The Kansas City Wizards finally broke out of their recent goal-scoring slump, but this time they couldn't hold on to their good fortune as the Los Angeles Galaxy came back for a 2-2 tie Saturday at The Home Depot Center.
Yura Movsisyan and Davy Arnaud scored goals in the first six minutes of the second half to give the Wizards the lead. But they nevertheless succumbed to a furious Galaxy rally as Cobi Jones scored twice to bring the Galaxy back to level terms.
The Wizards got one of their absent U.S. internationals back when Jimmy Conrad returned from Copa America duty. Conrad missed two MLS games due to South America's regional championship, but did not play in Thursday's 1-0 loss to Colombia. However, teammate Eddie Johnson did, and Johnson missed his sixth consecutive league match as a result.
The Wizards held off an early Galaxy barrage that ultimately yielded no shots on goal. Carlos Pavon pushed a header wide on the quarter-hour mark but otherwise the Galaxy's touch failed them in the final third.
Kevin Hartman turned away Galaxy midfielder Kelly Gray in the 23rd minute. Gray made a run down the heart of the Wizards' defense and unloaded a 25-yard shot on goal. Hartman dived to his right and parried the ball away. Pavon could not get to the rebound and the ball crossed the touchline.
Carlos Marinelli had space on the left side of the penalty area in the 26th minute and whipped a cross to the six-yard box but Galaxy goalkeeper Joe Cannon did well to snare the ball.
The Wizards finished with no shots on goal in the first half and had just two total shots to show for the first 45 minutes. Los Angeles, meanwhile, had six shots but just Gray's attempt forced Hartman to make a save.
Movsisyan replaced Scott Sealy at forward to start the second half and made an immediate impact. The Pasadena City College product connected made his first touch count as he took advantage of a Galaxy defensive miscue.
Jack Jewsbury crossed into the area from the right flank. Former Wizards standout Chris Klein fanned on his clearance attempt and the ball landed at Movsisyan's feet. He shook off Klein's mark and slammed a ball into the back of the net from 12 yards out.
The Galaxy's defense continued to present the Wizards with gifts. In the 51st minute, Marinelli whipped a cross into the penalty area. Galaxy defender Ante Jazic got to the cross and tried to head the ball to Cannon but the Galaxy goalkeeper dived to his right as the ball had unexpected pace. The ball bounced up in the air off Cannon and Arnaud knocked it into the back of the net over the fallen 'keeper.
The Wizards, however, held onto the lead for just 10 minutes. Jones, who replaced Buddle in the 55th minute, slipped a rebound into the back of the net in the 61st minute. Pavon slammed a shot off the post and the ball caromed off the woodwork to Jones.
Ryan Pore nearly gave the Wizards another two-goal cushion when he hammered a side volley on goal, but Cannon did well to parry the ball away.
Jones struck again in the 75th minute. Landon Donovan slipped past the Wizards defense on the right side and fed a low cross into Jones, who slammed a shot past Hartman from point-blank range.
Gavin Glinton, who was subbed into the match earlier in the half, nearly scored into an empty net as Hartman had come well off his line for a ball. Hartman could only watch as Glinton's attempt sailed wide of the net.
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was nto subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
