Sans lineup stalwarts Jimmy Conrad and Josh Wolff, as well as potent newcomer Eddie Johnson -- all busy preparing for the World Cup with the U.S. national team -- and playing in front of a raucous D.C. United crowd, the Kansas City Wizards still expected to get a result Saturday night at RFK Stadium.
Though the home side made it to the final whistle with a 2-1 edge and in the process reclaimed the top spot in the Eastern Conference, the Wizards were still largely pleased with what was clearly an inspired effort on the road with an undermanned squad.
"The expectations are for us to not only survive, but to thrive," said Wizards head coach Bob Gansler. "We have a good bunch of young players that are more than capable and are extremely anxious to make their mark."
Kansas City fell behind early on a remarkable goal from Alecko Eskandarian, but drew even shortly thereafter on a penalty kick conversion by Sasha Victorine. United went back on top for good only minutes later however, on a penalty kick of their own from the foot of Jaime Moreno.
K.C. was dogged in attack, but unable to make good on any of several solid chances in the second half to close the lead.
"I congratulate D.C. United for winning," Gansler said. "They scored two and we scored one. But I do not think we were the lesser side. ... I thought it was an even game, and an enjoyable game. This house always rocks. It's fun to play here."
K.C. 'keeper Bo Oshoniyi corroborated his coach's analysis, and refused to allow the absence of key players to be used as an excuse.
"I think the guys are upbeat," said the MLS veteran. "Obviously we're disappointed to not come out of here with at least a point. I think we put enough pressure on them to get a second goal.
"But at the end of the day, we can keep our heads up and get ready for Salt Lake (next Saturday). Yeah, we have a depleted roster, but that's not an excuse. We have a good team, and a lot of good players that can get the job done. I think we showed that tonight, that we can stay with any team in the league. We're going to go out to Salt Lake and get a result there."
Getting a result Saturday in the nation's capital only narrowly eluded Oshoniyi and his teammates -- who generated several strong scoring opportunities throughout -- and was cause for a decidedly optimistic locker room.
Midfielder Jack Jewsbury, who gave a yeoman's effort, summed up the mood of the team coming off the hard-fought loss.
"I don't think we really missed too much of a beat tonight," he said. "I thought we played pretty well. And at the end of the day, we were (just) one or two finishes away from getting a good result. We're going to continue to work on creating those chances, and we've got to finish them."
Added Gansler: "I feel that anytime you play D.C. United you need to attack them rather than try to defend them. For sure, as the game wears on, your level of fitness is going to go down, and we worked very hard in the first half. You play to win, not to lose."
Oshoniyi did well to keep his teammates in the game as they actively looked for the equalizer, making several acrobatic saves in the closing minutes.
"At that point," he said, "who cares if it's 3-1 or 4-1? We're just trying to press forward and get that tying goal. So you're going to have to make some saves to try to keep your team in it. I was able to keep it at 2-1 and give ourselves a chance to at least tie it, and maybe even come back and win."
Thanks in large part to their youthful exuberance, the Wizards were on the cusp of realizing those chances Saturday.
"Obviously without three guys (Wolff, Johnson, and Conrad) of that caliber, you're going to miss them," Jewsbury said. "But we have guys that have been ready and willing to come out here and make a difference."
Said Gansler: "Scott Sealy is itching. He scored nine goals in this league last year, though he's not as sharp right now because he hasn't (yet) had the repetitions. Ryan Pore will make his way, and Yura Movsisyan will make his way, and we have others in the reserve game tomorrow. So we never dwell on whom we don't have. We talk about the people that we do have."
Gansler also pointed out that being without centerpieces of his lineup is nothing new.
"We have played this way since February 1," Gansler said. "We had four guys (Conrad, Johnson, Wolff and Kerry Zavagnin) who, whenever they came back, we had to check their nameplates. I'm not complaining, because that's the way it is; these are the circumstances in U.S. soccer, they have to get ready for the World Cup and that's fine. But all the (other) guys have played together before, and (tactically) in the same manner.
"(This game) should give our young guys a lot of confidence. I'm sure when you're playing in MLS for the first time against certain opponents, there is a little bit of an 'awe' factor, perhaps. Jaime Moreno played tremendous tonight; he was motivated and when he plays like that he's better than anybody in this league. But our young guys didn't fold. And we play (D.C. United) three more times in the regular season, and then (possibly in) the playoffs. That level of having been there, that experience, is going to serve them well."
"We're going to be fine," added Oshoniyi, with a quiet confidence. "We have a deep enough roster to get the job done."
Omar Garriott is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
