The losing streak is over, but the standards the Kansas City Wizards have set for themselves were not met Saturday in their 1-1 draw with the New England Revolution.
Midfielder Kerry Zavagnin said the Wizards got what they deserved: a draw.
"I guess you have to look at where our standards are," Zavagnin said. "This organization is used to winning, despite the fact that we haven't done it in a while. If we are satisfied with the progress we have made of getting a tie at home, I don't think we're satisfied with the direction we are headed in."
Steve Ralston spoiled the Wizards' bid for their first victory since June 17 by rolling a shot into the net seconds from the end of five minutes of stoppage time added on to the second half.
Josh Wolff gave the Wizards the lead in the 12th minute, the first time the Wizards had scored the game's first goal in an MLS game since June 10, a 1-0 victory against Columbus.
"Although they got the goal in (stoppage) time, it felt like it was a matter of time before they got the goal," Zavagnin said. "That was well-deserved on their part and you have to give them credit. If we are going to win games 1-0, we have to close out games better than that."
Even if the Wizards had hung on for the three points, there were still parts of their game that needed some work, thanks to the efforts of the Revolution.
The Wizards knew what New England was going to do -- try to serve balls from the wings into the penalty area, especially in the air.
New England is one the better teams in Major League Soccer at pumping crosses in from the wings into players stationed in the penalty area. The Revolution were certainly persistent.
"If you can't shut the service down then you have to tie somebody up in the box," Wizards interim coach Brian Bliss said. "And we were lax on that as well. I just think that's a staple in their game. They have a good guy in the box in [Taylor] Twellman and a latecomer in [Clint] Dempsey into the box. And they have guys that serve the ball well in Ralston and [Andy] Dorman."
The Wizards could have done a better holding the ball in the second half, as well, Bliss said.
"You hold the ball a little better. I don't know how many times we had three passes and the ball was gone or four passes and the ball was gone," Bliss said. "Good teams will defend by holding on to the ball and eating up the clock and picking apart a team with a couple of plays."
The Wizards actually had a couple of chances to add a second goal in the second half. Forward Eddie Johnson headed two balls in the second half that missed the target and had a right-footed shot saved by Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis in the 80th minute.
"Right now, I think Eddie is getting his chances, so it means he's doing something right," Bliss said. "He just needs to find the back of the net and get his confidence going."
Winning would more than likely boost the confidence of every Wizards player. A draw simply will not be sufficient.
"It's better than a loss. Our expectations are to win. Although it may not look that way, we are putting a lot into winning games and if we don't we feel we are coming up short," Zavagnin said. "It's a frustrating time. But we are plugging away. The coaches have us going in the right direction. We're going to come back and we are going to keep fighting."
And it will take more than just one victory.
"I don't think the frustration will be alleviated until we win and until we win on a consistent basis," Zavagnin said. "I don't want to get to the point where we win a game and we feel like we've accomplished a lot. We need to win and we need to win on a regular basis. That's when the frustration will be alleviated."
Robert Whitman is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
