The Kansas City Wizards captured three important, dramatic points Saturday in a crucial Eastern Conference six-pointer as they downed the Columbus Crew 3-2 through stoppage-time goals from strikers Eddie Johnson and Scott Sealy. Kansas City becomes just the third team in MLS history to erase a stoppage-time deficit and win the match. Johnson converted a penalty kick in the 93+ minute after Kerry Zavagnin was fouled inside the 18-yard area and then recorded an assist on Sealy's game-winner just one minute later.
Columbus created the game's first scoring opportunity in the 6th minute when midfielder Ned Grabavoy served in a free kick from 25 yards out that was headed just wide of the back post by defender Marcos Gonzalez.
The Wizards nearly opened the scoring in the 22nd minute through brilliant ball movement up the right flank. Johnson held the ball up, playing it laterally for Sealy then spinning and running the channel between two defenders. Sealy played midfielder Davy Arnaud free into space on the right, and Arnaud sent a first-touch cross hard along the ground for Johnson at the top of the penalty area. Johnson connected with his left foot, sending a first-touch shot toward goal that was saved with a dive by former Wizards goalkeeper Will Hesmer, who had nine saves on the night.
Columbus created a dangerous opportunity of its own in the 27th minute as Grabavoy fired from the top of the area and forced a diving save from Wizards goalkeeper Kevin Hartman. Forward Jason Garey attempted to put home the rebound from close range, but his right-footed effort hit squarely off the post before being cleared by the Wizards.
Kansas City opened the scoring four minutes later after Sealy was fouled outside the 18-yard area by defender Ezra Hendrickson. Sealy then stepped over the ball with defender Jose Luis Burciaga Jr. Both players started their approach in the 31st minute, with Burciaga stopping and Sealy bending a right-footed blast over the wall and into the upper-left corner past a diving Hesmer for his 3rd goal of the season.
Ten minutes later, Arnaud took a turn after Burciaga fired a diagonal ball out of the back a full 50 yards. Johnson dummied the ball, taking a Columbus defender out of the play and creating space for Arnaud who carried the ball up the right flank before cutting to his left and firing a shot on goal that was smothered by Hesmer.
Columbus opened the second half with a quicker offense, as midfielder Eddie Gaven sprang midfielder Jacob Thomas up the right flank with a through ball out of midfield in the 50th minute. Thomas carried the ball into the penalty area, firing on goal from 15 yards out and forcing a full-extension save from Hartman at the near post. Then in the 59th, a snap header from Gaven forced a diving save by Hartman at the back post.
The Crew leveled the match in the 65th minute as Gaven, again, played an important part in their attack. Midfielder Danny O'Rourke sent a cross in from the right flank to Gaven at the back post who headed the ball centrally for a cutting Alejandro Moreno. Hartman blocked Moreno's first shot, but Moreno stayed with the play and pushed the rebound into an open net to tie the match 1-1.
Columbus took a 2-1 lead just two minutes later after a Gaven corner kick. His right-footed out-swinger was headed across the face of the goal by Gonzalez and tapped in by falling second-half substitute Andy Herron from point-blank range.
Moreno nearly recorded his second goal in the 76th minute when he chested down a cross and fired a first-time volley toward goal, forcing another diving save from Hartman.
The Wizards almost tied the match in the 83rd minute through substitute forward Eloy Colombano. Fellow Argentinean Carlos Marinelli dropped the ball back centrally for Colombano. Colombano took a touch then fired a right-footed blast from 25 yards out that eluded Hesmer but sped just over the crossbar.
Kansas City finally got its equalizer in second-half stoppage time after midfielder Kerry Zavagnin was fouled two steps inside the penalty area. Johnson stepped to the spot, sending Hesmer the wrong way before banking the shot in off the left post for his 15th goal of the year and first from the penalty spot.
The Wizards, however, were not content to leave with a tie, and captured a victory just one minute later. Kansas City played the ball out of the back, eventually finding Johnson with his back to goal 25 yards out. He spun the ball wide for a streaking Colombano before Johnson and Sealy continued their runs toward goal. Colombano took a touch then served in a hard, right-footed cross for Sealy at the near post. The Trinidad and Tobago international hit a snap header past Hesmer from 6 yards out for his second goal of the match and first-game winner of the season.
On the night, 12 of the Wizards 19 shots were on goal (63.2%), forcing Hesmer's nine saves.
Kansas City's victory was crucial, providing the team with an eight-point playoff cushion over Columbus and the Colorado Rapids who are currently tied for 9th in MLS with 28 points. The Wizards pulled within one point of Red Bull New York for 3rd in the East who tied the Chicago Fire 2-2 Saturday evening in Chicago. Chicago currently occupies the 8th and final playoff spot on 30 points. Colorado plays Sunday with a chance to leapfrog the Fire into the playoff picture.
The Wizards next match comes next Saturday, September 22 against red-hot Chivas USA and coach Preki. The game, 9:30 p.m. CT on Metro Sports, is the second and final match-up of 2007 between the teams. Kansas City captured a 3-2 victory over the Goats July 29 at Arrowhead Stadium.
