The MetroStars lost their first game away from home in the 2005 season on Wednesday, dropping a 1-0 decision to the Kansas City Wizards at Arrowhead Stadium.
Davy Arnaud hit for the game's only goal in the 48th minute to finish off a nice passing combination, and Wizards goalkeeper Bo Oshoniyi made a number of key stops to foil the MetroStars.
Coming off the 2-2 draw at home with the New England Revolution on Saturday, the MetroStars had two key changes to their lineup. MetroStars forward Mike Magee missed the game because of personal reasons, a MetroStars spokesman said. Defender Jeff Agoos suffered a strained right hamstring in training Tuesday and did not make the trip. Both are expected to join the team for their game Saturday in Columbus.
Both teams played a very compact shape in the first half to cut down on their opponents scoring opportunities. But both teams had quality scoring chances -- even though the MetroStars ended the half with no shots on goal.
The Wizards nearly took the lead in the 19th minute, when Kansas City center back Jimmy Conrad headed a corner kick from Jose Burciaga Jr. on goal. But MetroStars captain Amado Guevara headed the ball off the line before it flew into the upper right corner of the goal.
Guevara was involved in a good MetroStars scoring chance in the 31st minute. He lofted a ball into the penalty area in the path of John Wolyniec. The ball caught Wolyniec between strides and he was only able to deflect toward the goal. Oshoniyi awkwardly punched the ball away after nearly fumbling it over the line before Conrad cleared it away from the goal.
Kansas City had three shots on goal in the first half, two by midfielder Alex Zotinca in the penalty area. Wells saved both of Zotinca's shots, one in the 17th minute and one in the 39th, the last a powerful low blast set up when Chris Klein was allowed to find the Romanian midfield steaming into the penalty area.
The Wizards scored the game's only goal with a quick passing combination in the 48th minute. Klein played a ball from the right side of the area to Sasha Victorine running into the penalty area between two MetroStars defenders. Victorine played the ball to his left, through the legs of Scott Sealy to an unmarked Arnaud eight yards away from the left post. Arnaud settled and shot past MetroStars goalkeeper Zach Wells.
The MetroStars immediately pressed forward in search of an equalizer. Guevara lofted a ball forward into space ahead of Wolyniec in the 61st minute. But Oshoniyi came off his line and arrived at the ball the same time as Wolyniec about 15 yards away from goal. The ball deflected off Oshoniyi and away from the Wizards goal.
Six minutes later Eddie Gaven played a diagonal ball to Youri Djorkaeff in the right side of the penalty area. Djorkaeff's low, hard shot at the near post seemed certain to find the back of the net, but Oshoniyi was able to get a foot on it and turned it away for a corner.
The MetroStars remain on the road this weekend, traveling to Columbus to face the Crew on Saturday (7:30 p.m. ET).
MLSnet.com Man of the Match: Davy Arnaud (Kansas City Wizards)
Robert Whitman is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
MetroStars (2-3-3) vs. Kansas City Wizards (3-2-3)
May 25, 2005 -- Arrowhead Stadium
Scoring Summary:
KC -- Davy Arnaud 2 (Sasha Victorine 2, Chris Klein 4) 48
MetroStars -- Zach Wells, Chris Leitch, Jeff Parke, Tim Regan, Tim Ward (Carlos Mendes 62), Eddie Gaven, Michael Bradley (Sergio Galvan Rey 83), Amado Guevara, Mark Lisi (Gilberto Flores 69), Youri Djorkaeff, John Wolyniec.
Substitutes Not Used: Seth Stammler, Jonny Walker.
TOTAL SHOTS: 7 (Youri Djorkaeff 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 1 (Youri Djorkaeff 1); FOULS: 16 (Michael Bradley 3, Tim Ward 3); OFFSIDES: 3 (Youri Djorkaeff 2); CORNER KICKS: 7 (Youri Djorkaeff 4); SAVES: 4 (Zach Wells 3)
Kansas City Wizards -- Bo Oshoniyi, Nick Garcia, Jimmy Conrad, Shavar Thomas, Jose Burciaga Jr., Chris Klein (Brian Roberts 85), Diego Gutierrez, Sasha Victorine, Alex Zotinca, Scott Sealy (Jack Jewsbury 63), Davy Arnaud (Justin Detter 89).
Substitutes Not Used: Dustin Branan, Martin Hutton, Ryan Pore, Preki, Ryan Raybould, Khari Stephenson.
TOTAL SHOTS: 12 (Alex Zotinca 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 5 (Alex Zotinca 2); FOULS: 6 (Sasha Victorine 2); OFFSIDES: 6 (Davy Arnaud 3); CORNER KICKS: 2 (Jose Burciaga Jr. 2); SAVES: 1 (Bo Oshoniyi 1)
Misconduct Summary:
KC -- Diego Gutierrez (caution; Tackle from Behind) 27
MET -- Jeff Parke (caution; Game Disrepute) 30
KC -- Jimmy Conrad (caution; Game Disrepute) 30
MET -- Tim Ward (caution; Professional Foul) 59
MET -- Michael Bradley (caution; Tackle from Behind) 81
KC -- Bo Oshoniyi (caution; Delaying a Restart) 89
MET -- Youri Djorkaeff (caution; Deliberate Handball) 93+
Referee: Andrew Chapin
Referee's Assistants: -Craig Lowry; George Gansner
4th Official: Ricardo Salazar
Attendance: 7,129
Time of Game: 1:51
Weather: Clear-and-78-degrees
All statistics contained in this boxscore are unofficial.
