The Kansas City Wizards continue to create chances without being able to find the back of the net -- and as a result, D.C. United took advantage of the game's lone goal to record a victory Wednesday afternoon at Arrowhead Stadium and move to the top of the Eastern Conference.
The Wizards outshot United 21-11 on the afternoon, with United goalkeeper Troy Perkins making eight saves. That made Luciano Emilio's 44th-minute goal stand up as the game-winner.
The Wizards have now been shut out in two of their last three games, and have scored just two goals in their last four. For United, it was their seventh win in their last nine games.
Under a hot midday sun, the game started with chances flowing for both sides. United had two good opportunities in the opening minutes.
First, Justin Moose tried his luck from outside the area in the second minute, bringing a good save from Wizards goalkeeper Kevin Hartman, who dove to his right.
United forward Nicholas Addlery made a powerful run down the right side, holding off Kansas City rookie defender Michael Harrington the whole way. Addlery was able to turn in the area and get a look at goal, but his angled shot was wide left.
The Wizards continue to get their chances, and certainly to get their share of shots. They are just failing to finish.
From a free kick nearly straight out from goal in the eighth minute, Davy Arnaud blasted a shot that whistled past the outside of the wall. It beat United goalkeeper Troy Perkins -- but the shot caromed off the left post.
Arnaud stole a pass at midfield and streaked toward the goal in the 18th minute, racing past United center back Greg Vanney, acquired in a trade from the Colorado Rapids last week. But Perkins kicked the shot away.
Wizards forward Ryan Pore had an excellent chance in the 26th minute. But Perkins was there again, deflecting the ball over the corner of the net and out of bounds. From the resulting corner kick the ball bounded around the area after sailing over Perkins' head to the back post, but the Wizards couldn't get it back on target.
Pore had yet another opportunity, dribbling his way toward goal on the right side of the area. But once again Perkins was there to deflect the ball away. Minutes later Jack Jewsbury decided to have a go from outside the area on the right, but Perkins scooped up the shot with little trouble.
After hanging on for much of the half, United created a good opportunity in the 38th minute. Christian Gomez took a square pass from Fred and ripped a rising drive from near the top of the area. But Hartman leaped up to get a hand on the shot and deflect it over the goal and into the stands.
United pulled ahead in the 44th minute through some good close control. Clyde Simms won a header, finding Fred on the right edge of the area. He slipped a pass inside to Emilio who cut quickly to his left, and just before taking another step across the area, he hooked a left-footed shot high inside the near post to beat Hartman for his eighth goal on the season, one shy of the league lead.
After the break, the Wizards continued their assault on the United goal, but the ball just wouldn't go in. Substitute Yura Movsisyan pounded the ball off the left post in the 50th minute. The rebound bounced out to Sasha Victorine, but it was once again repelled by Perkins.
On the counter, United nearly doubled their lead in the 62nd minute, when Gomez found himself free just beyond the restraining arc. Hartman was able to dive to his left to push the effort aside.
That chance was bracketed on either side by two more good chances for the Wizards. Shortly after coming on as a substitute, Carlos Marinelli put an effort on target that was blocked by Perkins, then in the 64th minute, Scott Sealy had a clear shot at goal, but Perkins came well off his line to redirect the shot over the end line.
As he was in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Toronto, where the Wizards took 25 shots but were unable to score more than once, Movsisyan was very active after coming on as a second-half substitute. He had a good opportunity with space in the area, but took too long and was closed down by a United defender before he could get his shot off.
Then in the 67th minute he sent an accurate cross to Sealy a few yards in front of goal. But Sealy poked the ball over the crossbar.
Over the final quarter of the match, the heat finally began to take its toll, and neither team was able to create any other quality chances. United held on for the win, finishing their long climb back to the top of the East after opening the season with three consecutive losses.
Thomas Foote is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
