KANSAS CITY - D.C. United extended their unbeaten streak to 12 games on Friday, coming away with a 1-1 tie against the Kansas City Wizards at Arrowhead Stadium.
Scott Sealy gave the Wizards the lead just before halftime, before a terrific strike from Christian Gomez in the 56th minute brought United level.
The draw leaves United five points clear of the New England Revolution in the race for the MLS Supporters' Shield. For the Wizards, they still have yet to clinch a spot in the postseason, now six points ahead of ninth-place Columbus with their final two games away from home.
United opened the match with a quick chance. Gomez, playing in attack with Luciano Emilio with both Fred and Jaime Moreno held out of the starting lineup with minor injuries, scooted along the sideline for a shot on goal. Wizards goalkeeper Kevin Hartman knocked the ball out of bounds for the 1,000th save of his career, the third 'keeper in MLS history to reach that milestone.
Hartman stopped another United chance in the second minute. Devon McTavish, playing on the left side of midfield instead of his usual spot in the back four, sent a rocket of a shot from about 10 yards out. Hartman made a diving save to his left to keep the game scoreless.
Coming off the tiring midweek trip to Guadalajara and the disappointing loss in Copa Sudamericana, United seemed content playing a deliberate style of play. Their patience appeared to lead to unforced mistakes by the Wizards.
The Wizards tried to connect on a cross by forward Eddie Johnson in the 18th minute. But United goalkeeper Troy Perkins came out of goal to take the ball away from its intended target, Sealy in front of goal.
Gomez had another chance in the 23rd minute on a free kick after a handball by Jack Jewsbury. Gomez's kick from the right corner was on target, but Hartman slapped the ball away.
McTavish hammered a shot on goal from about 18 yards out in the 24th minute, but once again Hartman made a leaping save to parry the attempt. The half-volley came after a half-clearance from the Wizards goalkeeper, and McTavish was able to get full power on the attempt but not find the back of the net.
Chances were coming at both ends of the field. Sealy dribbled and danced his way in the right side of the area before unleashing a shot in the 38th minute. The shot was off the mark, not getting a bend that would have put it on goal.
Then at the other end, Burch bided his time cutting across the center of the field, managing to hold off Wizards center back Nick Garcia before spinning onto his preferred left foot and unloading a blast. Hartman leaped and knocked the ball over the crossbar.
The Wizards took the lead in the 44th minute. K.C. midfielder Kerry Zavagnin passed the ball to Johnson as he raced down the right side of the United penalty area. Johnson reversed his field, being marked by United defender Bryan Namoff, and laid a pass back to Sealy charging toward the goal. Sealy drove a low, hard shot from just outside the area inside the left-hand corner to give the Wizards the lead.
But Gomez brought United level in the 56th minute with a beautiful goal. Burch played the ball to Gomez at the left edge of the area with his back to goal, and the Argentinean faked, then spun and fired. His shot sailed just inside the near post and left Hartman no chance of saving it, a beauty in both setup and execution.
The two teams fought a midfield battle after the tying goal. While the match was never a byeline to byeline battle, the majority of the second half was spent in the midfield trenches.
United coach Tom Soehn went to his bench often in the second half. He substituted in Domenic Mediate, Jaime Moreno and Rod Dyachenko, taking off Clyde Simms, Ben Olsen and Gomez.
The best chance in the dying minutes fell to Sealy. He fired a shot from the top of area that Perkins came well out to block. Sealy was able to chase down the rebound in the left side of the area, but a host of United defenders did not allow him to turn and get the ball back on goal, as Perkins scrambled back between the posts.
United have home games against Chicago and Columbus to close out the regular season, while the Wizards must secure their first postseason spot in three years on the road, heading to New York and Dallas for their last two matches of the MLS campaign.
Thomas Foote is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
