Wizards Shutout San Jose Earthquakes 2-0 Sunday at CommunityAmerica Ballpark in Frigid Weather
Published on April 5, 2009 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release
(April 5, 2009) - The Kansas City Wizards defeated the San Jose Earthquakes 2-0 Sunday in frigid weather at CommunityAmerica Ballpark. Defender Aaron Hohlbein scored his 1st career goal, the game-winner, in the 28th minute after a corner-kick scrum. Argentine striker Claudio Lopez then added a breakaway goal after halftime to seal victory. Goalkeeper Kevin Hartman extended his MLS records by recording his 139th career goal and 78th career shutout. Midfielder Davy Arnaud broke a tie with Mo Johnston to move alone into 3rd place on the Wizards all-time assist list with a secondary assist on Lopez's insurance goal.
Kansas City controlled play throughout much of the game, including a 6-0 shot advantage in the first half and 12-3 shot advantage after full time. The Wizards opened the scoring in the 28th minute through 23-year-old defender Aaron Hohlbein. After a Claudio Lopez corner kick fell to Davy Arnaud on the right side of the penalty area, Arnaud launched a low shot that was stopped by San Jose goalkeeper Joe Cannon. Defender Jimmy Conrad's rebound attempt was also blocked, but Hohlbein was there to tap the rebound into the open net for his 1st career goal in his 3rd MLS season.
The Wizards nearly added another goal in the 38th minute when a give-and-go between Arnaud and midfielder Santiago Hirsig put Arnaud past his defender. Arnaud's shot from the top of the penalty area was blocked by Cannon, however, for one of Cannon's three saves in the opening stanza. Hirsig played well in his first MLS start, helping the Wizards control the middle of the field from his central midfield role.
Kansas City continued attacking after the break, nearly scoring 30 seconds into the 2nd half through Lopez. Cannon, however, extended fully to make a diving save and keep San Jose within a goal. In the 49th minute, a rebound chance fell to midfielder Jack Jewsbury 22 yards from goal, but Jewsbury launched a shot that clanged off the crossbar and bounced clear.
The Wizards added an insurance goal in the 78th minute through a quick counter attack. Arnaud took possession of a loose ball in the center of the field and immediately fed Herculez Gomez on the right wing. Gomez looked up and saw Lopez free on the left side and played a long, bending ball into Lopez's path behind the defense. Lopez carried the ball into the penalty area and slotted a low shot inside the far post for his 1st goal of the season and his 7th in a Kansas City uniform.
San Jose generated its first shot on goal in the 81st minute, but Hartman held a curling effort off the foot of winger Arturo Alvarez to secure the clean sheet. Hartman and the Wizards defense recorded their first shutout of the 2009 campaign, the 78th of Hartman's 12-year career. Hartman is now the League's all-time leader in wins (139), shutouts (78) and saves (1140). Hartman also moved into a tie with Cobi Jones for 3rd place on the League's all-time games played list. Hartman has now appeared in 306 career contests.
Kansas City returns to action next Saturday, April 11 with a 9:30 p.m. CT kickoff at Qwest Field against Seattle Sounders FC. The match will be televised live on Metro Sports (English) and Time Warner Cable Channel 5 (Spanish). The Wizards next home game comes Thursday, April 23 at 7 p.m. CT against the New York Red Bulls in a nationally televised match on ESPN2. That night, the first 5,000 fans into CommunityAmerica Ballpark will receive a Jimmy Conrad bobble head courtesy of Time Warner Cable. IRL and NASCAR Truck Series drivers will also be on hand to mingle with fans and sign autographs before the match.
Kansas City Wizards Line-Up: Kevin Hartman; Lance Watson, Jimmy Conrad ©, Aaron Hohlbein, Matt Besler; Herculez Gomez, Jack Jewsbury, Santiago Hirsig, Josh Wolff (Roger Espinoza 89); Claudio Lopez (Michael Kraus 88), Davy Arnaud
Substitutes not used: Boris Pardo (GK), Rauwshan McKenzie, Jonathan Leathers, Kurt Morsink, Abe Thompson
San Jose Earthquakes Line-Up: Joe Cannon; Eric Denton (Simon Elliott 52), Chris Leitch, Kelly Gray, Nick Garcia; Arturo Alvarez, Ramiro Corrales ©, Bobby Convey, Darren Huckerby (Shea Salinas 74); Cam Weaver, Ryan Johnson (Pablo Campos 59)
Substitutes not used: Andrew Weber (GK), Ryan Cochrane, Mike Zaher, Davide Somme
Misconduct:
SJ - Darren Huckerby (caution; Persistent Infringement) 30
SJ - Arturo Alvarez (caution; Reckless Foul) 34
KC - Herculez Gomez (caution; Reckless Foul) 92+
KC SJ
Total Shots: 16 3
Shots on Goal: 6 1
Saves: 1 3
Fouls Committed: 9 11
Offside: 5 4
Corner Kicks: 8 2
Referee: Edvin Jurisevic
Assistants: Anthony Vasoli, Craig Lowry
4th official: Abbey Okulaja
Notables:
- Kansas City is now 17-18-6 all-time against San Jose, including a 17-7-1 home record.
- Kansas City outshot San Jose 12-3, with 6 shots on goal to San Jose's 1.
- Sunday marked the largest shot differential this season for the Wizards.
- Defender Aaron Hohlbein scored his 1st career goal in the 28th minute.
- The goal turned out to be Hohlbein's 1st career game-winning goal.
- Hohlbein's strike was Kansas City's 1st before halftime thus far in 2009.
- Argentine striker Claudio Lopez scored his 1st goal of the season and 7th in MLS.
- Midfielder Herculez Gomez recorded his 1st assist of the season, springing Lopez for his 2nd half breakaway.
- Midfielder Davy Arnaud also tallied an assist on the play, his 1st of the season and the 29th of his career.
- Arnaud's helper broke a tie with former Wizards standout Mo Johnston. Arnaud now sits alone in 3rd place on Kansas City's all-time assist list.
- Goalkeeper Kevin Hartman made 1 save on the night, extending his MLS records in three categories.
- Hartman now has 139 career wins, 78 career shutouts and 1140 career saves.
- Hartman also moved into a tie for 3rd place on the MLS games-played list. His 306 career matches equals former LA Galaxy star Cobi Jones.
- Hartman now trails only New England midfielder Steve Ralston and former Kansas City midfielder and assistant coach Chris Henderson.
- Argentine midfielder Santiago Hirsig made his 1st start since joining Kansas City and was instrumental in helping Kansas City control midfield play.
- Rookie defender and Overland Park native Matt Besler made his first MLS start Sunday, starting at left back for the injured Michael Harrington.
- Lance Watson started his 2nd straight game, appearing at right back Sunday.
- Midfielder Roger Espinoza came on late for Josh Wolff in his first action since returning from Honduras National Team duty.
- Kansas City was without goalkeeper Eric Kronberg, defender Chance Myers, defender Michael Harrington, midfielder Graham Zusi and striker Adam Cristman due to injury.
- Kansas City returns to action next Saturday, April 11 with a 9:30 p.m. CT kickoff at Qwest Field against Seattle Sounders FC. The match will be televised live on Metro Sports.
- Today's match, sponsored by Sprint, was "Family Day" at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.
- The first 5,000 fans into the stadium received a 2009 team poster, and the team gathered at nearby Dave and Buster's after the match for an autograph session.
- The Wizards next home game comes Thursday, April 23 at 7 p.m. CT against the New York Red Bulls in a nationally televised match on ESPN2.
- That night, the first 5,000 fans into CommunityAmerica Ballpark will receive a Jimmy Conrad bobble head courtesy of Time Warner Cable.
- IRL and NASCAR Truck Series drivers will also be on hand to mingle with fans and sign autographs before the match.
Quotes:
KANSAS CITY WIZARDS HEAD COACH CURT ONALFO
On the game
"The combination play between Josh Wolff, Claudio Lopez, Santiago Hirsig, Jack Jewsbury and Davy Arnaud was very good. Hats off to the guys. They implemented the game plan and performed very well. San Jose is a very good team, and I think today we showed that we're a very good team as well."
On the changes in the starting lineup "I thought Lance Watson was solid at right back, and with Matt Besler, you can see the quality there. He's a young player who doesn't play like a young player. You can see what Santiago Hirsig brings to the team. He has such an influence in the middle of the midfield. He and Jack Jewsbury had a good understanding of each other, and there are a lot of good things to build on from today's match."
On the adverse playing conditions "I told the guys before the game that this was going to be a game where they would have to roll up their sleeves and fight. It was just about mentality today. I think we did a great job today, and I thought we played well from the opening whistle."
KANSAS CITY WIZARDS DEFENDER MATT BESLER
On his first career start
"It felt good to be out there and to get the start and play 90 minutes. It felt good, and I'm glad the team got the win. It's great to play for my hometown team. It's a lot more comfortable growing up here and being a fan of the Wizards. It just makes me want to win that much more since I grew up supporting the team."
KANSAS CITY WIZARDS MIDFIELDER HERCULEZ GOMEZ
On his assist
"Davy did a good job of laying the ball off to me. I knew that with the cross wind I would have to hit it just right and put it out there in front of Claudio. I got fortunate and struck it well and put it in front of Claudio, and then he buried it."
On the game "We battled very hard. I think we managed the game very well. There were stretches of the game where we played very well and dominated, so I'm very proud of our effort and our performance today."
KANSAS CITY WIZARDS DEFENDER AARON HOHLBEIN
On the game "The last couple of weeks we weren't playing up to our ability. We knew coming in that we had to have a good performance today. We came out confident and played the way we knew we could play."
On scoring his first career goal "It felt good. It was a good ball played in, and it kind of bobbled around a little bit and popped out, and I happened to be right there so I just pounded it home."
KANSAS CITY WIZARDS GOALKEEPER KEVIN HARTMAN
On the game
"I was pleased by how well we played today. We were on top of our game in really inclement conditions. It's exciting for us. I'm really proud to play behind a group that plays like that. The shutout is a little bit of a bonus. We didn't give up a ton of shots, we were sound defensively, and we were winning a lot of second balls."
KANSAS CITY WIZARDS MIDFIELDER SANTIAGO HIRSIG (Through a translator)
On his first start for the Wizards
"It's always easier to start the game because you get used to the rhythm of the game and the pace. If you come into the game as a substitute, you have to get used to the pace of the game. I'm happy with the way things are going for me so far this season. Every day I'm here I get to know the players more on and off the field, and I'm getting more and more comfortable with the team."
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES HEAD COACH FRANK YALLOP
On the game
"We just did not a have a good day today, especially in the first half. They had enough chances to be up two or three goals at the half. We had a good spell in the second half, but that second goal just killed off the game."
On consistency
"We need to be more consistent game to game. We were not sharp enough today, and I am not going to blame the conditions. They were able to create chances despite the wind."
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES DEFENDER NICK GARCIA
On the game
"It was not a good day for us. The conditions were the same for both teams, and they adjusted to them better than we did. We need to play better and create chances to get some goals."
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES MIDFIELDER SIMON ELLIOTT
On the conditions
"We need to be prepared for games like this. They adjusted well to the conditions, and we didn't. You have to be ready for a game with a lot of turnovers and transition play on a day like this. They came out ready and created opportunities, and we were slow to the ball."
Major League Soccer Stories from April 5, 2009
- Chivas wins three straight to open MLS season - Club Deportivo Chivas USA
- Fire defeat Red Bulls 1-0 in home opener - Chicago Fire FC
- Wizards Shutout San Jose Earthquakes 2-0 Sunday at CommunityAmerica Ballpark in Frigid Weather - Sporting Kansas City
- Red Bulls fall 1-0 to Chicago Fire - Red Bull New York
- Earthquakes Fall 2-0 to Wizards on the Road - San Jose Earthquakes
- Governor Pat Quinn Proclaims April 5th Chicago Fire Soccer Day In Illinois - Chicago Fire FC
- Rapids Defeat Los Angeles 3-2 Thanks to Conor Casey's Hat Trick - Colorado Rapids
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