael Harrington cut toward the center of the pitch to intercept a pass and played the ball quickly wide for Johnson up the left flank. Johnson continued into the penalty area at pace and played a low cross toward strike partner Sealy, but Guzan was able to cover the pass.

Game 2 takes place next Saturday, October 3 at 9:30 p.m. CT. The game will be broadcast on Metro Sports in English and Time Warner Cable Channel 5 en Espanol. The Wizards take a one-goal lead into the final match of the two-game, aggregate goal series. If the series is tied after Saturday's game, an immediate 30-minute extra time session will take place. If the series is still tied following the extra time session, penalty kicks will decide the winner.

The winner of the series will take on the winner of the series between Houston Dynamo and FC Dallas in a one-game conference final. If Chivas USA wins, they would host the conference final. If Kansas City Wins, they would play the conference final at either Houston or Dallas (Dallas leads 1 goal to 0).

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