Despite goals from rookie Scott Sealy and Chris Klein, the Kansas City Wizards fell for the first time this season, dropping a 3-2 decision at Spartan Stadium against the San Jose Earthquakes.
Kansas City twice held one-goal leads only to see the Earthquakes equalize, then surrendered a 57th-minute goal to Dwayne DeRosario, who claimed the game-winner with a 25-yard shot that found net off the left post.
The Wizards nearly scored just four minutes into the match when forward Josh Wolff was denied from close range by goalkeeper Pat Onstad, but Kansas City would score from the ensuing corner kick.
Jimmy Conrad took a shot from the top of the box that was deflected by the Earthquakes defense. When San Jose was unable to clear, Sealy was able to pick up the loose ball and drill it past Onstad to make it 1-0 in the fitth minute.
The lead was short-lived, however, as the Wizards allowed San Jose to get back in the game in the 14th minute on a goal by Ronald Cerritos. The play started with a long ball out of the back from Craig Waibel to Cerritos, who held off a Kansas City defender and shot through the hands of goalkeeper Bo Oshoniyi at the near post.
Kansas City regained the advantage with a quick strike in the 34th minute. Midfielder Kerry Zavagnin sent a long ball down the right side to Klein, who timed his run perfectly to avoid the offside call and slid the ball past the onrushing Onstad to make it 2-1.
Once again, the Wizards conceded their advantage within 10 minutes as San Jose punished Kansas City for a foul on Brian Mullan on the right side. Brad Davis collected this third assist of the season from a set piece, as his cross found the head of a diving Brian Ching to make it 2-2 in the 40th minute.
Kansas City nearly took the lead in the 55th minute when Wolff was presented with an excellent opportunity up top. But his 10-yard shot was saved by a sliding Eddie Robinson to preserve the tie.
Just two minutes later, the Wizards found themselves behind for the first time in the match. The goal came courtesy of an individual effort by midfielder Dwayne DeRosario, who dribbled across the field left to right and blasted a 25-yard shot that glanced in off the left post.
Kansas City was awarded a penalty kick in the 60th minute when Jimmy Conrad was pushed to the ground by Robinson. But Wolff's spot kick was saved by Onstad, who deflected the ball off the crossbar.
MLSnet.com Man of the Match: Dwayne DeRosario (San Jose Earthquakes)
Danny Kadah is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its teams.
Kansas City Wizards (1-0-1) vs. San Jose Earthquakes (0-1-2)
April 23, 2005 -- Spartan Stadium
Scoring Summary:
KC -- Scott Sealy 1 (unassisted) 5
SJ -- Ronald Cerritos 2 (Craig Waibel 1) 14
KC -- Chris Klein 3 (Kerry Zavagnin 1) 34
SJ -- Brian Ching 3 (Brad Davis 4) 40
SJ -- Dwayne De Rosario 1 (Brian Ching 2, Ronald Cerritos 2) 57
Kansas City Wizards -- Bo Oshoniyi, Sasha Victorine (Alex Zotinca 61), Jimmy Conrad, Nick Garcia, Jose Burciaga Jr., Chris Klein, Diego Gutierrez, Kerry Zavagnin (Khari Stephenson 83), Davy Arnaud, Josh Wolff, Scott Sealy (Jack Jewsbury 46).
Substitutes Not Used: Will Hesmer, Shavar Thomas.
TOTAL SHOTS: 13 (Josh Wolff 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 8 (Josh Wolff 3); FOULS: 18 (Davy Arnaud 5, Diego Gutierrez 5); OFFSIDES: 1 (Josh Wolff 1); CORNER KICKS: 6 (Jose Burciaga Jr. 5); SAVES: 3 (Bo Oshoniyi 3)
San Jose Earthquakes -- Pat Onstad, Craig Waibel, Troy Dayak, Eddie Robinson, Wade Barrett, Brian Mullan, Dwayne De Rosario, Danny O'Rourke, Brad Davis (Ricardo Clark 83), Brian Ching, Ronald Cerritos (Alejandro Moreno 80).
Substitutes Not Used: Chris Aloisi, Ryan Cochrane, Jon Conway, Tighe Dombrowski, Wes Hart, Roger Levesque, Ian Russell.
TOTAL SHOTS: 9 (Dwayne De Rosario 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 6 (Dwayne De Rosario 3); FOULS: 23 (Brian Ching 5); OFFSIDES: 3 (Brian Ching 3); CORNER KICKS: 3 (Brad Davis 2); SAVES: 6 (Pat Onstad 6)
Misconduct Summary:
SJ -- Danny O'Rourke (caution; Reckless Foul) 53
SJ -- Brad Davis (caution; Pushing, Holding) 58
KC -- Jose Burciaga Jr. (caution; Tackle from Behind) 62
KC -- Davy Arnaud (caution; Pushing, Holding) 67
KC -- Diego Gutierrez (caution; Pushing, Holding) 73
Referee: Terry Vaughn
Referee's Assistants: Chris Strickland; Paul Scott
4th Official: Ricardo Salazar
Weather: Cloudy-and-60-degrees
All Statistics contained in this boxscore are unofficial.
