MLS Sporting Kansas City

Wizards and Crew battle to draw

Published on July 17, 2008 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release


(July 17, 2008) - The Kansas City Wizards stretched their unbeaten streak to five games Thursday with a thrilling 3-3 tie against the Columbus Crew in front of a national television audience on ESPN. Kansas City and Columbus combined for five first-half goals, the most in MLS this season. Newly signed forward Josh Wolff then converted a late game-tying goal in his first match back with Kansas City after spending over a year with 1860 Munich of Germany's 2.Bundesliga.

Kansas City opened the scoring in the 22nd minute after a loose ball deflected free into midfield. Midfielder Kurt Morsink collected the ball and sent a dangerous pass into the penalty area for central midfielder partner Sasha Victorine making a diagonal run in front of goal. The ball was deflected by Crew defender Frankie Hejduk before Victorine could connect, however, and went into the net for an own goal.

Less than two minutes later, Kansas City struck again through a turnover and a quick counterattack. Morsink won a ball back from Columbus in midfield and immediately fed it wide for defender Jack Jewsbury working up the right flank. Jewsbury took a touch then fed the ball into the penalty area for rookie midfielder Roger Espinoza, who was finishing up a long diagonal run into the area. Espinoza struck a rocket into the upper right corner of the goal to put Kansas City ahead 2-0. It was Espinoza's first career goal.

Columbus brought a goal back in the 26th minute from a quick free kick from Argentine playmaker Guillermo Barros Schelotto. After the Wizards were called for a foul 24 yards from goal, Schelotto struck the ball early while Kansas City was still setting the wall. The shot went just over the wall and into the lower left corner to bring Columbus within a goal, 2-1.

The Crew then scored two goals in the next 12 minutes to go up 3-2. First, forward Alejandro Moreno scored off his own rebound after Schelotto made a long run up the left flank and fed Moreno in the area. The ball trickled toward the goal off a deflection in the area, but Hartman kept it out. Moreno was there to tap home the rebound to level the score 2-2. Schelotto then set up the final Crew goal in the 38th minute off a corner kick. Schelotto bent the ball to defender Chad Marshall at the top of the six-yard area. Marshall dove to head the ball into the upper right corner of the goal for a 3-2 Columbus lead.

Newly signed forward Josh Wolff entered for Kansas City after half, making his presence felt immediately. Wolff combined well with winger Davy Arnaud and strike partner Claudio Lopez before scoring the game-tying goal in the 76th minute.

After a long bit of possession, Morsink switched the ball wide right for Jewsbury pushing up the flank. Jewsbury continued the run while allowing Wolff to slide between defenders. Jewsbury then fed the ball along the ground along the top of the six-yard area for an easy tap in for Wolff's 28th career goal for Kansas City. Jewsbury's assist was his fourth of the season, good for the team lead and his personal career high.

The Wizards are off until next Sunday, July 27 when Mexican star Cuauhtemoc Blanco and the Chicago Fire come to town for a 7 p.m. match. One Wizards player will be in action next week, however. Team captain Jimmy Conrad will take part in the 2008 Pepsi MLS All-Star game against English Premier League club West Ham United. The match will be played at BMO Field in Toronto next Thursday at 6 p.m. CT and broadcast live on ESPN, Telafutura and CBC. Conrad was named to the MLS All-Star First XI last Thursday in a vote of fans, players, coaches and general managers and the media. Conrad has appeared in and started the last four MLS All-Star games.

Columbus Crew Line-Up: William Hesmer, Frankie Hejduk, Chad Marshall, Andy Iro, Danny O'Rourke, Emmanuel Ekpo (Brad Evans 69), Stefani Miglioranzi (Steven Lenhart 84), Brian Carroll, Robbie Rogers, Guillermo Barros Schelotto, Alejandro Moreno

Substitutes not used: Kenny Schoeni (GK), Duncan Oughton, Jason Garey, Ezra Hendrickson, Jed Zayner

Kansas City Wizards Line-Up: Kevin Hartman, Jack Jewsbury, Aaron Hohlbein, Jimmy Conrad, Michael Harrington, Lance Watson (Josh Wolff 46), Kurt Morsink, Sasha Victorine (Kerry Zavagnin 86), Roger Espinoza (Ryan Pore 79), Claudio Lopez, Davy Arnaud

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Major League Soccer Stories from July 17, 2008


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