The Kansas City Wizards will carry a one-goal advantage into the return match in their Western Conference Semifinal Series against Chivas USA, after claiming a 1-0 first leg victory on Saturday night at Arrowhead Stadium.
Davy Arnaud's free kick that eluded Chivas goalkeeper Brad Guzan in the 35th minute proved to be the difference between the two sides in a game that saw 30 fouls whistled, setting up a tension-filled final game next Saturday at The Home Depot Center.
Missing starting strikers Maykel Galindo and Ante Razov, who combined for 23 goals and 13 assists during the regular season, Chivas head coach Preki chose to go with a 4-5-1 formation with Laurent Merlin the target up top and Sacha Kljestan playing an attacking central midfield role.
The Wizards came out the more energized side, repeatedly attacking the right side of the Chivas USA formation where ex-Kansas City player Alex Zotinca and 24-year-old Jason Hernandez patrolled the back and midfield respectively, and created the best two opportunities early on.
On a counterattack, Wizards midfielder Kurt Morsink sent a route one ball to forward Scott Sealy in the 12th minute. Sealy was forced to the left of goal by the pass, cut back, and then beat his defender. However, his high shot from 10 yards was tipped over the bar by Guzan.
Kansas City continued to have most of the play, yet Chivas remained alert to counter opportunities. In the 31st minute, Kljestan picked up a loose ball at the midfield stripe and carried unchallenged to the top of the Wizards restraining arc where he played wide left for Mendoza running on from deep. But the Mexican native cut back slightly and shot for the far post only to go wide.
Four minutes later, Kansas City would take the lead on an unlikely but spectacular effort. From a foul on Johnson some 33 yards out from the Chivas goal, Arnaud stepped up to take the restart. Instead playing the ball into the box, he ambitiously struck a liner for goal.
Arnaud's shot cleared the Chivas wall, dipped and bent and then skipped off the turf between a blinded Guzan and his near post. The goal was the third playoff goal for Arnaud.
At the 40-minute mark, Chivas tried from distance themselves, from the run of play through Zotinca. His knuckling drive was bumped away by Wizards goalkeeper Kevin Hartman into space where it was met by a coming Merlin. Hartman recovered and smothered Merlin's rebound attempt.
Fully aware a two goal win would suit them well going to California, the Wizards came at Chivas with a flurry to open the second half. Johnson, Sasha Victorine, Jack Jewsbury, and Arnaud all drove stinging shots at goal from inside the box, only to be blocked by a gutsy Chivas defense each time.
After a 57th-minute substitution of John Cunliffe for Zotinca, Chivas excelled at possessing the ball for extended periods while looking for holes in the Wizards defensive armor. They found one in the 61st minute as left back Jonathan Bornstein squared a ball into the box for Cunliffe, whose attempt skimmed off the top of the crossbar and out of play.
Neither side greatly threatened down the stretch, meaning the Wizards will now take their precious lead to The Home Depot Center next Saturday, where Chivas USA lost just once in 15 home games this season, and allowed just eight goals all season in those contests. However, a draw would be enough to send Kansas City back to the Western Conference Championship.
Bob Rusert is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
