KANSAS CITY - The Columbus Crew saw their winless streak stretched to 12 games on Saturday, falling 4-0 to the Kansas City Wizards at Arrowhead Stadium.
Four different players scored for the Wizards, who scored two goals in the first 17 minutes and two more in the final 12 minutes. Davy Arnaud and Scott Sealy gave the Wizards the early two-goal lead, then Sasha Victorine and Ryan Pore rounded out the scoreline.
The Crew went behind early, thanks to a long-range effort from midfielder Arnaud in the fourth minute. He picked off a pass in the midfield and let fly with a low drive that found the lower corner of Gill Gaudette's goal, ending a drought in which he fired 42 shots without a goal.
The Crew thought they had a game-tying goal in the 10th minute, but defender Chad Marshall was called for a pushing foul as he scored. He appeared to make contact with Shavar Thomas as he headed the ball into the net from a corner kick.
The shot was emblematic of the Crew's offensive flurries. The Crew had plenty of chances, but nothing to show for it on the scoreboard.
The Wizards didn't take long to double their lead. Jack Jewsbury sent a long ball down the left to Dave van den Bergh, who drove a low pass into the penalty area where striker Scott Sealy hit it first-time. The shot went over the outstretched hand of Crew goalkeeper Bill Gaudette and hit the crossbar before entering the net.
Despite the 2-0 halftime deficit, the match was pretty even everywhere but the scoreboard. The Crew took eight shots to the Wizards 11. Both teams had four shots on goal for the half.
A brave attempt from Ezra Hendrickson nearly pulled a goal back in the 58th minute. Sebastian Rozental whipped in a cross from the left and Hendrickson stormed in at the back post. His header went wide and then his follow-through carried him into the side support of the goal. Hendrickson received treatment, but remained in the match.
The Wizards erupted offensively, sealing the win with midfielder Victorine's goal. A corner from the right slipped through Gaudette in the 78th minute and Victorine banged it in from close range, just before taking the brunt of a collision with Hendrickson as he kicked the ball into the goal.
Things got worse for the Crew. Wizards substitute Ryan Pore took advantage of a bad Crew pass, curled to the center of the field and blasted a 27-yard shot into the goal in the 89th minute.
The victory was the biggest for the Wizards this season, and the Crew wrote an inauspicious entry into the Wizards record book with the loss. They became the first team the Wizards have ever defeated four times in regulation during the regular season.
Thomas Foote is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
