KANSAS CITY WIZARDS v HOUSTON DYNAMO
ARROWHEAD STADIUM, Kansas City, Mo.
4 p.m. CT (TeleFutura; MetroSports)
June 24, 2007 (WEEK 12) / MLS Game #79
Two teams whose attacks have sprung to life in recent weeks, and so have moved them to touching distance of the top of their respective conferences, meet on Sunday afternoon when the Kansas City Wizards play host to Houston Dynamo. The Wizards have scored 11 goals in their last four games, sitting in second place in the Eastern Conference coming into the weekend. Dynamo have hit for 10 goals in their last games, last an impressive 4-0 whitewash of Chivas USA on Thursday night, as they've moved to within a win of the top spot in the Western Conference.
REFEREE: Jozef Batko. SAR (bench): Steven Taylor; JAR (opposite): David Bragg; 4th: Brad Clem
MLS Career: 4 games; FC/gm: 27.0; Y/gm: 5.5; R: 1; pens: 2
Games involving Wizards: P1 W1 L0 T0; FC/gm: 31.0; Y/gm: 4.0; R: 0; pens: 0
Games involving Dynamo: first game
INJURY REPORT: KANSAS CITY WIZARDS - OUT: DF Matt Groenwald (blood clots); MF Ryan McMahen (torn ACL) ... HOUSTON DYNAMO - DOUBTFUL: FW Paul Dalglish (R ankle sprain); QUESTIONABLE: DF Eddie Robinson (L hamstring strain)
SUSPENDED: none
WARNINGS:
SUSPENDED NEXT YELLOW CARD: HOU: Eddie Robinson
SUSPENDED AFTER TWO YELLOW CARDS: KC: Davy Arnaud; Jose Burciaga Jr., Kerry Zavagnin ... HOU: Ryan Cochrane; Dwayne DeRosario
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: KC: Eddie Johnson (USA; CONCACAF Gold Cup) ... HOU: Brian Ching, Ricardo Clark (USA; CONCACAF Gold Cup)
HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (2 meetings): Wizards 1 win, 4 goals ... Dynamo 1 win, 4 goals ... Draws 0
AT KANSAS CITY: (1 meeting): Wizards 0 wins, 2 goals ... Dynamo 1 win, 3 goals ... Draws 0
• This is the first of two meetings between the teams this season, the only one set for Arrowhead Stadium. They are scheduled to play at Robertson Stadium on Sept. 1.
LAST YEAR (MLS)
4/8: HOU 1, KC 2 (Ching 64 - Victorine 66; Burciaga 90)
7/15: KC 2, HOU 3 (Wolff 23; Conrad 87 - Robinson 21; Davis 56; Ching 66)
• A year ago, the teams split their two meetings, each winning on the other's home ground. There were also plenty of goals, with eight scored in all between the two games.
• Coaches record: Curt Onalfo vs. HOU: first game ... Dominic Kinnear v KC: P8 W3 L3 D2
KANSAS CITY WIZARDS
The Kansas City Wizards lost for just the second time on the road this season, seeing their four-game unbeaten run come to an end at midweek in a 2-1 loss to the Columbus Crew. The Wizards have 20 points from 11 matches and still sit in second place in the Eastern Conference, a point ahead of the New England Revolution and a point behind the New York Red Bulls.
LAST MATCH
• The teams came into the game at opposite ends of the Eastern Conference and on opposite runs. The Wizards hadn't lost in four games, while the Crew hadn't won in seven. But the previous weekend, both had been involved in wild 3-3 draws on the road.
• Yet over the opening 45 minutes, neither goalkeeper was tested at all. Early in the second half, Sasha Victorine found himself all alone after a neat passing sequence, but Crew 'keeper Will Hesmer came out to deflect away the effort.
• The Crew then scored twice in a six-minute span. First, Alejandro Moreno cut in from the left and sent a shot goalward. It was deflected into a group of players at the spot, fell to Eddie Gaven, and he buried a left-footed roller inside the right-hand post for his first goal of the year, in the 56th minute.
• Then Guillermo Barros Schelotto flighted in a corner from the right. Stefani Miglioranzi was able to send a looping header goalward off his back foot, but sent it just off the fingertips of Kevin Hartman and just under the bar for his first goal with the Crew.
• The Wizards spoiled Hesmer's shutout bid in stoppage time. A long ball was poorly cleared, just to the top of the area, and Jack Jewsbury stepped into the rebound, sending a low shot inside the right corner for his first goal of 2007.
• Wizards head coach Curt Onalfo made no changes to the team that played to a 3-3 draw with the New England Revolution the weekend before.
• Here's Onalfo's team (4-4-1-1): Kevin Hartman - Jack Jewsbury, Jimmy Conrad, Nick Garcia, Jose Burciaga Jr. (Ryan Raybould 84) - Davy Arnaud, Sasha Victorine, Kerry Zavagnin, Michael Harrington - Carlos Marinelli (Yura Movsisyan 58) - Scott Sealy (Ryan Pore 73). Substitutes Not Used: Aaron Hohlbein, Eric Kronberg, Kurt Morsink, Tyson Wahl
• "When you play a team that drops off in defense like that you are going to have limited chances and we had the chances but did not finish," Onalfo said. "We had chances to put the ball in the back of the net and we didn't."
TEAM NEWS
• The Wizards knew they wouldn't have many chances against a Columbus team that had been leaking goals and hadn't won in more than a month. But after Will Hesmer denied Sasha Victorine early in the second half, the Crew struck for their two goals.
• "We created some chances, but I think they knew what they're plan was and that was to play low pressure. They really kept a man tight on me and that's a credit to them. They were trying to play to their advantage, but I still think we played well," said defender Jose Burciaga Jr. "We created some chances. Hats off to Will [Hesmer]. I think he made a couple good saves for them that could have changed the game either way."
• Onalfo wasn't completely pleased with the second Crew goal, which came from a corner kick.
• "On the first one, somehow the ball kind of got bobbled and I thought Gaven did well to put that in the back of the net, and those things happen," Onalfo said. "The second was a set piece and in my mind that's unacceptable. We talked about Columbus and one of their biggest strengths is how they are on set pieces. To their credit, they did the job tonight."
• Coming into the match, the Wizards had one of the best road records in all of MLS, with three wins and just one loss in their six games away from Arrowhead Stadium before the loss in Columbus.
• "It's always tough playing on the road. No matter where you play, no matter who you play, no matter what the record says, this league's getting to the point where you can't take any team lightly and it's going to be even tougher to play away from home," Burciaga said. "So, we've got a short week now and I think we've got to look at the mistakes we made tonight and then get ready for Sunday."
• The loss denied Onalfo the chance to be the coach of the MLS All-Stars against Celtic FC in the Sierra Mist MLS All-Star Game on July 19 - for the time being. A win against Houston still hands Onalfo the honor; a draw and the calculators will have to come out based upon the earlier results on Saturday.
• "All the players have responded in a positive way. Right now, we're not a team that is looking to keep our head above water and scrap ourselves into the playoffs. We've changed our mentality here in a short amount of time, and that's credit ... to the entire organization from the owners through Peter Vermes, the technical director, and Curt and his staff," said Kerry Zavagnin. " ... That mentality is not something that happens overnight, but it's something that has been created pretty quickly here. So [Onalfo being the all-star coach would be well-deserved."
HOUSTON DYNAMO
Houston Dynamo extended their winning streak to four games in dominating fashion, rolling to a 4-0 victory against Chivas USA on MLS Primetime Thursday at Robertson Stadium. Dynamo moved past Chivas USA into second place in the Western Conference with 19 points from 12 matches, now two points ahead of Chivas and three behind pace-setting FC Dallas.
LAST MATCH
• Dynamo had followed a three-game losing run with three consecutive wins, while Chivas hadn't lost in five consecutive games.
• From the start, it was nearly all Dynamo, and the Orange took the lead after just five minutes. Brad Davis drove a free kick into the Chivas USA, but the deflection fell to Brian Mullan all alone at the top of the box, and he placed his shot just inside the right post for the opener. It was his first league goal since July 8, 2006 - also against Chivas - a span of 26 games.
• After the break, it was the Brad Davis show, as he hit for his first professional hat trick. In the 55th minute, he chased down a ball on the left flank, laid it back to Wade Barrett, then raced unmarked into the area to collect the return pass. From an angle, he hammered a rising blast inside the far upper corner for his first league goal in 26 games, since July 15, 2006 (against the Kansas City Wizards).
• Laurent Merlin saw a snap shot on the turn crash off the bar, then the game completely turned in the 66th minute. Joseph Ngwenya raced behind the Chivas defense, Shavar Thomas pulled him down just before the area from behind, and referee Jorge Gonzalez sent off the Chivas center back.
• Davis then made it 3-0 with his second goal in the 70th minute. Ngwenya had shown good link-up play all night, and laid the ball back to Davis, who lashed a low drive past Chivas 'keeper Brad Guzan from outside the area.
• Brian Mullan was then hacked down as he skipped along the top of the Chivas penalty area, and Davis finished off his triple by converting from the penalty spot in the 75th minute.
• Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear made two changes to the team that defeated the Columbus Crew 10 days earlier. Zach Wells came back in between the posts with Pat Onstad back with the Canadian national team, while Stuart Holden came in on the right of midfield as Brian Mullan moved forward to partner Joseph Ngwenya in attack, with Chris Wondolowski returning to the substitutes' bench.
• Here's Kinnear's team (4-1-3-2): Zach Wells - Craig Waibel, Ryan Cochrane, Eddie Robinson (Patrick Ianni 76), Wade Barrett - Richard Mulrooney - Stuart Holden, Kelly Gray, Brad Davis (Corey Ashe 76) - Brian Mullan (Chris Wondolowski 84), Joseph Ngwenya. Substitutes Not Used: Mike Chabala, Nick Hatzke, John Michael Hayden, Jordan James
• "It fits up nice for Sunday. The guys are confident. (Brian Mullan) went up top early and scored a goal," said Kinnear. "It shows that the things we ask the guys to do they are taking it and enjoying it and being very professional with it."
TEAM NEWS
• There was some question about how Dynamo would respond to having 10 days off, after having seemingly turned around a rocky patch with a good run of form. Those doubts were put to rest early on.
• "You want to keep playing when you're winning. After the Columbus Crew game, they were spent, so I think the break came at the right time. We gave them a few days off, but when you're winning you enjoy your company. You're glad to be on a team that is winning," Kinnear said.
• The first goal came from Brian Mullan, who was moved forward in attack where he's mainly been a late substitute, instead of usual wide midfield role. "We're creating our own luck now, and it's working for us," Mullan said. "[Playing forward] felt good. I was a little nervous going into it. It helps when you have Joe [Ngwenya] up there with you. He makes great runs."
• As well, Kelly Gray reprised his role of pushing more forward in the center of midfield and was very active, getting off four shots in the first half alone. A key to the tactic is having Richard Mulrooney in a holding role in behind.
• "It's pretty clear-cut. I sit in there and try to win balls and distribute. When you've got the type of players around you, such as I've got, like [Brian] Mullan and [Joseph] Ngwenya - I've got to get those guys the ball. I'm not one to dribble the ball around, I've got to pass it off," Mulrooney said.
• But the story of the night was Davis, who scored as many goals on Thursday as he had in the last two seasons combined.
• "I keep saying it's been a long time coming since I've scored a goal, and tonight three came, so it's a pretty good feeling for me," Davis said. "We needed guys to step up and score. Joe had done a great job. I'm very happy to contribute to the team as well. Normally, I'm on the other end of the ball serving it in, but tonight I wanted to score some goals. It was a good night for me."
• Said Kinnear: "Congratulations to Brad for his first career hat trick. His first goal was absolutely stunning. But I think he played and moved on the goal like he did where he chases the ball down like he did shows the mood that the guys brought to the game tonight."
• There could be changes ahead on Sunday, though, with striker Dwayne De Rosario and goalkeeper Pat Onstad both back after Canada's semifinal loss to the USA in the semifinals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup on Thursday.
• "Obviously we'll be glad to get guys back. When guys go away to serve their country I think it's a bit unfair for them to not be considered to start when they come back -that would be a touch unfair," Kinnear said.
