For 82 minutes against the Colorado Rapids, the Kansas City Wizards team defense had its semi-porous moments. Yet after seeing the Rapids score two goals in 11 minutes to knot an intense battle at 2-2, Wizards head coach Curt Onalfo inserted forward Scott Sealy for forward Ivan Trujillo.
Then, in the 83rd minute, Onalfo made an aggressive switch to a 3-4-3 formation with the insertion of forward Eloy Colombano for defender Tyson Wahl. Only four minutes later, Colombano's play was integral in setting up Sealy's game-winner as the Wizards triumphed against the Rapids 3-2 in front of a raucous home crowd at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.
"It was risky, but in my mind, playing at home, it's worth the risk because we now have six points when we could have only had four," said Onalfo minutes after a breathtaking second half.
For a half, Kansas City's attack struggled as Colorado bottled up the midfield, while the Wizards defense gave up three corner kicks and three free kicks.
"It was what we expected in the first half ... we knew they were going to drop numbers behind the ball and make it very difficult on us," Onalfo said. "It took us a while to find a rhythm. In the first half when we were able to combine three or four passes, all of a sudden we created some chances."
As the half went on, Onalfo's charges began to play their game, but it wasn't until after halftime that clarity came through a slight adjustment in the lineup and some reflective talk.
"Let's alter our tactics and see what we can do now that we know what they're coming with, how we need to adjust to Christian Gomez defensively, and find where the spaces are to play into," said center back Jimmy Conrad.
Pushing playmaker Carlos Marinelli out wide left was the first adjustment, then the Wizards struck with two set-piece goals from the head of Conrad and the foot of Marinelli within the first nine minutes of the second half. The first came off a free kick to the right of the area, while the other came off a corner.
"Carlos puts a nice dip on [his deliveries], so you don't have to do much to redirect it. It's already kind of going towards goal," said Conrad. "On the first one, I think I got helped along by the defender. But I'm going to claim it."
The second was a clean header and the two made for Conrad's first two MLS goals in nearly two years.
"I was extremely pleased with the second half, the way we came out and the approach to the set pieces, great balls by Carlos, world-class balls, and great finishes by Jimmy," said Onalfo.
Colorado wasn't about to collapse, especially after their own four-goal performance in the second-half last week against the Los Angeles Galaxy. Former Wizards standout Jose Burciaga Jr. scored in the 68th minute, and then off a five-man scramble in the box, John DiRaimondo pulled the visitors level.
Though disappointed, neither Onalfo nor Conrad could find much fault with the defense.
"It wasn't due to lack of effort or even positioning. [It was] a couple of 50-50 balls, the ball pops to them, and they get two goals. ... Sometimes the ball bounces to them, sometimes to us," Conrad said.
Onalfo gave credit to the Rapids. "They're a dangerous team. You have to give Colorado a lot of credit," he said. "They're a very good team and have a lot of players that are on the bench right now and they're only going to get better."
The Wizards weren't about to cave in either. Onalfo made his move and it paid off in the 87th minute as Colombano and Jack Jewsbury combined down the right flank.
"Both defenders collapsed on [Eloy]. He played a good through ball to me. The thought crossed my mind to hit it ... but I saw Scott making a great run to the near post," said Jewsbury. "Knowing Scott, I knew he'd finish it if I put it there."
Sealy's persistence reflected the Wizards as the chance was his third of the day, one being cleared off the line in the 71st minute.
"As a forward you want to be in good spots. I was there, and the defender stopped it initially. I kept my eye on the ball, and it popped up back into me. I was able to poke it in," Sealy said. "Some go in, some don't. I'm happy it went in tonight."
When the effort is made, good things can happen.
"That's our motto. We're going to attack and go at you," said Jewsbury. "What's one point when you can try to get three?"
"Starting the season with six points is great for our organization," said Onalfo. "That puts us in first place, and that's what we want to try and do is continue to be there."
Bob Rusert is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
