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MLS Sporting Kansas City

New England Revolution Beat Kansas City Wizards 2-0

August 2, 2007 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release


(August 2, 2007) - The New England Revolution scored two second-half goals, including one in stoppage time, to spoil tremendous performance by 10-year veteran goalkeeper Kevin Hartman. Hartman made a season-high eight saves on the night, including several outstanding efforts that kept Kansas City in the match, which was broadcast live nationally on ESPN 2.

Hartman's strong performance began immediately, as he was tested in just the 2nd minute after a foul just outside the Kansas City penalty area. MLS original midfielder Steve Ralston's right-footed effort was blocked by the Kansas City wall, however, and the ball bounced straight to forward Pat Noonan at the back post. Noonan fired a left-footed shot from inside the six-yard area that Hartman sprawled to save.

Kansas City's first quality scoring opportunity came in the 11th minute. Midfielder Kerry Zavagnin, fresh off a world-class goal from distance in Sunday's 3-2 win over Chivas USA, uncorked another shot from long range after forward Eddie Johnson won the end line and played the ball back to Sasha Victorine who then laid it off for Zavagnin. Zavagnin's effort went high, however, without troubling goalkeeper Matt Reis.

The Wizards nearly took the lead in the 17th minute when forwards Davy Arnaud and Johnson connected in the middle of the park. Arnaud played a ball to Johnson just outside the arc. Johnson then took a deft touch to his left and let fly a bending, left-footed effort that beat a diving Reis only to skip inches wide of the goal.

Kansas City had another long-range shot in the 21st minute after an Eddie Johnson run up the field. Johnson played the ball wide for Argentinean playmaker Carlos Marinelli near the end line inside the 18-yard area. Marinelli worked back to his left past two defenders and laid a ball off for right back Jack Jewsbury who had joined the play. Jewsbury, playing in his 100th career match for the Wizards, ripped a right-footed effort from 20 yards out that forced a diving back-post save by Reis.

Marinelli again proved dangerous in the 29th minute when he collected a ball in the middle of the park and beat a defender before ripping a left-footed shot on goal. A defender deflected the ball and it appeared to clear Reis, but the All-Star dove backward and palmed the ball off the inside of the left post to maintain the shutout.

Ralston sent in a dangerous cross in the 35th minute for Noonan. Noonan then attempted to flick the ball over Hartman to strike-partner Twellman, but the veteran ‘keeper intercepted the ball and ended the opportunity.

Just one minute later, Marinelli took a long-range shot at goal. Marinelli had the ball near the top of the penalty area and ripped a left-footed shot that hit the outside of the right post and went wide.

In the 40th minute, left-winger Khano Smith made a 35-yard run up the left flank before letting fly a left-footed shot from the top of the penalty area. Smith attempted to beat Hartman at the near post, but he was up to the task and extended himself to parry the hard-hit ball wide.

One minute later, Hartman again proved his quality. Attacking midfielder Andy Dorman got free in the penalty area and took a left-footed shot toward the back post from the penalty spot. Hartman dove to his left immediately and pushed the ball wide.

Seconds later, the up-and-down play favored the Wizards as Zavagnin intercepted a ball in midfield and played Arnaud into space near the top of the arc. Arnaud's shot from 25-yards out went inches wide left past a diving Reis and the half ended at 0-0.

The second half began with the same offensive flare as the two highest scoring teams in MLS tested one another repeatedly. Jewsbury had another long-range missile off a Marinelli back pass in the 48th minute. The ball bounced up for a half-volley effort that curled just wide of the near post as Reis dove to his left.

New England nearly opened the scoring 51st minute when Twellman won the end line and played a ball across the face of the goal for midfielder Shalrie Joseph inside the six-yard area at the back post. Hartman dove to block the first shot and Joseph lost his footing on the follow-up that rolled harmlessly wide left.

The Revs opened the scoring in the 55th minute through well-orchestrated play from forwards Twellman and Noonan. Smith began the play, sending in a left-footed cross from the flank that Twellman headed across the face of the goal for Noonan. Hartman and defender Jimmy Conrad lunged toward Noonan, who celebrated his 27th birthday on the night, as the St. Louis native cleaned up the play with his left foot from one yard out for his 5th goal of the season.

Hartman again made an outstanding save in the 58th minute after a Ralston cross. Hartman came off his line and dove to clear the pass, but it went straight to attacking midfielder Andy Dorman. His first shot was deflected by his own teammate, but the rebound went back to Dorman. Hartman remained on his backside, reaching up and grabbing the right-footed effort that would have found the wide-open goal.

Substitute forward Yura Movsisyan, who leads MLS in substitute goals with five, had an opportunity after entering for injured midfielder Sasha Victorine. Johnson played a quick ball to Movsisyan inside the penalty area in the 66th minute, but the second-year player had his right-footed effort blocked by a defender from close range.

Hartman again robbed Dorman in the 73rd minute, when the midfielder ripped a knuckling shot from 22 yards out. Dorman had wrong-footed Hartman, but the goalkeeper was able to leave his feet and parry the ball though moving the opposite direction.

Kansas City pushed forward throughout the remainder of the match, winning three corner kicks (10 on the night) and a direct free kick in the final five minutes.

In the 89th minute, left back Jose Luis Burciaga Jr. collected a loose ball after a corner kick and ripped a left-footed shot that hit a defender and deflected just wide of the back post past Reis.

In the 91+ minute, Kansas City nearly turned a free kick 30-yards from goal into the equalizer, only to see New England seal the victory seconds later. Arnaud took a right-footed free kick, challenging Reis who had ventured off his goal line. The ball nearly beat Reis, but he was able to hold the ball in front of the goal line despite stumbling backward while stopping the shot.

Reis then began the goal scoring play. He walked slowly to the top of the penalty area, appearing to milk the clock. Suddenly, he unleashed a 50-yard throw to substitute forward Adam Cristman at the half line. The rookie one-touched the ball wide for Ralston who carried it up the right flank in space. Cristman then spun and made a back post run. Ralston delivered a low cross behind the Wizards defense for Cristman, who took a settling touch before slotting the ball past an onrushing Hartman inside the near post to deliver a 2-0 Revolution victory.

Kansas City, now in second place, four points behind New England does not have another match until Sunday, August 19 when the Revolution play a return game at Arrowhead Stadium at 7 p.m. CT. Three days later, the Wizards host Mexican international Cuahtemoc Blanco and the surging Chicago Fire at 7 p.m. CT.

Kansas City Wizards Line-Up: Hartman, Jewsbury (Raybould - 70), Conrad, Garcia, Burciaga Jr., Victorine (Movsisyan - 64), Zavagnin, Marinelli, Harrington (Morsink - 81), Arnaud, Johnson

Substitutes not used: Kronberg (GK), Wahl, Watson, Pore

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