Offenses provided the spark, but goalkeepers were the story on Independence Day in Kansas City as D.C. United defeated the Kansas City Wizards 1-0 in a game that saw 32 total shots, 13 combined saves and two hit posts by the Wizards. Brazilian striker Luciano Emilio netted his 8th MLS goal near the end of the first half to ensure United took three points.
United captured the first two chances of the match through energetic early defense. Right winger Justin Moose intercepted a pass in midfield and carried the ball a short distance toward goal. Moose fired from 20 yards out, but goalkeeper Kevin Hartman was properly position to collect the shot.
Just three minutes later, reigning MLS Player of the Week Nicholas Addlery nearly scored in his second straight match. Defender Devon McTavish played a long ball over the Kansas City defense to Addlery. United's young forward was able to hold off Kansas City left back Michael Harrington and take a right-footed shot, but his effort went a foot wide of the back post.
Kansas City registered the first of its 21 shots in the 8th minute off a free kick from 23 yards out. Midfielder Davy Arnaud touched the ball short to right back Jack Jewsbury who blasted a right-footed shot that Perkins got a touch on and parried off the right post.
One minute later, Arnaud was again involved in a quality scoring opportunity. The speedy right-winger won the end line and played a diagonal ball back for striker Scott Sealy. Sealy's right-footed effort from near the six-yard area was blocked by Devon McTavish.
Arnaud used his pace to cause problems one more time in the 18th minute as he intercepted a poor Christian Gomez pass near midfield and carried the ball over 40 yards to goal. He was behind the D.C. defense but the onrushing Perkins came up big, deflecting the ball wide of the near post.
In the 24th minute, Kansas City nearly put away one of its nine corner kicks. Harrington swung in a left-footed cross from the right corner headed toward the back post. Center back Tyson Wahl, starting due to the absence of U.S. National Team defender Jimmy Conrad, headed the ball just over the bar facing a tough challenge from a United defender.
Arnaud took his turn as playmaker in the 27th minute, feeding a perfect through ball to streaking forward Ryan Pore. Pore was alone to goal and fired from eight yards out, but Perkins again came out perfectly to save the shot and deny the second Wizards breakaway opportunity of the match.
Wizards forwards Pore and Sealy combined in the 36th minute from deep in midfield to test Perkins, but again he stood up to the challenge. Sealy collected a loose ball, cut around a defender and played a short ball to Pore. Pore collected the ball and immediately cut around a D.C. United defender and found himself again alone to goal. Perkins again came off his line and laid out to deny a Kansas City opportunity.
D.C. United played the last eight minutes of the half much like they did the first five, creating two quality scoring opportunities. The latter chance became the game's only goal.
In the 38th minute, United counterattacked quickly, finding Luciano Emilio posted up in the Kansas City penalty area. Emilio dropped a ball back for D.C. playmaker Christian Gomez who blasted a right-footed shot from 22 yards out. Hartman was equal to the task, however, and extended his right arm up fully to tap the ball just over the crossbar and keep the sheet clean for the time being.
D.C. recorded the games only goal in the 44th minute after nifty footwork and passing inside the Wizards penalty area. Right back Clyde Simms began the play, sending a pass ahead for Brazilian winger Fred just inside the Wizards area. Fred cut around a defender and played a short ball back for countryman Emilio. Emilio took a touch to gain space and then fired back across his body with his left foot from seven yards out past an outstretched Hartman. It was Emilio's 8th goal of the season and the third time United's Brazilian attackers combined on a goal in 2007.
Kansas City brought on substitute forward Yura Movsisyan at half, and the 19-year-old jumped right into the flow of the game as he has all season.
Movsisyan took a pass on the left wing in the 50th minute and beat two United defenders with pace. His left-footed effort from 10 yards out beat Perkins but again found the right post. This time, however, the ball bounced directly to the middle of the penalty area. Midfielder Sasha Victorine fired a first-touch shot on goal, forcing Perkins to lunge for the shot. Perkins deflected the ball, but it went underneath the reigning MLS Goalkeeper of the Year only to bounce off the Arrowhead Stadium turf and go over the crossbar.
One minute later, Kansas City found another breakaway chance. Holding midfielder Kerry Zavagnin played an early ball through for Sealy. The Trinidad and Tobago international split two defenders and lofted the ball just over a sliding Perkins only to see it deflected just inches wide of the near post by a lunging United defender.
In the 62nd minute, United's dangerous trio posed problems for Kansas City. Fred played a ball into space for Emilio who then played the ball ahead to Gomez. Gomez's low shot was saved and covered by a sprawling Hartman.
Kansas City's number 10 made his presence felt in the 64th minute for the first time after entering less than 10 minutes earlier. Midfielder Carlos Marinelli's diagonal long ball put Sealy behind the defense, but once again Perkins came off his goal line and dove to push the shot wide of goal.
D.C. forced another outstanding save from Hartman in the 67th minute thanks to great individual play by right back Josh Gros. Gros took a pass near the left touch line and began working his way across the face of the goal. After nearly reaching the arc, Gros fired a curling, right-footed shot toward the back post that Hartman extended fully to push the ball just wide and keep his team within one goal.
Movsisyan again showed his quality in the 71st minute, taking a ball up the right flank from Jewsbury and sending in a right-footed, bending cross to the back post. Sealy made the correct run but his redirection skipped up and just wide of the upper left corner, not testing Perkins.
In the 80th minute, Sealy again combined with Movsisyan. This time, Sealy played provider, laying a ball off diagonally for Movsisyan into the penalty area. Movsisyan's shot, however, was deflected wide without troubling Perkins.
Kansas City continued to press for the final 10 minutes, with the best opportunity coming in the 91+ minute. Movsisyan controlled a long pass in the penalty area and dropped it back four yards for Victorine. Victorine wasted no time, hitting a shot on the half volley that whistled just wide of the far post.
The Wizards play the final match of a three-game in six-day stretch Saturday against the Los Angeles at 9:30 p.m. CT on Metro Sports at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California. The atmosphere is bound to be difficult as LA anxiously awaits the arrival of international superstar David Beckham. Beckham is scheduled to be introduced as an official member of the Galaxy Friday, July 13. Kansas City's next home match comes Saturday, July 14 against Real Salt Lake at 7 p.m. CT at Arrowhead Stadium.
• Complete box score >
Wizards notables:
• Following the match, Kansas City sits 6-5-3 (21 pts.) and in a tie with Red Bull New York for 3rd place in the competitive Eastern Conference. United jumped from 4th to 1st with the victory. New England is just one point behind United.
• The Wizards are 3-3-1 at home in 2007.
• All five of Kansas City's losses this season have come by one goal. The Wizards are 4-5-0 in one-goal games.
• The Wizards are now 12-15-6 all-time against United and 8-6-2 against the squad at Arrowhead Stadium
• Kansas City and D.C. now stand at 1-1-0 on the season against one another, with Kansas City holding the advantage on aggregate goals 4-3.
• The Wizards are 0-3-2 over their last five matches, but have dominated two important offensive categories.
• Over the last five games, Kansas City has outshot its opponents a combined 91-53.
• Over that same span, Kansas City has earned 38 corner kicks while conceding only 18.
• United's Brazilian attackers Fred and Luciano Emilio have combined on goals three times the season. Three of Fred's four assists have been primary assists to Emilio.
• Each team was without several key players. D.C. United is missing defender Bobby Boswell (USA), midfielder Ben Olsen (USA) and forward Jaime Moreno (Bolivia) to Copa America competition.
Kansas City played without MLS leading goal scorer Eddie Johnson (USA) and three-time MLS Best XI defender Jimmy Conrad (USA) to Copa.
• The Wizards were also without first-choice left back Jose Luis Burciaga Jr. due to a hamstring injury.
• Due to absences, a trio of Wizards made their second starts of the 2007 season. Rookie midfielder Kurt Morsink made the 2nd start of his young MLS career, playing the first 57 minutes Wednesday. Second-year defender Tyson Wahl made his 8th career start, playing all 90 minutes while filling in for Conrad. Third-year forward Ryan Pore made his 10th career start, playing the opening 45 minutes for Johnson.
• Goalkeepers Troy Perkins and Kevin Hartman played outstandingly, making 8 and 5 saves, respectively.
• Both 'keepers are former MLS Goalkeeper of the Year award winners. Hartman won the award in 1999 while with the Los Angeles Galaxy. Hartman posted a league-record 0.91 goals against average that season.
• Perkins won the award in 2006 while going 15-6-9 with eight shutouts and a 1.13 goals against.
