scoring just 36 seconds into the match, which also let loose a pyrotechnic display used to celebrate each goal. Alex Zotinca fired an angled shot from the right that Colorado 'keeper Joe Cannon parried away, but Scott Sealy tapped in the easy chance for the second-fastest goal in K.C. club history.
The Rapids pulled even in short order though. Jacob Peterson laid the ball back for Kyle Beckerman outside the area and he hammered home a rising blast for his sixth goal of the season, one off the team lead.
But two goals in three minutes after the break put the game away for the Wizards. First Dave van den Bergh converted the simplest of rebounds for his first MLS goal, tapping in after Cannon had saved Jack Jewsbury's blast from outside the area (54). Then Jose Burciaga Jr. drove in a corner that Davy Arnaud volleyed home at the back post in the 56th minute.
That pair combined again to put the game out of reach in the 77th minute. Burciaga flighted in an early cross from the left flank and despite the attention of Rapids midfielder Alain Nkong all over him, Arnaud managed to turn the ball home for his first career multi-goal game.
Wizards interim head coach Brian Bliss made two changes to the team that lost 2-1 to the Los Angeles Galaxy the previous weekend. Nick Garcia returned from a groin injury to replace Tyson Wahl in the back four, but Eddie Johnson was out with a hip injury, replaced by Dave van den Bergh.
Here's Bliss's team (4-2-1-3): Bo Oshoniyi - Alex Zotinca (Ryan Raybould 19), Nick Garcia, Shavar Thomas, Jose Burciaga Jr. - Jack Jewsbury, Sasha Victorine - Davy Arnaud - Josh Wolff (Ryan Pore 81), Scott Sealy, Dave van den Bergh (Kerry Zavagnin 83). [Substitutes Not Used: Will Hesmer, Yura Movsisyan, Sergei Raad, Tyson Wahl]TEAM NEWS
The Kansas City Star reported that Pat Curran, one of the Wizards' new owners as a partner in OnGoal LLC, was overheard saying "We're undefeated, 1-0," as he walked down toward his team's locker room.
Bliss wasn't ready attribute the three-goal victory to a new ownership bounce, but would not discount it, either. "It very well could be. The guys have seen a little bit of love, so to speak, in the last 10 days," Bliss said. "They feel good about themselves because of the direction we are heading in. Maybe there was a little bit of extra fire in the guys' bellies tonight."
Wizards midfielder Sasha Victorine felt the support of the fans, in particular. "I think everybody definitely feels the energy (the new ownership group is) bringing and it helps give a little bit of extra energy in that sense, especially toward the end of the season," he said. "I think the energy you see is in the stands. The crowd sounded louder today than they I have heard them in a long time."
It was the second time in a month the Wizards had erupted for four goals as they seem to have survived their long winless run in the heart of the season. They have taken 13 of a possible 27 points since putting an end to their seven-game losing streak on July 29.
"This is the time we all have to pick up our game a little and we all did as a team (against the Rapids)," Burciaga said. "This team is underachieving. With all the talent in this room, we're underachieving. We shouldn't be in the position we are in now. We've shown it tonight, not only tonight but against Columbus (on Aug. 12, a 4-0 victory). We've shown what kind of team we are the last couple of weeks and all the (attacking) threats we have on this field."
Burciaga now has four assists in his last three games. "I think that it's something that if we keep getting set pieces like this then we need to get a goal. It was what I've told Davy [Arnaud] many times. 'Drift wide to that far post, and I guarantee you if it doesn't hit anybody, it's going to find you,'" he said. "Sure enough, I saw him running, and I was trying to play it back there. Luckily it went through and he got a good hit on it. It was a nice goal.
"The second one, as an offensive guy I know where to play the ball and give our forwards and our midfielders an opportunity to get it on goal," he continued. "Luckily, now we're clicking. It's something when Davy, [Josh] Wolff, Eddie [Johnson] and [Scott] Sealy and I are finally clicking. I think that it's very important that we are finally starting to click as a team now. It's important that it's coming now when we need it, as opposed to at the beginning of the season, and let it die off.
