The Kansas City Wizards return home to CommunityAmerica Ballpark after an eight-week absence was not what they were looking for, as the Columbus Crew scored early and often in a 3-0 victory Saturday night. Two goals by Alejandro Moreno after Chad Marshall staked the visitors to a sudden lead sent a sellout crowd home disheartened.
Before the Wizards could gain much joy from again playing on their home turf, the Crew jumped on top in the third minute via a corner taken by playmaker Guillermo Barros Schelotto. Chad Marshall nodded the ball home from the heart of the penalty area inside the far corner of Kevin Hartman's goal, ending a 370-minute scoreless streak for Columbus.
The Wizards nearly gifted a second Columbus goal in the 15th minute as Jimmy Conrad looked to play out of his own box. Wide midfielder Emmanuel Ekpo latched on to the attempt and drilled in a cross for Schelotto, who headed just wide of goal to the near post.
Columbus's persistence in attack, though, paid dividends again in the 20th minute. Danny O'Rourke sent a switching ball across the front of the Wizards' area for Moreno. On an angled run left, Moreno clipped the ball to the right just past the charging Hartman's and into the unattended goal.
Marinelli forced Hesmer quickly to his right in the 39th minute with a shot from 16 yards, but little else was generated from the Wizards attack as the visitors continued to gain the lion's share of the ball and the dangerous opportunities throughout the remaining 25 minutes.
The rout was nearly on for the Crew in the dying minutes of the half though as Schelotto was freed on the left. The Argentinean bore down on Hartman's goal with two defenders chasing. His shot forced Hartman to push the ball around the near post for a resulting innocuous corner.
But the Wizards weren't ready to fold as O'Rourke earned a yellow for a tackle on Marinelli on the left side some 35 yards from net. Marinelli's ensuing free kick found Jewsbury in the box, but his attempt flashed wide of the far post.
After Kansas City began the second half with a quick chance in the 46th minute by way of a Lopez header, the Crew again nearly added to their lead. Hartman was beat with a chip off his left post, but Conrad hustled back to save further damage by clearing the ball just in front of the goal line.
On the other end, intricate passing by the Wizards in the Crew penalty area ultimately forced goalkeeper Will Hesmer to fall on the ball in the box in the 59th minute to preserve Columbus's two-goal margin.
But yet again, Columbus had a retort. The Crew forced a series of saves from Hartman at his left post with a header by Schelotto from the middle of the box at eight yards followed by two Robbie Rogers point-blank shots -- the first saved by Hartman and the second over the bar off the rebound.
The Crew then made it 3-0 in the 67th minute. Wide on the left side, Moreno received a Schelotto chip and drilled a first-time bullet between Hartman and his right post for his sixth marker of the season and second of the night.
Despite the Wizards use of their third substitution by the 75th minute, Kansas City was unable to sustain a consistent attacking rhythm, but chances did come. The 80th minute saw substitute Ryan Pore take down a Lopez cross inside the right corner of the Crew box. Pore whirled and struck a ball that Hesmer stretched to his left to knock down and soon gain control.
The Wizards were kept honest by a consistent Crew attack, one that nearly went up four in the 88th minute when Rogers' attempt hit the outside of Hartman's right post.
The challenges keep coming for Kansas City, winless in their last six, who will hit the road again for a match with Toronto FC next Saturday.
Bob Rusert is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
