It was the 68th minute of Saturday's match against the Colorado Rapids, and the Kansas City Wizards had seen a two-goal lead evaporate in the span of 11 minutes. Needing a fresh impact player to help regain the lead, in entered forward Scott Sealy, scorer of 26 goals in 76 games over three seasons for the Wizards.
The Wake Forest University product did what he does best and scored the game-winner in the 87th minute to keep his team undefeated and earn three huge points early in the season for the Wizards.
His leap over the signboards to emphatically celebrate with the Cauldron, the Wizards supporter group, was not just the intensity of the moment but emblematic of Sealy's desire to see more time on the field. Normally a first-choice striker, Sealy has been displaced by Kansas City's two recent acquisitions, Colombian Ivan Trujillo and Argentinean Claudio Lopez.
"To come off the bench is tough, but it's a team effort. And if coming into games is what Coach [Curt Onalfo] wants me to do right now, then that's what I'm going to do," said Sealy after the match. "I going to bring the energy coming off the bench, try and get my goals if I can, and help the team win."
All Sealy was doing was what Onalfo, expected of him.
"We talked to him about how it was important for him to come in and do the things he did," said Onalfo. "I was very proud of his effort."
Sealy's desire to be on the field is, as always, exhibited by his high work rate, but a degree of measured restraint came in the preseason after a 2007 season riddled with ankle and groin injuries. After making 28 and 29 appearances in the previous two seasons, that number dropped to 18.
"In the preseason, I was not going 100 percent because I was very cautious of the injuries I had last year, basically trying to protect myself so I could be here for the long haul and playing every game," said the 26-year-old Trinidad and Tobago native. "It's been tough, but that's professional sports. I just have to live with it."
All told, last season's injuries and this season's additions up front would be enough for some to throw up their hands and take on a victim's mentality.
"[Scott's] a good pro," said Onalfo. "Good players, when they have competition, rise to the top, and that was an indication of what he did [Saturday]."
The goal surely won't hurt his chances at stepping into the first XI; it's certainly something positive on which Sealy can build.
"Goals do that for forwards. Goals always lift your spirits, always give you that extra confidence, and hopefully next game I continue to push and produce," he said.
Bob Rusert is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
