Kansas City Wizards Fall 2-0 Saturday at D.C. United
August 2, 2008 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release
The Kansas City Wizards fell 2-0 Saturday to D.C. United despite outshooting their Eastern Conference rivals 17-8. United goalkeeper Zach Wells turned in a strong performance, stopping eight Kansas City shots to keep the clean sheet. Wizards rookie defender Matt Marquess made his MLS debut in the match, and midfielder Kerry Zavagnin moved to within 56 minutes of the club's all-time record for minutes played.
Kansas City just missed its first scoring chance of the game in the 16th minute on a shot from distance. Forward Claudio Lopez played a ball ahead to forward Ryan Pore on the left side of the penalty area. Pore held the ball up then fed Lopez back at the top of the D. Lopez slid the ball square along the ground for midfielder Kurt Morsink, who unleashed a right-footed shot from 25 yards out that missed the left post by only inches.
United then jumped on top in the 28th minute through a good combination in the Wizards penalty area. Newly acquired midfielder Ivan Guerrero flicked ball backward for Jamie Moreno just outside the Wizards 18-yard area. Moreno cut inside a defender and fed forward Luciano Emilio on the far side of the area. Emilio cut immediately to his left and fired back across his body into the lower-right corner of the goal for a 1-0 D.C. lead.
The Wizards generated a chance immediately to start the second half, but United goalkeeper Zach Wells made an excellent save to keep Kansas City scoreless. Wizards forward Davy Arnaud took a ball in stride running toward goal, lined up a left-footed shot and fired from 30 yards out. The ball looked like it was headed for the upper-left corner, but Wells laid out to push the ball wide with his right hand.
D.C. extended its lead in the 60th minute after a foul on the right flank. Left back Marc Burch took the ensuing restart, playing a bending ball to the near post. United captain Jaime Moreno completed a long diagonal run and was able to catch enough of the ball to flick it backward past goalkeeper Kevin Hartman and inside the far post for a 2-0 lead.
Kansas City unleashed a late barrage of shots to test Wells, but the United âkeeper met the task each time. Midfielder Roger Espinoza had a pair of chances in the 82nd and 85th minutes, launching the first high over goal and forcing a diving save from Wells with the second. Wells then made fine saves on shots from Jewsbury (88th minute) and Arnaud (93+ minute) to conclude an eight-save performance.
Kansas City and D.C. United will meet Sunday morning in an MLS Reserve Division match at the RFK Stadium auxiliary field at 10 a.m. ET. The Wizards return home next Saturday, August 9 at 7 p.m. CT to face Chivas USA in a rematch of last year's Western Conference semifinal series. Kansas City finished 5th in the Eastern Conference in 2007, but qualified for the playoffs with a better overall record than the 4th place team in the West, thus playing in the Western Conference bracket. Former Wizards standout and current Chivas USA Head Coach Preki will miss the match due to an MLS suspension.
Major League Soccer Stories from August 2, 2008
- Chivas USA falls 1-0 in Chicago - Club Deportivo Chivas USA
- Patrick Nyarko's first career goal helps Fire earn victory - Chicago Fire FC
- Kansas City Wizards Fall 2-0 Saturday at D.C. United - Sporting Kansas City
- Earthquakes Play Final Game of Season at McAfee Coliseum on Sunday - San Jose Earthquakes
- D.C. United host Team Manager Appreciation Night - D.C. United
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