making big plays when you need them," said second-year center back Tyson Wahl, who filled in for Conrad.
The night was only beginning for Wahl and the rest of the Wizards back line as D.C. continued to forge forward, gaining six shots, five on goal, in the first half.
"We were struggling to keep some possession throughout the game. We were working pretty hard back there in the back line for quite a while," said Wahl.
By the last 15 minutes of the initial half, the Wizards attack was putting its full force on United's rearguard. Frontrunners Eddie Johnson and Scott Sealy were the main instigators, but only two shots reached the D.C. goal.
The second put the home side up a minute before the break. Johnson laid the ball back for Sealy charging from behind after corralling the ball on the right side of the area. Sealy made no mistake finding the back of the net inside the left post to give K.C. the lead.
The Wizards attack finished with 12 shots on the night, yet only three on goal.
"We need to put teams away and stop letting them be in the game so long because all it's going to do [lead to] one mistake, and they're right back in it," said Jose Burciaga Jr.
The mistake that the Wizards would rue came in the 56th minute. United back Marc Burch picked out Gomez in the box from long range. It was a pass that never should have happened according to Onalfo.
"We could have prevented that play a lot earlier up the field. End of story," he said.
As a gifted player does, Gomez made the most of the chance, turning Wahl inside out and placing his shot inside Hartman and his right post.
"[Gomez] is an excellent player and a player who can change the outcome of the game. I think he did at that point," conceded Onalfo. "Having said that, we had enough chances to put the game away."
The point does inch the Wizards a bit closer to clinching a playoff spot, but the Kansas City locker room regretted the missed opportunity for more.
"It's going to come down to the wire; that's just the way this stuff is. We just played D.C. United, who is arguably the best team in the league. We had a 1-0 lead, and it would have been nice to hang on to it and get the three points, and we didn't," said Onalfo.
"We can't worry about that now, we just have to worry about our next two games and find ways to continue to get points and make sure we get into the playoffs."
Bob Rusert is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
