For the second time in successive tries, the New England Revolution defeated the Kansas City Wizards and put a dent in their effort to gain crucial points in both the Eastern Conference and the MLS Cup Playoffs race.
Taylor Twellman's 72nd-minute goal was enough to foil the Wizards, who were coming off a 17-day layoff after the Revolution blanked them 2-0 in Foxborough, Mass. on August 2.
Although they have two games in hand, the Wizards fell 10 points behind the Revolution, who maintained their six-point lead in the Eastern Conference through the weekend. The loss also meant the Wizards failed to distance themselves from the four other teams, currently separated by only five points, who are fighting for the last three MLS playoff spots.
With playoff berth and seeding becoming increasingly important in the last third of the season, Wizards head coach Curt Onalfo and the Revolution's Steve Nicol each put out lineups different than their usual first 11. Maneuvering with a healthy squad, Onalfo elected to start usual substitute striker Yura Movsisyan up front with scoring ace Eddie Johnson and to reinstate Davy Arnaud at right midfield, leaving midfielder Sasha Victorine out of the starting lineup for the first time this season.
Nicol was forced to sit forward Pat Noonan, sidelined with a hamstring injury, and Steve Ralston, who had a relapse of flu symptoms before traveling to Kansas City. Adam Cristman and Wells Thompson started instead, respectively, in their place.
After the layoff, it took the Wizards a while to find their rhythm, and the Revolution nearly made them pay in the opening minute. Taylor Twellman took the ball on the right and shot from just outside the right corner of the box after 26 seconds, forcing K.C. goalkeeper Kevin Hartman to stretch full to his right to palm the shot just wide of the far post.
Six minutes later, midfielder Shalrie Joseph tested Hartman from 28 yards, this time the shot bounding off Hartman's chest before being cleared.
The Wizards began to awaken as they then began to switch fields effectively while probing near the goal guarded by Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis. Yet the Revolution proved dangerous on the counterattack as well when they drew a free kick 15 yards outside of the Wizards' box. However, when Adam Cristman met the ensuing Andy Dorman service with a clear header the heart of the box, he pushed it wide.
Play became scrappy late in the half with the only near threats coming from Wizards forwards Movsisyan and Johnson, who looked to combine multiple times. Miscommunication and wayward touches left their efforts short.
Perhaps hoping speed would juice up the Wizards attack, Onalfo inserted recently signed Argentinean Eloy Colombano at the half for Movsisyan while James Riley took Jay Heaps spot in the Revolution's back three because of injury.
The two sides exchanged attempts in each other's areas in the first 15 minutes of the second half, as midfielder Jeff Larentowicz headed over the crossbar and the Wizards' Carlos Marinelli forced New England's Reis to punch away his free kick.
Victorine entered the match in the 60th minute for back Jose Burciaga Jr. as Kansas City looked to push the attack. The tactic nearly paid off eight minutes later as Colombano headed down Marinelli's cross for Victorine just off the end line at the far post. Riley and back Michael Parkhurst spoiled the effort as each had a touch on the ball to clear.
Unscathed, New England would soon be rewarded for absorbing the pressure. Joseph sprung Khano Smith down the left wing, and he raced into the box and rolled a perfectly placed pass behind Kansas City center back Nick Garcia. Twellman timed his run to perfection and came sliding in at the back post to tap home for his 10th goal of the season in the 72nd minute.
Onalfo had one more card to play, and forward Scott Sealy entered for right back Jack Jewsbury three minutes after Twellman's strike as the Wizards went to three strikers in the comeback bid. But no chance was created and the Wizards had failed to gain on their conference leaders and to take advantage of another home match.
Bob Rusert is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
