Eddie Johnson is at it again. In his first match back from duty with the U.S. national team, the goal-scoring wizard gave his team a positive start to the second half of their 2007 season as the Kansas City Wizards earned a convincing 1-0 home victory against struggling Real Salt Lake.
A mostly solid performance by the defense and goalkeeper Kevin Hartman was enough to hold onto the first victory in seven games for the Wizards. The win gave them 25 points and second place in the extremely tight Eastern Conference, one point behind the New England Revolution.
On their first possession in RSL's half, the Wizards nearly jumped out on top as midfielder Carlos Marinelli latched onto a loose ball and half-volleyed for net. Only a quick lurch to his left by RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando enabled him to get a hand on the pacy attempt and force what ended as a benign corner.
The 11th minute saw Wizards forward Davy Arnaud receive the ball from strike partner Eddie Johnson with space on the right edge of the area. Arnaud's first-time drive looked to catch the upper corner, but flew just high to the dismay of the crowd.
Only four minutes on, Arnaud skillfully took down a cross-field pass from left back Jose Burciaga, Jr., turned and ripped for Rimando's near post. But the shot nicked the outside netting. The chances were a harbinger that the Wizards would have their just reward soon.
The Wizards finally broke through in the 19th minute via Johnson. Burciaga once again flighted a long diagonal ball that Johnson chested down on the run. Already past his defender, Johnson struck a low, hard shot -- only to hit the right post. But he calmly followed and placed the rebound into the center of Rimando's net. The goal was Johnson's seventh in three games, and the 23-year-old's first since returning from U.S. national team duty.
The home team had grabbed the momentum with their quick start and didn't let up, unleashing five more shots at RSL's goal in the half. Marinelli's attempt was the closest as his left-footed shot in the 32nd minute from inside the penalty spot was palmed over the bar by Rimando. The Wizards ended the half with a 12-1 edge in shots, but only four were on target.
Real Salt Lake earned more possession after the interval with the entrance of Jamie Watson and creative playmaker Andy Williams for forward Kyle Brown and Chris Wingert respectively.
Marinelli, Kansas City's playmaker, came up limping with an unspecified hamstring injury in the 57th minute and was replaced by the Wizards usual late-game spark, forward Yura Movsisyan.
A tactical midfield battle dominated the next 10 minutes before Johnson continued his assault on the RSL goal again in the 66th minute. Head flicks from left midfielder Michael Harrington to Movsisyan to Johnson resulted in the Wizards all-star heading right at Rimando after just staying onside. His booming shot sailed toward the upper right corner but steamed over, banging off the advertising boards beyond the end line.
The Wizards fragile one-goal lead was nearly erased in the 79th minute as Burciaga tried to head a long ball back intended for the secure arms of Hartman. However, the nod was short and saved only by Hartman extending and punching the ball away from RSL's attackers.
The visitors threatened again in the 85th minute through a bullish Atiba Harris, who plowed and danced his way through two Wizards defenders in the box and went in on Hartman at the right post. Hartman held his ground at the near post and the shot caromed off him for a corner.
Johnson's 10th goal of the season, in 10 games, held up for the Wizards, who earned their first win in seven matches while again extending RSL's difficult season.
Bob Rusert is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
