The Kansas City Wizards will not likely brag about their Saturday afternoon performance against D.C. United in front of the local fans at Arrowhead Stadium and a national television crowd on ESPN2, but at least they righted their ship in one aspect.
The stingy defense, with goalkeeper Bo Oshoniyi cleaning up any discrepancies, is back to normal in Kansas City.
Although United took six attempts on goal to the Wizards one, United didn't cause the Wizards numerous problems. And when D.C. did break through, Oshoniyi made the semi-spectacular look mundane as he leapt effortlessly to stave off three strong attempts and a final effort by Freddy Adu.
"We concentrated a lot this week in practice making sure we had good shape. Obviously we had some prior history with D.C. in giving up goals. I thought we did a good job of eliminating [forward Jaime] Moreno and not letting him get runs at our defense," said center back and defensive leader Jimmy Conrad. "That was our main thing making sure Gomez and Moreno were kept in check. We tried to make some of their other players play."
Gomez's first attempt could have put the Wizards in an early hole as he was left unattended at the penalty spot in the 31st minute.
"My guy had gone back post and Gomez had come across from Jose [Burciaga]. By the time I turned around and saw where the ball was, I was just hoping he wouldn't hit it too hard," Conrad said. "Bo was big on his side and I had mine, so he was really going to have to pick a corner. I headed it [off the line], it hit Bo, and there was a clear from there. It was being in the right place at the right time."
Gomez worked free on a corner kick soon after, but Oshoniyi spread his wings to keep the match level. Then in the last seven minutes, United center back Bobby Boswell forced the Wizards sure-handed 'keeper to vault into the air again.
The Wizards then caught a break and were forced to swarm as a unit to stop Freddy Adu's last ditch efforts in stoppage time. Adu found himself 11 yards out, with an open shot after latching onto a Josh Gros serve.
"Josh did a good job of getting me the ball. I wanted to get the ball off my foot as soon as possible, so I shot and didn't get the whole thing," said Adu. "Bo made a good save, and it fell right back to me. By the time the ball came back to me there were about four Kansas City defenders right there. I tried to make space for myself and shoot, but that didn't work out too great."
The Wizards had stood their ground and sent a deserving D.C. United home with just a point.
"We played better than Kansas City and I had two or three chances, but it was a good point," said Gomez. "We came to get three points, but it's hard to break them down when they have four in the back and they never move from there."
Robert Rusert is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
