The Kansas City Wizards fell 2-0 Saturday night in Chicago as the surging Chicago Fire worked to get themselves back into the playoff race under new Head Coach Juan Carlos Osorio. Kansas City, still in the heart of the playoff hunt, remains one point behind Red Bull New York for 3rd place in the Eastern Conference race after a New York loss Saturday.
Kansas City controlled the pace and the play for the majority of the first half, beginning in the 13th minute on a brilliant wide pass from holding midfielder Kerry Zavagnin. Kansas City's midfield general picked out striker Eddie Johnson up the right side of the field and played a long ball just over Johnson's shoulder. Johnson cut inside a defender and played the ball across the middle where strike partner Scott Sealy let the ball run toward midfielder Sasha Victorine, but a Chicago defender cut out the play and cleared the ball.
Chicago designated player Cuauhtemoc Blanco made his presence known for the first time in the 19th minute, striking an out-swinging corner kick from the right corner flag. Defender Dasan Robinson got to the ball at the near post but headed it just over.
Wizards winger Davy Arnaud took a pass on the right flank and showed his quality in the 22nd minute, cutting to his left and firing a left-footed rocket from inside the penalty area that beat goalkeeper Jon Busch only to speed just over the cross bar.
Kansas City mounted an attack through a quick counter four minutes later as Sealy, checking back in on a Chicago restart, collected a free ball just outside the Kansas City penalty area and fired a first-time pass a full 60 yards onto the foot of Johnson up the left wing. Johnson brought the ball down neatly and beat former Wizards midfielder Diego Gutierrez, but Gutierrez was able to poke the ball out for a Kansas City corner at the last minute as Johnson broke toward goal.
In the 27th minute, Arnaud again threatened the Chicago net. Victorine turned and laid the ball back for Arnaud a full 30 yards from goal and his first-time, right-footed effort went inches wide of the back post past an outstretched Busch.
Johnson proved dangerous once more in the 30th minute as Kansas City pushed toward the Fire goal in waves. Midfielder Kurt Morsink played a long ball toward Johnson on the right wing who chested it down on the run and worked his way into the penalty area. He cut to the left, leaving Gutierrez on the ground as his left-footed effort from 15 yards out went just over the bar.
Chicago almost gifted Kansas City the game's first goal in the 32nd minute after an Arnaud corner kick. The ball approached a pair of Wizards at the back post when Chicago rookie midfielder Bakary Soumare got his head to the ball and it deflected back toward his own net, nearly beating Busch before skipping just wide of the back post.
The game changed, however, in the 44th minute as Kansas City was called for a foul just outside their own penalty area. Blanco stepped over the ball and showed the touch that has made him a mainstay on the Mexican national team for the better part of a decade. His perfectly placed ball curled just over the wall and inside the near post, with goalkeeper Kevin Hartman unable to react in time since his wall was positioned just eight yards off the goal line. Chicago took a 1-0 lead into the half and played a much more offensive game after the break.
Kansas City generated its first chance early in the second half as rookie left back Michael Harrington beat a defender near the left touch line and centered a ball in front of Victorine. The veteran midfielder let the ball run, striking it on goal with the first touch and forcing a diving save at the back post by Busch.
Blanco again caused problems in the 50th minute, spinning a ball wide left for midfielder Ivan Guerrero. Guerrero worked toward the end line then crossed the ball back for forward Chris Rolfe, who brought the ball down neatly before firing wide of the back post from near the six-yard area.
Hartman kept the Wizards within a goal in the 72nd minute after a quality distribution from his counterpart as Busch picked out Blanco with an early long ball. Blanco then brought the ball down immediately and played it across for Costa Rican striker Paulo Wanchope. Wanchope held the ball up, then cut abruptly to his left and struck the ball toward the upper left corner, but Hartman laid out to save the ball at full extension.
The Fire sealed the game in the 86th minute after a Blanco corner kick. He played the ball short for Gutierrez who laid a quick return that Blanco struck on the first touch to the top of the six-yard area for substitute forward Calen Carr. Carr made no mistake, nodding the ball down and past Hartman for a late insurance goal.
Kansas City's road trip continues midweek, as the Wizards travel to Salt Lake City to face Real Salt Lake Wednesday at 8 p.m. CT on Time Warner Cable channels 5 (English) and 20 (Spanish). The Wizards then head to Houston for a Saturday match-up with 2006 MLS Cup Champion Houston Dynamo at 7:30 p.m. CT on Fox Soccer Channel.
