HOUSTON DYNAMO v KANSAS CITY WIZARDS
ROBERTSON STADIUM, Houston, Texas
7:30 p.m. CT (FSC/FSE)
Sept. 1, 2007 (WEEK 22) / MLS Game #141
The Kansas City Wizards are looking to gain something out of their three-game road trip over a week, while Houston Dynamo are looking just to get back to their winning ways, as the teams meet Saturday evening at Robertson Stadium. Dynamo have won just once in league play since mid-July, with five goals scored over their last six games. The Wizards have started the road swing with losses against the Chicago Fire and Real Salt Lake, facing a third away match in eight days' time. The teams have met already this season, with Houston claiming a 1-0 win in Kansas City on June 24.
REFEREE: Ramon Hernandez. SAR (bench): Bill Dittmar; JAR (opposite): Frank Anderson; 4th: Colin Tait MLS Career: 13 games; FC/gm: 30.2; Y/gm: 4.5; R: 4; pens: 2 Games involving Dynamo: first game Games involving Wizards: P1 W0 L1 T0; FC/gm: 32.0; Y/gm: 6.0; R: 0; pens: 0
INJURY REPORT: HOUSTON DYNAMO - OUT: FW Brian Ching (L calf strain); MF Brad Davis (R knee sprain); FW Paul Dalglish (R ankle sprain); QUESTIONABLE: MF Stuart Holden (R ankle contusion); PROBABLE: FW Joseph Ngwenya (R ankle sprain); DF Ryan Cochrane (L ankle sprain) ... KANSAS CITY WIZARDS - OUT: MF Ryan McMahen (torn ACL); MF A.J. Godbolt (patellar tendonitis); PROBABLE: GK Chris Konopka (ankle sprain)
SUSPENDED: HOU: Nate Jaqua (through Sept. 2; five cautions)
WARNINGS:
SUSPENDED NEXT YELLOW CARD: HOU: Ryan Cochrane
SUSPENDED AFTER TWO YELLOW CARDS: HOU: Joseph Ngwenya ... KC: Jose Burciaga Jr., Jimmy Conrad, Nick Garcia, Jack Jewsbury, Eddie Johnson, Carlos Marinelli, Kurt Morsink, Kerry Zavagnin
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: none
HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (3 meetings): Dynamo 2 wins, 5 goals ... Wizards 1 win, 4 goals ... Draws 0
AT HOUSTON: (1 meeting): Dynamo 0 wins, 1 goal ... Wizards 1 win, 2 goals ... Draws 0
• This is the second of two meetings between the teams this season, the only one set for Robertson Stadium.
• A year ago, the teams split their two meetings, each winning on the other's home ground. There were also plenty of goals, with eight scored in all between the two games.
• Coaches record: Dominic Kinnear v KC: P9 W4 L3 D2 ... Curt Onalfo vs. HOU: P1 W0 L1 D0
2007 (MLS)
6/24: KC 0, HOU 1 (Ianni 81)
• Houston Dynamo won for the fifth time in a row when the teams met June 24 at Arrowhead Stadium, a 1-0 victory against the Kansas City Wizards.
• The Wizards controlled the opening half-hour, and twice Pat Onstad was called upon to make saves from Scott Sealy when he was all alone in front of the Houston goal.
• But the Dynamo defense held out and finally got the chance they were looking for in the 81st minute. Stuart Holden swung in a corner from the right and defender Patrick Ianni just stuck his head in front of Sasha Victorine to snap home his first career professional goal and give the Orange the victory.
• Here's Kinnear's team (4-1-3-2): Pat Onstad - Craig Waibel, Ryan Cochrane, Patrick Ianni, Wade Barrett - Richard Mulrooney - Stuart Holden, Kelly Gray, Brad Davis (Corey Ashe 67) - Brian Mullan (Chris Wondolowski 86), Joseph Ngwenya (Dwayne De Rosario 76). Substitutes Not Used: Mike Chabala, Nick Hatzke, Eddie Robinson, Zach Wells
• Here's Onalfo's team (4-4-1-1): Kevin Hartman - Jack Jewsbury, Jimmy Conrad, Nick Garcia, Jose Burciaga Jr. - Davy Arnaud (Kurt Morsink 67), Sasha Victorine, Kerry Zavagnin, Michael Harrington - Carlos Marinelli (Ryan Pore 80) - Scott Sealy (Yura Movsisyan 51). Substitutes Not Used: Aaron Hohlbein, Eric Kronberg, Ryan Raybould, Tyson Wahl
HOUSTON DYNAMO
Houston Dynamo couldn't quite take full advantage, but still got a late equalizer for a 1-1 draw with a 10-man Columbus Crew last Saturday evening at Robertson Stadium. Dynamo remain in first place in the Western Conference with 38 points from 23 matches, two ahead of both Chivas USA and FC Dallas in the Western Conference, and now behind both New England Revolution and D.C. United in the MLS overall table.
LAST MATCH
• Houston Dynamo had put an end to a two-game losing streak and four-game winless run with a victory against FC Dallas in their top-of-the-table clash the previous weekend, while the Columbus Crew were making a second trip to Texas in three weeks, having lost two games on the trot.
• The Crew took a deserved lead after 17 minutes. Guillermo Barros Schelotto somehow skipped past two defenders at the edge of the area and drew two more toward him before laying a square pass to a completely unmarked Alejandro Moreno at the penalty spot, and the ex-Dynamo man lashed home a low shot for his second goal this season against his former club.
• But the Crew went a man down in the 38th minute when Marcos Gonzalez was sent off for a second bookable offense within six minutes, both on fouls from behind on Houston striker (and former Columbus player) Joseph Ngwenya.
• Dynamo laid siege to the Crew goal but couldn't find a way through until the 79th minute. Ngwenya somehow escaped the attention of a pair of Crew defenders at the corner of the box and played a quick one-two with Ricardo Clark. He fired a low shot that Will Hesmer was able to get a hand to, but the Crew 'keeper couldn't hold it and Nate Jaqua swooped in to stab home the rebound from close range.
• Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear made two changes to the team that defeated FC Dallas 1-0 the previous Sunday. Ryan Cochrane returned from injury, coming into central defense for the suspended Eddie Robinson, while Corey Ashe made his first MLS start, coming in on the left of midfield as Brian Ching was injured while playing for the U.S. national team.
• Here's Kinnear's team (4-3-1-2): Pat Onstad - Richard Mulrooney, Ryan Cochrane (Chris Wondolowski 65), Patrick Ianni, Wade Barrett - Brian Mullan, Ricardo Clark, Corey Ashe - Dwayne De Rosario - Nate Jaqua, Joseph Ngwenya. Substitutes Not Used: Mike Chabala, Eric Ebert, Nick Hatzke, John Michael Hayden, Craig Waibel, Zach Wells
• "The positive was that we came back and took advantage of the man advantage. We scored on one of those opportunities. We defended well. We swatted balls and blocked chances. We missed some chances," Kinnear said. "We didn't start the game very well, and that was evident by the scoreboard at halftime. We kind of regrouped and played a little better in the second half. It helps when you play a man up the second half. It was a frustrating night. We didn't play particularly great. We came out with a point, which is better than nothing. We would have preferred to have three."
TEAM NEWS
• The Crew match started a run of three consecutive home games for Dynamo, who were looking to solidify their hold on the top spot in the West heading into the final month of the season. That will see Houston play four of their final five games away from their Robertson Stadium home, as their final six games are all against in-conference opposition.
• "I don't think we started off too well," said Dynamo midfielder Ricardo Clark. "Obviously, they got the first goal. We could have done a lot of things to sharpen up our game. I think overall communication, passing, finishing wasn't going our way today. Even though we got the tie, which is a decent result, it feels like a loss. It feels like we should have gotten the win."
• The Orange were missing a good number of players as forwards Brian Ching and Paul Dalglish and midfielders Brad Davis and Stuart Holden were out due to injury. Defender Eddie Robinson was suspended for Saturday's game to yellow-card accumulation, and defender Craig Waibel was available as a substitute, but he didn't play either, missing his second consecutive game due to an abdominal injury.
• "It's a long season, especially with SuperLiga and the Open Cup," Clark said. "We played a lot of preseason matches. It takes its toll on the body. I think that's why you see so many guys out right now. Hopefully, everybody is recovering as fast as we can, and I hope we get them back for the playoffs, which we still haven't clinched yet, but I think that's our main focus."
• Ching, Dalglish and Davis will all still be out for this weekend's game, while Holden is still considered questionable.
• "We're down a little bit, but that's the way it goes," said Kinnear. "We have to play. We can't stop playing because of injuries. That's why you have people. We knew it was going to be a long season. That's why we went after guys like Joe (Ngwenya) and Nate (Jaqua) and Richard (Mulrooney) because we thought their versatility would come in handy, and it has. You have guys like Corey (Ashe) and (Chris Wondolowski) and Pat Ianni that have probably played a bigger role this year than in the past. You can't worry about who is not playing. Your focus has to be on guys who are playing."
• While former Dynamo striker Alejandro Moreno scored for the second time against his former club, and though he scored in the first meeting between the clubs, former Crew man Joseph Ngwenya felt he too should have hit home against his once club.
• "I had three clear chances I wish I could have put away," Ngwenya said. "I think I need to get back to training and start being serious again. I need to start putting away chances again. I think I was a bit too relaxed. We started out a little slow, but we came on strong near the end of the half. We started the second half on top of them, but we couldn't put the ball in the back of the net."
KANSAS CITY WIZARDS
The Kansas City Wizards dropped a second consecutive match on their three-game road swing, and lost for the fourth time in their last five outings, falling 3-1 to Real Salt Lake on Wednesday evening at Rice-Eccles Stadium. The Wizards remain in fourth place in the Eastern Conference with 32 points from 23 matches, still a point behind the New York Red Bulls and now seven points out of second place and the automatic playoff spots.
LAST MATCH
• After defeating Houston Dynamo at home, RSL had lost back-to-back games, for six losses in their last seven outings. The Wizards were coming off a split of a home-and-home series with the Chicago Fire, and had lost three of their last four contests.
• From the opening kickoff Real threatened. A powerful low drive from Kyle Beckerman after just 10 seconds brought a good save from Kevin Hartman, turning the ball around the post. From the ensuing corner, Javier Morales swung a good ball from the left and Matias Mantilla stooped to head home from the heart of the six-yard box for his first MLS goal.
• Three minutes before the break, RSL doubled the lead. Alecko Eskandarian picked off a pass in midfield and sprung Fabian Espindola on the left. He raced into the area before ripping a rising drive that beat Hartman inside the near post for his first goal since coming to MLS.
• The Wizards began to apply pressure after the break, and cut the lead in the 69th minute. Sasha Victorine nearly misplayed a through ball, but still flicked with a backheel toward Eddie Johnson. With his back to goal, Johnson lashed a side-volley on the full turn, finding the inside of the far post for his 13th goal on the year.
• But RSL put the game away with an audacious goal five minutes from the end. Getting a pass and taking one step over the center stripe, Andy Williams saw Hartman off his line and drove a long, high ball that sailed over the 'keeper and into the upper right corner to seal the match.
• Wizards head coach Curt Onalfo made three changes to the team that lost 2-0 to the Fire at Toyota Park on Saturday evening. Jose Burciaga Jr. came back from suspension, joined by Tyson Wahl in the back four, as Michael Harrington went to the substitutes' bench and Jimmy Conrad was rested. Carlos Marinelli also came back into the team, in place of a rested Davy Arnaud.
• Here's Onalfo's team (4-3-1-2): Kevin Hartman - Ryan Raybould, Jimmy Conrad, Tyson Wahl, Jose Burciaga Jr. (Michael Harrington 61) - Sasha Victorine, Kerry Zavagnin (Eloy Colombano 46), Kurt Morsink - Carlos Marinelli - Eddie Johnson, Scott Sealy (Ryan Pore 85). Substitutes Not Used: Nick Garcia, Jack Jewsbury, Eric Kronberg, Yura Movsisyan
• "We started very slow, didn't have a good first half. Obviously, giving up a goal in the first minute really puts you under pressure, and the 42nd minute seems to be our Achilles heel and we give up another goal," Onalfo said. "But the positive is the guys, I thought, rallied and gave a good effort in the second half. We got it to 2-1 and I felt like we had enough chances to get it to 2-2, but unfortunately a savvy play by Andy Williams put the game away."
TEAM NEWS
• The goal after just 40 seconds was the third-quickest goal scored in MLS this season, and equaled the 18th-quickest in league history. It was also the third-quickest goal ever allowed by the Wizards.
• "I don't know if it's as much the defense as it is a team thing. You say a lot of stuff prior to going out, you say a lot of stuff in the team huddle, and then to give up a goal in a minute, it kind of makes all that stuff null and void," Jimmy Conrad said.
• Then the Wizards allowed the second goal three minutes before the break to make the climb back out even more difficult. "It's something that we need to address. I think this is the third game in a row that we've given up a goal with less than five minutes before halftime," Conrad said. "It's just a concentration thing. If we want to reach the goals that we set before the season that stuff has got to stop."
• Compounding the issue was the way the first goal was conceded - from a corner kick. "We're having a real mental block when it comes to set pieces, we've been real soft. It's just punished us this year," Conrad said. "We need to get a little more, I don't know, dastardly, I don't know what the word is. Just be harder to play against, make sure we get an arm on somebody, just make it tough like teams do against us."
• It was the first time since June 16 the Wizards had allowed as many as three goals. They have now allowed 14 goals in their last seven games, and haven't kept a clean sheet since the July 14 home win v RSL (1-0).
• "You've got to put it behind you," said Onalfo. "You got to take some lessons from it. Get it out of our system. And go to Houston with a mentality to try and be successful."
• Johnson's goal was his first in six games, after scoring three goals in two games upon his return from national team duty. Even though he's tied with New York's Juan Pablo Angel for second in the league with 13 goals this season, it was starting to affect the striker's confidence.
• "In this game, there are phases when you're hot and then defenses start dictating their game plans based on you and try to stop you from scoring goals. The last five games it's been tough," said Johnson. "I think I've had three or four shots on goal in the last five games and that comes from a lack of confidence from not scoring. A goal like that definitely gives me confidence in front of the goal."
• After scoring in three of four games to start the season, Johnson went three games without a goal before exploding for back-to-back hat tricks.
• "Curt Onalfo talked all year about scoring scrappy goals ... I knew I was in the box, so I just turned and hit it. I was hoping to catch the 'keeper off guard, and I did," Johnson said. "It's one of those goals I never score. Sometimes, if I don't get the ball I end up giving up on the play. But, I stayed with the play and I scored on a half-chance."
