Against the Los Angeles Galaxy on Saturday, the Kansas City Wizards experienced the lows and the highs of an entire season in 45 minutes.
The Wizards scored two goals in the opening six minutes of the second half only for the Galaxy to level terms with a quarter-hour left as Kansas City held on for a 2-2 draw.
Though the Wizards locker room had a lull that commonly surrounds a loss, goalkeeper Kevin Hartman said it was up to the club to deal with the fallout.
"As long as we're honest with ourselves, then it's OK to be positive in light of a loss or tie," Hartman said. "It's a long season and you're going to go through your ups and your downs and unfortunately for us, this is one of our downs. That being said we're not that far out of first in the East."
After Davy Arnaud scored in the 51st minute to put the Wizards up 2-0, first place in the Eastern Conference was within their sights. But second-half substitute Cobi Jones sliced into the Wizards' lead in the 61st minute and then equalized in the 75th.
Wizards defender Nick Garcia said he felt his club let the hosts have life.
"Our mistakes led to good things happening for them. We could have easily controlled it and we could have kept them out of the game," Garcia said. "The momentum definitely shifted. We kind of allowed them to come forward and take the game to us like we were taking it to them."
It was the Galaxy who were in the giving mood at first, though. Former Wizards player Chris Klein fanned on a clearance attempt and halftime substitute Yura Movsisyan latched onto the ball and fired it into the back of the net in the 47th minute. Movsisyan's goal was his fourth of the season and helped set the tone for the opening part of the second half.
Arnaud also capitalized on a Galaxy defensive miscue. Ante Jazic tried to head a cross from Carlos Marinelli back to goalkeeper Joe Cannon but instead forced Cannon to make a diving save. The ball popped up and Arnaud tapped it into the goal.
Wizards coach Curt Onalfo said the club benefited by another chance to start the second half -- having Marinelli play out wide.
"We pushed Sasha (Victorine) into the middle and Marinelli wide," Onalfo said. "We felt like he was going to get the ball more and help us create and that's exactly what happened. He was part of both of the goals. In fact, we thought that throughout the entire second half he was very dangerous throughout that position."
But Jones had plenty of time to respond. The Galaxy veteran slipped in a rebound after Carlos Pavon had fired a shot that banged off the base of the post. Jones finished a low cross from Landon Donovan for the equalizer.
Onalfo said the team lost focus.
"It was a lack of concentration," Onalfo said. "Those things happen."
Hartman, though, had seen that before.
"It was a typical L.A. comeback. I've been a part of a lot of them," said Hartman, who spent 10 seasons with the Galaxy. "Cobi had a couple of sitters and was able to finish them and we couldn't pick up the third."
The result, though, was the latest in a string of exasperating results for the Wizards, who are now 0-3-3 in their last six games.
"It's just a little bit frustrating considering the fact that we've had so many similar results of late," Hartman said. "We just have to continue to plug away at it. We're anticipating the return of Eddie [Johnson]. He adds an entirely different facet to our game with his speed and ability to get behind defenses."
Still, the Wizards players tried to look at the one point gained rather than the two points lost.
"We're on the road. At least one point is what we're aiming for. Three is what we'd like. I think in that regard, mission somewhat accomplished," Garcia said. "But I think this is a game we were definitely capable of winning."
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
