Kansas City Wizards Go Top in the East with 1-0 Win Over Colorado
April 11, 2010 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release
The Kansas City Wizards continued their winning start to the 2010 MLS season on Saturday night, defeating the Colorado Rapids 1-0 at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.
Forward Kei Kamara had the lone Kansas City goal, finishing a Ryan Smith service from a freekick with a looping header early in the second half. The goal is Kamara's second is as many games, with Ryan Smith grabbing his second assist in his second MLS game as well. Goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen made three saves en route to his second shutout in as many games in the League.
Hard tackles and close chances marked the play in the first half, as both sides displayed relentless pressure in an effort to gain a foothold in the match. However, both defenses were able to hold strong despite multiple attacks.
Smith began the game on a lively note, running at defenders and moving into space well to jump-start the Wizards attack. The winger gave Colorado goalkeeper Matt Pickens his biggest test of the half in the 7th minute, firing at the Colorado âkeeper after spinning to beat two defenders on the left wing. Smith's shot gave Pickens enough trouble that he had to stretch acrobatically to palm it over the crossbar.
While Smith provided the Wizards with sparkling individual plays, the Wizards' second best chance of the half came as a result of some good team passing in the attacking third. After moving the ball smoothly from the left to the right, Kamara worked a quick give-and-go with forward Josh Wolff, who laid it off to Jewsbury just inside the penalty area. However, the midfielder couldn't get his body around the ball and his shot went right into the arms of Pickens.
The Wizards continued to control the pace of the game after Jewsbury's chance, disrupting Colorado's forays into the attacking third with some hard-nosed midfield play by Stéphane Auvray and tough defensive stops by Matt Besler. However, when Colorado did get a chance, the Rapids failed to capitalize. Marvell Wynne did well to get behind the Kansas City defense in first half stoppage time, hitting a good square ball to midfielder Mehdi Ballouchy, who skied his effort over the crossbar from eight yards out.
The second half started much the same way as the first, with the Wizards attacking the Colorado goal form both flanks. The Wizards would finally break the deadlock just three minutes in, with Kamara getting the better of Pickens off a Ryan Smith freekick. The Sierra Leone forward rose above the Colorado defense and hit a high, looping header that caught Pickens off his line, floating into the back of the net to give the Wizards a 1-0 advantage.
The offensive pressure didn't stop there for Kansas City, as the Wizards peppered Colorado's goal with shots through the rest of the half. Davy Arnaud had his best effort of the night in the 55th minute, firing a low rocket from 25 yards out that forced a sprawling save by Pickens.
Jewsbury had another good chance for the Wizards in the 61st minute, getting in behind the Colorado defense and firing a low shot that was saved by Pickens.
From then on the Wizards effectively killed the game with possession, holding the ball in the middle of the field for minutes at a time as Colorado chased the game. The Rapids' comeback hopes were dealt a final blow in the 72nd minute when Julien Baudet was sent off for a harsh tackle on Kamara.
With the win, the Wizards move to first place in MLS' Eastern Conference, despite having a game in hand over the 2nd and 3rd placed teams. The Wizards next MLS test comes next Saturday when they travel west to take on Seattle Sounders F.C.
The Wizards and Rapids will meet again just four days from now in a qualification game for the 2010 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The game will take place at 7:30 p.m. at the Stanley H. Durwood Soccer Stadium on the campus of the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
Major League Soccer Stories from April 11, 2010
- Saborio's late goal salvages point for RSL - Real Salt Lake
- Kansas City Wizards Go Top in the East with 1-0 Win Over Colorado - Sporting Kansas City
- 20,276 Fire Faithful Look On as Fire Come Up Short Against âQuakes - Chicago Fire FC
- Seattle earns 2-2 draw - Seattle Sounders FC
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