Wizards Get Help in 1-1 Tie With Galaxy, Clinch Home Field in First Round of Playoffs
October 3, 2004 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release
CARSON, CA (Saturday, October 2, 2004) - The Kansas City Wizards got a little help in a 1-1 tie against the Los Angeles Galaxy Saturday night and assured themselves of finishing no worse than second in the West with two games remaining. Despite another tremendous effort in goal from reserve 'keeper Bo Oshoniyi, the Wizards found themselves trailing in the dying minutes of the match. But the gift an own goal off Galaxy midfielder Sasha Victorine in the 89th minute gave the Wizards a valuable point on the road, keeping their five point margin aver the Galaxy and Rapids with two weeks remaining in the regular season.
With the tie, the Wizards clinched home field advantage in the first round of the playoffs and will host the second leg of the two-game series at Arrowhead on Saturday, October 30th. That match will kickoff at 7:30 p.m. CT. The first game of the series will be played on the road, with the opponent still to be determined.
The Galaxy were the more threatening team throughout the match, and they came out of the gate putting the Wizards under some strong pressure. Frontrunners Carlos Ruiz and Jovan Kirovski were both very active, as was winger Cobi Jones.
It appeared their persistence would pay off when the home side was given a penalty kick in the 15th minute after Kirovski was brought down in the area by Wizards marker Jimmy Conrad. Ruiz stepped up to take the shot, but Oshoniyi dived to his right to push the ball wide of the post.
Jones was particularly effective on the right flank, though he failed to convert on two good chances, first shooting into the side netting at the right post and then curling an effort just past the left upright moments later.
Despite creating a number of chances early on, the Wizards didn't register a shot on goal until just before the halftime break. Striker Davy Arnaud found a little room on the left wing and ran at the near post, but rather than dropping the ball off to Josh Wolff at the back post, he went on his own. Galaxy goalkeeper Kevin Hartman wasn't fooled and he easily collected the shot from Arnaud.
The breakthrough for the Galaxy finally arrived in the 65th minute, the goal coming from an unlikely source in Marshall, who awkwardly leaned forward and nodded home a corner kick from Kirovski. Confusion in the Wizards defense left the Jamaican internationally with some space inside the six-yard box and he was unchallenged as he finished for his second goal of the season.
The Wizards began to stir to life after the goal, Arnaud trying to get on the end of a cross in front of the Galaxy goal in the 82nd minute, but halftime substitute Danny Califf contorted his body to head the ball away at the last possible second.
Wolff wasn't far off from getting his name on the scoresheet when he blasted a fierce shot from the top of the box with five minutes remaining, but he couldn't get the effort on target and it hit Hartman's side netting.
But the Wizards would steal their point just four minutes later with a touch of good fortune through Victorine's misplay. Wolff provided a dangerous low cross from the left flank towards an onrushing Igor Simutenkov, though the striker could not reach the ball despite going to full stretch. But Victorine inadvertently flicked the ball past a helpless Hartman to provide more late dramatics in the series between the clubs.
Kansas City will return to the West Coast next weekend for their final road contest of the year. The Wizards will take on the San Jose Earthquakes at Spartan Stadium on Saturday, October 9th at 9:00 p.m. CT. The match will be broadcast live on Metro Sports.
The Wizards will return home on Saturday, October 16th when they host the Galaxy in the final regular season game of the year. That game will be part of a doubleheader with the U.S. Women's National Team taking on Mexico at Arrowhead Stadium. Individual tickets are available through Ticketmaster by calling 816-931-3330 or online at www.ticketmaster.com.
Major League Soccer Stories from October 3, 2004
- Crew takes 15-game unbeaten streak into Wednesday's road contest in Chicago - Columbus Crew SC
- Galaxy tie clinches ninth-straight playoff appearance - LA Galaxy
- Galaxy clinch MLS-record ninth straight playoff appearance - LA Galaxy
- Wizards Get Help in 1-1 Tie With Galaxy, Clinch Home Field in First Round of Playoffs - Sporting Kansas City
- Wizards to Host Home Playoff Game Saturday, October 30th - Sporting Kansas City
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