The Kansas City Wizards forward line became crowded in the 82nd minute as four took positions trying to pull out a victory in a back-and-forth battle with Chivas USA on Sunday night at Arrowhead Stadium.
Starters Eddie Johnson and Davy Arnaud, plus substitutes Ryan Pore and Yura Movsisyan, were on the field in head coach Curt Onalfo's plan to break the 2-2 stalemate.
The overload would not have been necessary if the Wizards hadn't fallen behind in the 17th minute by a goal from Chivas USA's Jonathan Bornstein. After Kerry Zavagnin scored on a 30-plus yard bomb that gave the Wizards hope, then Arnaud hit to grab the lead for Kansas City, the Wizards succumbed to Chivas USA's pressure, allowing John Cunliffe to score his first MLS goal in the 55th minute.
But the move produced the result the daring Onalfo desired -- three points and the Wizards' third win in their last seven home matches.
"[The win was] huge. It was a team effort. We didn't make it easy on ourselves, certainly, but we found a way," said a relieved Onalfo. We took risks at the end of the game ... and [they] paid off."
But not until the 89th minute when Movsisyan cut inside to his right foot from deep on the left side of the area and shot powerfully for goal.
"I was just trying to go to goal. I had two guys on me, so I tried to cut the ball and go to goal. I took the best shot I could, and it managed to take a good deflection and find the back of the net," said the second-year player of his fifth goal of the campaign.
It was only the second time this season that someone not named Eddie Johnson scored the winner for Kansas City.
"You have to give Yura a lot of credit," said Onalfo. "We've asked him to come in and be dangerous off the bench, and he's done it consistently."
Movsisyan is the Wizards' second-leading scorer now despite struggling at times. For example, on July 1, the native of Armenia had seven shots on goal in a 1-1 draw with Toronto FC, but none connected.
"That's the way it is for forwards. Sometimes the ball just goes in the back of the net and other times it doesn't," said Onalfo. "But the important thing is to encourage him to keep taking risks and keep sending numbers forward and keep being dangerous, and our guys did it right to the end."
Added Arnaud: "We believe in each other. We know we can still go out and score and get the win. It took to the 89th minute, but we got it done. That says a lot about our character."
The win was crucial as the Wizards kept pace with the New England Revolution, who are one point ahead of the Wizards at the top of the Eastern Conference.
"You have to take advantage of the opportunities you have at home. We had a great crowd tonight who were behind us, and you have to get three points, especially after New England won last night. That was a big game for us to get the three points going into New England," Arnaud said.
Now the Wizards head to New England on Thursday for the front end of a two-game set that will see the Revolution make the return trip to Kansas City on Aug. 19. The two games will put the Wizards title hopes at risk, but risk is something Onalfo and his squad are used to dealing with.
Bob Rusert is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
