Following a 2-0 shutout of D.C. United in their season opener last weekend in which both goals came in the second half, the Kansas City Wizards again pulled their second-half trick, defeating the Colorado Rapids 3-2 Saturday afternoon at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.
The Wizards had beaten Colorado six consecutive times in Kansas City and had not lost to the Rapids at home since 2002, a span of eight matches. Jimmy Conrad's brace two minutes apart sent the Wizards on their way, and after the Rapids clawed their way back into the game with goals from Jose Burciaga Jr. and John DiRaimondo, Scott Sealy's late game-winner continued the streak and kept the Wizards unbeaten on the young season.
After impressive victories to open the season, both teams began their second match with the exact same starting lineup as in the first.
From the start, the visitors employed a high back line against the Wizards, making the field short and forcing the Wizards to be precise in their passes. The tactic frustrated Kansas City on the attack as they found little room in the middle of the field and had little accuracy in their balls over the top.
Coming forward, the Rapids forced an awkward moment in the 13th minute as Wizards goalkeeper Kevin Hartman came off his line to just cut off Colorado midfielder Colin Clark for a ball at the top of the box. The play typified the many early nervous moments for the Wizards in their own end.
Kansas City adjusted and gained the lion's share of the possession, but the probing of the Rapids backline brought no quality chances. After a corner in the 38th minute, Wizards midfielder Jack Jewsbury, near the left edge of the Colorado box, played a diagonal ball for forward Ivan Trujillo, who would have been in the clear. But Colorado goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul was quick off his line and secured the ball with a slide at Jewsbury's feet.
After the break, Kansas City head coach Curt Onalfo brought on midfielder Kurt Morsink for Ryan Pore and slid center midfielder Carlos Marinelli to the left side.
But it was the Rapids who created the first big chance of the half as Colin Clark struck a bullet at Hartman from the left 20 yards out. Hartman flashed out his hand, stopping Clark from breaking the stalemate, and while Christian Gomez did put the rebound into the net, the flag was up for offside.
The match then broke open, with three goals coming in the span of six minutes. The home side struck for the first two, both off set pieces.
In the 52nd minute, Morsink drew a foul 30 yards to the left of Rapids goalkeeper Coundoul. Marinelli served a swerving ball into the box that found Conrad at the spot, and the Kansas City captain made no mistake as he flicked the ball off his head despite being marked tightly on the play.
The goal was the veteran defender's first in MLS since June 25, 2006, against Chivas USA. His second would come only two minutes later.
This time Marinelli hit a corner from the right. Running in the clear and out-jumping two defenders at the spot, Conrad drove a header down past Coundoul, the first time in his career the U.S. international had hit for multiple goals in a game.
But it didn't take long for Colorado to make a game of it, and it came through a former Wizards standout. Burciaga took a Clark pass on the left side of the K.C. penalty area and let loose a shot that beat Hartman inside the near post in the 57th minute. Traded to Colorado for a 2009 second-round SuperDraft pick in the offseason, Burciaga had made his return count for his new club.
The now wide-open contest was suddenly level 11 minutes later. A scramble ensued at the near post from a corner kick, and Colorado forward Omar Cummings recovered first and slipped the ball to an on-running DiRaimondo. The St. Louis native made no mistake, punching the ball into the far left corner of the net for his first professional goal.
The Wizards nealry regained the lead in the 75th minute from substitute Scott Sealy, who had come on just four minutes earlier. The Trinidad and Tobago international ran onto a loose ball deep in the Colorado end and rounded Coundoul, only to be left a sharp angle toward goal. He still pulled his shot back on target, only to see defender Stephen Keel clear the ball off the line.
Wanting to take the full three points, Onalfo inserted forward Eloy Colombano for center back Tyson Wahl in the 85th minute, and two minutes the eventual game-winner came. On his third strong chance since coming on, Sealy quickly latched on to a rolling Jewsbury cross which had been knocked down by a defender and drove it home for a 3-2 K.C. lead.
The goal set off a wild celebration over the signage and in front of the Wizards supporters section, but the job was not finished yet.
Just as the match rolled into stoppage time, Cummings struck a shot off the right post that likely stopped the heartbeat of many of the home fans. But the Wizards held on to start their season with two consecutive victories, scoring five goals -- all in the second half.
Kansas City will have a quick turnaround as the New England Revolution come to call at CommunityAmerica Ballpark at midweek, while the Rapids visit the Revolution on Saturday.
Bob Rusert is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
