Kansas City Wizards Drop 3-1 Decision to FC Dallas
September 25, 2010 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release
The Kansas City Wizards lost for just the second time in 11 games on Saturday, falling 3-1 to FC Dallas in front of a sold out crowd at CommunityAmerica Ballpark. Wizards striker Ryan Smith scored in his second straight match for Kansas City, but the Wizards couldn't overcome an early deficit after conceding two goals in the game's first 12 minutes.
Kansas City remains in third place in the Eastern Conference standings at 9-10-6 on the season, and sit five points back of Colorado for the final playoff spot with five games remaining for both teams in the 2010 regular season.
FC Dallas, unbeaten now in their last 17 MLS matches, opened the scoring in the game's fourth minute on a goal from midfielder Marvin Chavez. The Honduran National Team member, on-loan from Honduran club Marathon, combined with Dallas playmaker David Ferreira, who scooped a crafty chip over the Wizards backline. Chavez took the ball out of the air with a first-time volley and placed it inside the near post from 16 yards out. The goal, Chavez' first of his MLS career, was the earliest Kansas City had conceded in a match in 2010.
Dallas doubled their lead eight minutes later on just their second shot of the game, courtesy of striker Milton Rodriguez. Midfielder Atiba Harris did just enough to flick a pass from Jackson Goncalves onto the Colombian outside the Wizards penalty area and Rodriguez took a touch to control before bending his shot around Kansas City goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen. Rodriguez' third goal of the year earned Jackson his first MLS assist, while Harris tallied his second of the season.
Whereas Dallas scored on their only two shots on goal of the first half, the Wizards placed all five of their shots in the opening 45 minutes on frame, but couldn't beat Dallas goalkeeper Dario Sala. Kansas City captain Davy Arnaud twice tested the Argentine keeper, connecting on a diving header in the 19th minute and firing low from the left side in the 29th minute. Wizards leading goalscorer Kei Kamara created the best two scoring chances of the half for Kansas City, unleashing a swerving shot from long distance in the 27th minute and turning to let loose a side-volley in the 43rd minute, but like Arnaud, both were saved by Sala.
Sala, filling in for the injured Kevin Hartman, set a season high with six saves in earning his first win in seven games in net for Dallas this season.
Having fought back from a two-goal halftime deficit to beat Houston on Wednesday, the Wizards came out of the locker room on Saturday seeking to do the same. Defender Shavar Thomas narrowly missed on a header from a free kick in the 54th minute and halftime substitute Teal Bunbury blasted a dipping shot from the top of the box that was pushed away by Sala in the 56th minute.
One minute later the Wizards got on the board from a great sequence inside the Dallas defensive third. Kamara created off the dribble, drawing three Dallas defenders before slipping a pass to striker Josh Wolff inside the penalty area. Wolff's first touch fell to Smith, a product of the Arsenal youth system, and Smith fired a first-time shot beneath Sala from the right corner of the box. Smith's strike is his third of the season, while Wolff recorded the 25th assist of his Kansas City career, tying him with Mark Chung for fifth place on the Wizards all-time assists chart.
Kamara also earned an assist on the play, marking his fifth straight match on the scoresheet and extending his career high to five assists in 2010.
The Wizards nearly pulled even in the 69th minute as Smith earned a corner for Kansas City when his shot was blocked from long range. Arnaud sent the ensuing service to the near post where Jimmy Conrad was waiting but his redirected header went just wide.
With Kansas City pushing forward for a result, Dallas countered for the game's final goal in the 82nd minute. Ferreira again played the part of provider, splitting the Wizards defense with a well-weighted pass for veteran forward Jeff Cunningham to run onto. The speedy striker took a touch before placing his shot to the backpost for his third goal in four games and 10th of the season. Cunningham now has 131 goals in his MLS career, one shy of Jaime Moreno to become the League's all-time leading goal scorer.
Ferreira, second in MLS with 12 assists this season, recorded two assists in a match for the first time in his MLS career.
Kansas City continued to fight as Kamara again came close in the 89th minute with a header just wide of the post, but couldn't come back despite outshooting Dallas 14-7 on the night.
The Wizards must now return to the to face the team directly ahead of them in the Eastern Conference standings, second-place New York, at 6:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, October 2. The game will be played at the newly opened Red Bull Arena and will air live in high definition in both English and Spanish on KCWE Channel 29, accompanied by a live radio broadcast on La Gran D 1340 AM.
Major League Soccer Stories from September 25, 2010
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