The Kansas City Wizards came into their quarterfinal U.S. Open Cup match Wednesday against the Minnesota Thunder knowing upsets can always happen.
The Wizards had their chances to make sure that the cliché didn't come true of the lower division side taking down the Goliath-like opponent for the third time in the competition. Yet in the end, the Thunder came away with a 3-1 victory at Julian Field.
"For one reason or another, we just couldn't put it away, and we made one mistake and they punished us," said Preki of Johnny Menyongar's 33rd-minute blast past Wizards goalkeeper Will Hesmer. "And that's how the game sometimes goes."
The Wizards and Thunder both came out with threatening attacks, yet the Wizards showed their superior speed and technical ability in creating the best opportunities.
Preki, in a rare starting role alongside rookie Scott Sealy, was on the ball often but was unable to finish their chances on goal -- the classic scenario for an underdog to rise from.
"The most important part is the psychological. We've been struggling in the league, we've got 10 ties ... so to get the lead helped us immensely and got our confidence up," said veteran Minnesota coach Buzz Lagos.
And the longer their lead lasted the bolder and more believing the Thunder became.
After reaching halftime with the lead despite a 3-1 deficit in shots on goal, Lagos's boys began to see some familiar visions as the Wizards vision blurred all the more.
"In the second half, we had a couple of chances we missed, and they went the other way and scored," said Preki. "I don't think we played that badly. You've got to give them credit; they came here, played smart, caught us on the break, and made it difficult on us."
"We defended really well again and didn't give them much, and then we got another goal, and then a third goal," Lagos said. "And now we're back in the mode of [our matches against] Colorado and Real Salt Lake -- scoring goals, being comfortable, defending well."
With a 3-0 lead after Wizards back Shavar Thomas inadvertently redirected a Menyongar shot past his goalkeeper and Menyongar glided through the heart of K.C.'s defense to score the Thunder's third, the script couldn't have gone any other way even though rookie Ryan Pore got one back for the flailing defending champs.
"There was still 20 minutes left," said Pore. "That was plenty of time for us to get back in the game, but it didn't fall for us tonight."
The Wizards went forward invigorated by Pore's finish, and forward Davy Arnaud, on a cross from Pore, came within inches of derailing their doom. Arnaud sprang up nearly alone on the far post and nodded the ball into the turf and toward goal. The ball jumped over the crossbar and left the Wizards wanting.
"Any other day that was a goal," lamented the rookie, confirming the Wizards' fate.
The Thunder had come in and done what this brave bunch who have not fared well in league play knew they could do if they stayed together.
"You have to be confident every time you come [to play]. When we came here we were underdog already. We just had to come out high and keep focused," said Menyongar. "It's all about team."
Lagos summarized his team's attitude the best.
"We're unique in our league in that we don't sit back. Most teams pack it in against MLS teams. We want to play," he said.
And they will get to again as they have reached the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup semifinals for the first time in their history.
Robert Rusert is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
