The Kansas City Wizards have won on the road against every team in the Eastern Conference. Every team, that is, but the MetroStars.
The two teams played to a 2-2 tie April 16 and again played to a draw Saturday night at Giants Stadium. Ante Razov scored the equalizer in the 88th minute for the Metros, which rallied from a pair of one-goal deficits.
"We're not frustrated, but we're not elated either," Wizards coach Bob Gansler said. "We scored the first goal, we scored the second goal after they tied it up, so we feel good about that. We don't feel good about giving up two goals off restarts."
The Wizards got off to a great start as rookie Ryan Pore scored his first career MLS goal 50 seconds into the match. The developmental player, who led the nation in scoring as a junior at Tulsa last year, slotted in Kerry Zavagnin's feed and beat Tony Meola to the near post.
"It feels good to finally get one in the back of the net but unfortunately it came in a tie," Pore said. "I think it helps a lot knowing that you can score at the top level."
Said Gansler: "He's going to score quite a few more. The kid can score goals, he scores goals in the reserve league, he scores goals (in exhibition matches). Sometimes he reads the biographies of the guys he's playing against when he's playing in MLS and he's a little (nervous)."
After conceding a Youri Djorkaeff goal following a quick restart by Amado Guevara in the 27th minute, the Wizards again took the lead -- this time two minutes into the second half.
After Chris Klein put a free kick from 21 yards out wide to Meola's right in the 47th minute, Josh Wolff put the Wizards in front, 2-1 four minutes later. He sent Davy Arnaud's pass through Meola's legs from eight yards out.
But again the Wizards were victimized on a MetroStars set piece with just two minutes left in the game. Veteran Ante Razov blasted the ball over the right shoulder of goalkeeper Bo Oshoyini from the top right of the 18-yard box to steal victory from the Wizards.
"It's always frustrating to give up the lead," Pore said. "We gave up some key fouls but other than that we played a solid game."
The Wizards, which moved into sole possession of second place in the Eastern Conference, return home next Saturday against the MetroStars.
"We can win any game anywhere in this league," Gansler said. "That's not being pompous or whatever else, we feel that we can. We're not going to win them all, but we feel that we can."
Dylan Butler is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
