The Kansas City Wizards defense made a very early goal stand up for 86 minutes Sunday, leading to a 1-0 victory against the Chicago Fire on Sunday afternoon at Toyota Park.
Jack Jewsbury's goal in the fourth minute gave the Wizards a 1-0 lead and the Wizards defense dealt with the Fire's strong offense the rest of the game to come away with a victory in the first of six consecutive road matches. It was also just the second win ever for Kansas City at the home of the Fire.
Jewsbury's goal came off a long looping pass from forward Claudio Lopez. The ball was a 50-50 ball set to land at the top of the penalty box, and Jewsbury got to the spot before Fire goalkeeper Jon Busch, who found himself totally out of position trying to make the play. Jewsbury chested the ball to the ground past Busch then had an easy tip into the goal for the early lead.
The goal was the first by an opposition player against the Fire in four games this season. The only other goal scored against the Fire was an own goal by Bakary Soumare in the first game of the season, against Real Salt Lake.
For much of the rest of the match, the Wizards had to deal with the vaunted Fire attack.
Justin Mapp, a member of the U.S. national team, had a shot in the 18th minute that was deflected by Wizards defender Jimmy Conrad. The Wizards then made a couple attempts at getting the second goal, with Lopez flying shots wide or high in the 21st and 24th minutes.
Wizards defender Michael Harrington was whistled for a handball in the 31st minute as he battled for the ball against Tomas Frankowski of the Fire. That set up a free kick for Mexican superstar Cuauhtemoc Blanco but his effort, while on target, didn't really trouble Wizards goalkeeper Kevin Hartman.
The Fire's best chance to score in the first half came in the 33rd minute when forward Chad Barrett found himself directly in front of Hartman after a couple of sharp passes by the Fire. Hartman made a kick save on Barrett's shot, then faced a charging shot by midfielder John Thorrington from the right side that bounced off a Wizards player.
The Fire had two more wide-open attempts that missed in the first half. Barrett sent a lay-off to Thorrington in the box, and Thorrington sent a cross to Frankowski on the left side. Frankowski attempted an overhead kick that went wide left. Over the next minute Blanco had two shots on goal punched out by Hartman.
The Fire had yet another chance in the 40th minute, when Blanco outdueled Wizards defender Chance Myers for the ball on the left side and dropped the ball off to a streaking Gonzalo Segares, who sent a cross to the right side where Barrett was alone and staring at the naked right side of the net. But Barrett sent his clear chance high over the net from about eight yards out.
The first half stats showed the Fire with 10 shots, three on goal, while the Wizards had only the one shot on goal and only four shots in the half.
In the 53rd minute, the Fire put together a tremendous combination and again came away with nothing. Barrett dribbled the ball right down the center then sent a through ball to Frankowski to his left inside the six. But Frankowski's kick went right at Hartman and bounced out to the goalkeeper's right. The ball landed at Mapp's foot, and he centered the ball to Blanco, whose shot bounced off Hartman and a Wizards defender, settled on the goal line before getting kicked away in yet another close call.
In the 57th minute, Harrington tripped Mapp inches outside the penalty box, and received a yellow card for dissent arguing the call. But the free kick by Mapp bounced off the wall.
The Wizards' best chance to add to their lead in the second half came in the 64th minute when Lopez had a free kick from 30 yards out and sent it across to Sasha Victorine, whose shot was deflected over the goal by Busch.
In the 66th minute, Busch had to punch out a corner kick by Morsink from the left side, then Victorine followed with a shot that glanced off the far post and out.
The Fire kept charging, but to no avail. In the 73rd minute, a through ball by Barrett landed between Blanco and substitute forward Andy Herron, and the two waited for the other player to kick it. Herron eventually tried to push it past Hartman, but the Wizards goalkeeper was then in position.
In the 75th minute, Barrett again had run at goal but his shot from 18 yards out was deflected by Conrad.
The Wizards played the game without midfielders Davy Arnaud (hamstring strain), Ryan Pore (nose fracture), Carlos Marinelli (groin strain) and Lance Watson (foot fracture).
The Wizards played four straight games at home to start the season but now must play six straight road games, continuing next weekend with a visit to Toronto FC. They will not play at home again until June 14. The Fire remain at home next weekend, playing host to the Colorado Rapids.
Kent McDill is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
