The Kansas City Wizards scored three consecutive goals after falling behind 2-0 in the opening 15 minutes, but Juan Pablo Angel's last-minute penalty kick forced the Wizards to settle for a 3-3 tie with the New York Red Bulls at Giants Stadium on Saturday night.
As the final minutes ticked off the clock, the Wizards looked like they would escape the Meadowlands with the full three points. Second-year forward Yura Movsisyan had notched his second tally of the contest 11 minutes from time, a cool chip over the head of Red Bulls 'keeper Ronald Waterreus.
But at the death, Jose Burciaga, Jr.'s clumsy challenge on New York's John Wolyniec as the two chased a high ball in Kansas City's area set up the spot kick and Angel made no mistake, burying his second of the match past Kevin Hartman to keep the visitors in second place in the Eastern Conference, one point behind the hosts.
New York had the first good scoring chance five minutes in. Captain Claudio Reyna put Dane Richards in on goal with a beautiful through ball, but the rookie hesitated and his attempt was blocked by Burciaga. But on the ensuing corner kick, New York struck first.
Dave van den Bergh pumped the ball into the box, where it took a deflection off a K.C. defender. Several Bulls appealed to referee Abbey Okulaja for a handball, but van den Bergh collected the loose ball and simply served another cross towards Angel at the back post.
The Colombian appeared to be tightly marked by Wizards World Cup veteran Jimmy Conrad, but Angel managed to get a half-yard on the K.C. captain and snapped a perfect header back across Kevin Hartman's goal where it settled into the side netting.
Conrad was victimized once again in the 15th minute after some beautiful buildup play from the home side. Angel chased down a ball near the corner flag and made a clever pass to Richards. Richards played a quick give-and-go with Seth Stammler, then made a perfect square pass in the box to Clint Mathis, who held off Conrad to poke the ball past Hartman.
The Wizards had the better of the first half opportunities after that. They tested Waterreus from long range several times, forcing five saves from the veteran shot-stopper. In the 27th minute Davy Arnaud unleashed a bomb from 25 yards that the Dutchman tipped over the bar, and two minutes later, he fisted away another effort from well outside the area.
Later, Sasha Victorine's drive was well saved by the former PSV Eindhoven and Glasgow Rangers netminder. Carlos Marinelli got a direct free kick over the Bulls' wall in the 38th minute but Waterreus was perfectly positioned to gather in that attempt. Then, on another set piece moments after, Arnaud fired wide to the 'keeper's right off a rolling pass.
But the Wizards' work finally paid off just before the break.
Reyna picked up a loose ball at the top of his area after a failed K.C. counterattack. Under pressure, his touch beat one man but ran away far enough that Marinelli was able to beat him to it. Marinelli backheeled the ball for Kerry Zavagnin, who blasted a 25-yard drive into the net with Waterreus firmly rooted to the turf.
The Wizards nearly took the lead in the 67th minute. Davy Arnaud beat his mark to the end line and played the ball back for Sasha Victorine, whose perfect dummy left Marinelli all alone in the box. But his first-time blast crashed off the post and back out to safety.
Then in the 70th minute, 12 minutes after entering the game, Movsisyan pulled the Wizards even. Arnaud found Ryan Raybould in the right corner, and he drove a low cross to the near post where the second-year forward deflected the ball inside the far post.
The Wizards took the lead when Victorine lofted a long pass from deep inside his own half to a streaking Movsisyan. It looked like he would walk in alone on Waterreus, but with a Red Bulls defender closing in, Movsisyan cut the ball back and chipped the goalie, who had come off his line anticipating a shot.
Waterreus kept the home team in the game with a timely stop in the 83rd minute after some good work by Marinelli in the box, and the Red Bulls got the gift penalty to escape with the draw.
Kansas City was playing without star striker Eddie Johnson, who is with the U.S. national team at the CONCACAF Gold Cup. With his pair of goals Saturday, Angel joined Johnson atop the MLS scoring charts with nine goals on the year.
The Wizards remain in second place in the East but have two games in hand on pace-setting New York, which is idle next week.
Doug McIntyre is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
