MLS Sporting Kansas City

Wizards Tie Los Angeles Galaxy 1-1 in Front of Standing-Room-Only Crowd

July 25, 2009 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release


The Kansas City Wizards (5-6-6, 21 pts) tied the Los Angeles Galaxy (6-3-10, 28 pts) 1-1 Saturday night in front of a standing-room-only crowd at CommunityAmerica Ballpark. Kansas City striker Claudio Lopez scored highlight-reel goal from beyond the half-field line to open the scoring. Galaxy's Landon Donovan equalized off assist from David Beckham seven minutes later. Goalkeeper Kevin Hartman made four saves for Kansas City, including a pair of spectacular stops to deny Donovan.

Hartman first denied a long-range shot off the foot of Galaxy midfielder Eddie Lewis in the 4th minute, and then showed his quality in stopping a point-blank rocket from a wide-open Donovan in the 19th minute. Donovan was alone behind the defense six yards from goal and struck a hard-hit shot across his body looking for the back post. Hartman came flying off his line, however, to block the shot out of play.

Kansas City then took a 1-0 lead through a world-class strike off the foot of Argentine star Claudio Lopez. Lopez collected a loose ball on the Kansas City side of the half line, took a lateral touch and unleashed a left-footed bomb that sailed in over the outstretched hand of LA goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts. After the match, Lopez said the goal was one of the best of his storied career. See the goal here.

Los Angeles equalized in the 33rd minute when Donovan scored off an assist from Beckham. Beckham broke up a play in midfield, finding Donovan streaking up the right flank. Donovan carried the ball forward, cutting to the center of the field. He eventually fired a shot from 20 yards out that eluded Kansas City goalkeeper Kevin Hartman inside the back post to tie the game 1-1. Donovan nearly scored again from a Beckham feed in the 44th minute, but Hartman again stopped a wide-open Donovan from close range.

Lopez nearly added a second highlight-reel goal, hitting the cross bar with a free kick from the right flank in the 51st minute. Kansas City generated the majority of chances in the second half, though neither team found the back of the net. Beckham attempted a long-range chip of his own in the 82nd minute, but his half-field shot went high and wide of goal without troubling Hartman.

Kansas City returns to action next Saturday night at FC Dallas in a game that kicks off at 7:30 p.m. CT. The match will be broadcast live on Metro Sports (English) and Time Warner Cable Channel 5 (Spanish). Sunday, the U.S. National Team will take on Mexico in the CONCACAF Gold Cup championship match at 2 p.m. CT. The game will be broadcast live nationally on Fox Soccer Channel. The Wizards are hosting watch parties for the match at both area 810 Zone locations courtesy of Budweiser. Wizards defender Jimmy Conrad and midfielder Davy Arnaud remain with the National Team. Arnaud has started the last three matches for the USA, scoring one goal and adding one assist during that stretch.

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Major League Soccer Stories from July 25, 2009


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