On a cold, blustery night at CommunityAmerica Ballpark, the Kansas City Wizards were cooled by a visiting New England Revolution, who were led by a pair of 19-year-old Gambians in Kenny Mansally and Sainey Nyassi. The pair each scored once to lead the visitors to a 3-1 victory, handing Kansas City its first loss of the season after two victories.
Looking to keep their record spotless in a midweek contest against last year's Eastern Conference champions, the Wizards adjusted their lineup to include their hero from the last match, forward Scott Sealy, as well as midfielder Kurt Morsink. Getting a rest were forward Ivan Trujillo and Ryan Pore.
Outside of a Mauricio Castro free kick whistled over the Wizards' crossbar in the sixth minute for New England, the first chances from the run of play both came off the foot of Morsink. Taking a headed pass from Sealy, Morsink struck powerfully for goal. Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis parried the shot, but off the rebound, Morsink struck again yet Reis stood strong to keep the ball out of his net.
Starting three 19-year-olds in all and without the heart of their attack in injured forward Taylor Twellman and midfielder Steve Ralston, the Revolution's offense centered around Castro's ability to draw and execute free kicks near the Wizards area. The second opportunity drew first blood.
Lined up on the right of the Wizards box only 20 yards out, Castro served a tantalizing cross into the six-yard box. Kansas City center back Tyson Wahl lined a low clearance off of a helpless Jack Jewsbury that flew back between Hartman and his near post to give the Revolution the lead in the 12th minute.
The Wizards were now playing from behind for the first time on the season, and they wasted little time in creating chances to get even.
In the 17th minute, Claudio Lopez found Sealy deep in the New England box. Sealy's clinical header forced Reis to make a kick save to keep his side on top. A minute later, Lopez fed off of Morsink's cross to the right post swerving a volley just over the crossbar.
The attacking soccer was oiled by the rain that continued to fall and slicken the field along with ever-present wind. After an attempt that skimmed the outside of Hartman's right post by Mansally in the 21st minute, Sealy and Morsink worked a quick exchange at the top of the opposite box that resulted in Morsink being taken down by New England captain Shalrie Joseph just inside the box. Referee Terry Vaughn pointed to the spot and the Wizards could now get back in the game.
Jewsbury took the chance for Kansas City in the 28th minute, sent Reis the other way, and blistered a low shot to the right leveling the score for the home side. But the deadlock would last only five minutes.
Khano Smith worked a give-and-go with Mansally as they neared the left edge of the Kansas City box. Rounding defender Jonathan Leathers, Smith went far post for an onrushing Nyassi, and the Gambian slid home his second goal of the young season past two backtracking Wizards defenders.
Kansas City's struggle with the Revolution's speed and skill on the counter continued in the 40th minute as they surrendered another free kick in a dangerous spot. This time, Mansally latched onto a loose ball some 15 yards straight out from goal and put it away to stake the Revolution to a 3-1 lead.
Out of the locker room at halftime, the Wizards inserted 2008 MLS SuperDraft top pick Chance Myers for his professional debut in place of Michael Harrington at left back.
Through playmaker Carlos Marinelli and Lopez, the Wizards showed their danger early but the resulting shots were vacuumed up by Reis or went errant.
Perhaps to up his team speed, K.C.'s head coach Curt Onalfo opted to put give his other first-round draft choice, Roger Espinoza, his first minutes of the season in the 59th minute, removing Kerry Zavagnin. Now Myers and Espinoza manned the left side of the field for Kansas City as Morsink filled the gap in the middle behind Marinelli.
Successive chances followed in the 62nd and 63rd minutes as Marinelli hit slightly over the bar and then Espinoza nearly connected with Sealy who was running on at point blank range. Yet through their steely tackling and stout nerve, the Revolution stayed poised.
Having gotten no closer, Onalfo switched to a 3-4-3 formation, adding forward Eloy Colombano at the expense of Wahl. It was the same strategy that paid dividends on Saturday against the Rapids and nearly immediately, Marinelli found Lopez deep at Reis's left post. The Argentinean tried to sneak one inside the near post, but Reis sprawled and pushed the strong attempt past the post.
Kansas City peppered the New England defense in the last quarter of an hour, but little got through to Reis, and what did, he had no problem handling. After four minutes of stoppage time, the Wizards had fallen for the first time on the season, and the Revolution had pulled into a tie atop the Eastern Conference.
The Wizards play host to the defending MLS champion Houston Dynamo on Saturday in their last home game for two months while the Revolution are at home at Gillette Stadium against the Colorado Rapids.
Bob Rusert is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
