Claudio Lopez scored a penalty kick in the third minute, after New York had a player ejected, and the Kansas City Wizards held fast for a 1-0 victory against the Red Bulls that moved the Wizards atop the Eastern Conference standings with 10 points, one ahead of Chicago.
From all angles, the numbers indicated quite strongly that the Wizards had the advantage over the Red Bulls going into Thursday night's nationally televised contest.
That said, just how quickly Kansas City jumped ahead of the visitors surprised nearly everyone in attendance at sold-out CommunityAmerica Ballpark.
The Red Bulls began the night with a streak of 237 consecutive minutes played without having allowed a goal. That streak came to an emphatic halt with Lopez's second goal of the season.
New York's Carlos Johnson was given a red card on the penalty kick-inducing play for denying a goal-scoring opportunity, forcing the Red Bulls to go a man down for the final 88 minutes.
The Wizards found fortune on the attack early as Josh Wolff played a ball just outside the area to Gomez, who was fouled by the Red Bulls' Johnson just inside the box, and referee Michael Kennedy immediately sent him off. It was the second time in as many games Johnson has been sent off; he was ejected in the 78th minute of the scoreless draw in Houston two weeks ago.
The ejection was the fastest in MLS history. Aidan Heaney of the New England Revolution held the previous record at three minutes in for his red card against the Colorado Rapids on May 25, 1996.
On the penalty kick, Lopez made it look easy on a left-footed shot past goalkeeper Jon Conway, who guessed wrong and went to his left.
Jack Jewsbury suffered a concussion in the 19th minute after a collision with New York defender Carlos Mendes. He re-entered moments later; however, was later replaced at center midfield by Michael Harrington, who entered in the 32nd minute.
Jewsbury was taken to the hospital for observation but was expected to be released.
Kansas City's next solid scoring opportunity came in the 24th minute on a corner kick from Lopez to Herculez Gomez at the back post. Gomez sent a header straight into Conway, thwarting the possession.
New York entered the game as the worst offensive team in MLS, having scored just three goals in five games. Playing a man down didn't help as the team found just four shots for the match and none on goal in the first half.
The Red Bulls had chances from time to time, but the team couldn't sustain a consistent attack as Kansas City defenders time and again ripped the ball away from attacking players on the outside and kept New York at bay.
Macoumba Kandji narrowly missed evening the score from the left side in the 29th minute, sailing a shot high over the crossbar. On the play, Jorge Rojas was injured briefly on a foul by Wizards defender and captain Jimmy Conrad, who was given a yellow card for a reckless foul.
Gomez tried to go unassisted in the 45th minute and again in first-half stoppage time, but was denied twice by Conway, who registered five saves on 13 Wizards shots in the game.
Red Bulls captain Juan Pablo Angel, called arguably the most talented player in MLS earlier in the week by Wizards head coach Curt Onalfo, was quiet in the first half, but nearly tied the game in the 53rd minute with New York's first shot on goal -- a half-volley from the right side about six yards out.
Kansas City goalkeeper Kevin Hartman kept it a frustrating evening for Angel, who was bottled up by Conrad and others throughout. Hartman registered two saves on the night to record his third shutout this season.
In the 64th minute, Wizards rookie Matt Besler earned a yellow card for persistent infringement, resulting in a free kick from the right corner of the box. Alfredo Pacheco sent his shot over Hartman and the crossbar by a mere foot. Besler was replaced by Roger Espinoza three minutes later.
Gomez sent a free kick near the goal in the 68th minute that was played by Aaron Hohlbein whose header was deflected by Conway.
The Red Bulls nearly earned a draw twice in the final six minutes. First came in the 84th minute on a free kick from about 30 yards away by Angel. He sent the ball harmlessly over the crossbar. In the 90th minute, Angel again had a chance, this time directly in front of a rushing Hartman, who disrupted the play to preserve the win.
Kansas City utilized the same starting personnel group for the fourth consecutive game and is now 2-0 this season when leading at halftime. They are 3-0-1 in their last four games.
Both sides will return to action Sunday afternoon as the Red Bulls return home for an afternoon visit to D.C. United while the Wizards travel to Toronto FC.
Curtis Kitchen is a contributor to MLSnet.com.
