Despite jumping out to a two-goal lead after about a half-hour, the Kansas City Wizards saw Sergio Galvan Rey respond with two goals for the MetroStars as the teams played to a 2-2 draw at Giants Stadium on Saturday night.
Jack Jewsbury and Chris Klein gave the Wizards an early lead when they scored 11 minutes apart, but Galvan Rey scored his first just before halftime before collecting a second on the hour mark to draw the teams level.
The MetroStars saw French World Cup winner Youri Djorkaeff make his MLS debut in an attempt to bolster their midfield, also he usually played more as a third striker alongside Galvan Rey and John Wolyniec.
Inspired by his return and with a hungry-looking Amado Guevara, the Metrostars started strongly with Guevara splitting the K.C. defence as early as the third minute but his shot was smothered nicely by Bo Oshoniyi in the Wizards goal.
As the half wore on, the Wizards settled into their groove, with Alex Zotinca looking particularly dangerous from his right back role, making deep incisive runs down the right flank to support Chris Klein and Josh Wolff. Zotinca was starting in place of Sasha Victorine, out with a hamstring injury.
Kansas City then opened the scoring in the 20th minute as following a long run down the left by Zotinca, Arnaud took a shot which looped off Carlos Mendes' foot high in the area where it well for Jack Jewsbury to pick up on the opportunity. He sent a neat flick past Wells for his second goal in as many games.
With some nice ball play in midfield, the Metrostars broke through several times in the middle of the first half, but the backline of Jimmy Conrad and Jose Burciaga stood solid, breaking down everything before a serious threat could materialize.
The goal energized the Wizards and they continued to press. First Arnaud caught Guevara in possession only to be taken down by the Metrostars midfielder in a good position, then a Jewsbury cross flashed across the face of an empty goal, with nobody on the end of it.
Chris Klein then showed his class in the 31st minute, breaking through on the right side of the field after a wonderful passing sequence and powering a shot into the roof of the net to double the Wizards lead.
But the MetroStars responded through a rare goal from Galvan Rey. After the Wizards were caught in possession and Wolyniec threaded a ball through to the Metrostars forward who was able to slip the ball under Oshoniyi.
Wolff looked hungry at the start of the second half, with a lovely jinking run through and around most of the Metros backline only to be taken down, but no penalty given.
The Metros leveled the game in the 57th minute as Wolyniec ran through the middle of the defense to collect a long ball out of midfield from Djorkaeff, only to be slowed down by Conrad. He held the ball up and found Galvan Rey running through, who wasn't going to miss with his first-time effort.
The Metrostars looked to take the lead in the 84th as Galvan Rey broke through on the left wing and hit a defense splitting pass to an onrushing Wolyniec, whose first touch let him down and the opportunity was lost when Diego Gutierrez tackled away.
Guevara also came close in the 88th, getting open on the right side of the box and shooting low -- only for Oshoniyi to smother it well and let the Wizards escape with a share of the points.
MLSnet.com Man of the Match: Sergio Galvan Rey (MetroStars)
Laurence Moroney is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
Kansas City Wizards (1-0-0) vs. MetroStars (0-0-1)
April 16, 2005 -- Giants Stadium
Scoring Summary:
KC -- Jack Jewsbury 1 (unassisted) 20
KC -- Chris Klein 1 (Josh Wolff 1, Alex Zotinca 1) 31
MET -- Sergio Galvan Rey 1 (John Wolyniec 1) 43
MET -- Sergio Galvan Rey 2 (John Wolyniec 2, Youri Djorkaeff 1) 60
Kansas City Wizards -- Bo Oshoniyi, Alex Zotinca, Jimmy Conrad, Nick Garcia, Jose Burciaga Jr., Chris Klein, Diego Gutierrez, Kerry Zavagnin, Jack Jewsbury (Scott Sealy 70), Josh Wolff, Davy Arnaud.
Substitutes Not Used: Will Hesmer, Brian Roberts, Shavar Thomas, Diego Walsh.
TOTAL SHOTS: 11 (Davy Arnaud 3, Alex Zotinca 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 3 (3 tied with 1); FOULS: 12 (Davy Arnaud 5); OFFSIDES: 2 (Davy Arnaud 1, Josh Wolff 1); CORNER KICKS: 4 (Jose Burciaga Jr. 3); SAVES: 4 (Bo Oshoniyi 4)
MetroStars -- Zach Wells, Chris Leitch, Jeff Parke, Carlos Mendes, Jeff Agoos, Michael Bradley, Youri Djorkaeff (Mike Magee 75), Amado Guevara, Mark Lisi (Abbe Ibrahim 87), Sergio Galvan Rey, John Wolyniec.
Substitutes Not Used: Ramon Bailey, Chris Corcoran, Gilberto Flores, Jason Hernandez, Tim Regan, Seth Stammler, Michael Ueltschey.
TOTAL SHOTS: 13 (Sergio Galvan Rey 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 6 (3 tied with 2); FOULS: 24 (Amado Guevara 4); OFFSIDES: 5 (Sergio Galvan Rey 3); CORNER KICKS: 3 (Amado Guevara 3); SAVES: 1 (Zach Wells 1)
Misconduct Summary:
MET -- Carlos Mendes (caution; Pushing, Holding) 27
MET -- Amado Guevara (caution; Professional Foul) 41
KC -- Jimmy Conrad (caution; Tackle from Behind) 64
KC -- Davy Arnaud (caution; Pushing, Holding) 74
MET -- Mark Lisi (caution; Tackle from Behind) 86
Referee: Kevin Stott
Referee's Assistants: -George Vergara; Bill Dittmar
4th Official: Lee Suckel
Weather: Clear-and-51-degrees
All statistics contained in this boxscore are unofficial.
