KANSAS CITY, Kan. — MLSsoccer.com's beat writer in KC, Andrew Wiebe, checks in with his postgame report on what went right and what went wrong in the Wizards' loss to Real Salt Lake on Saturday.
Result…
4-1 defeat on Saturday night against Real Salt Lake (6-3-1) at Rio Tinto Stadium
Table position…
Sixth place in the Eastern Conference (14th overall) on eight points (2-5-2)
Three things to take away…
1) This seven-game winless streak (eight in all competitions) is beginning to seriously threaten the Wizards’ playoff chances.
Yes, it’s only a third of the way into the regular season. And yes, Major League Soccer is notoriously unpredictable and known for across-the-board parity. But still, in the new world order of the 16-team MLS, few sides can withstand collecting only two points from a possible 21 without playing lights-out soccer for the remainder of the season. Those days don’t necessarily seem close for the Wizards. To make matters even more troubling, a trip to Toronto awaits next week to face a TFC side that hasn’t been beaten in six games in all competitions.
2) Something is amiss in the back.
Since earning a goalless draw against the Galaxy, the Wizards have allowed 12 goals in five games, resulting in four losses and one draw during a brutal stretch of results. It’s just nowhere close to good enough at this point, something manager Peter Vermes and assistant coach Kerry Zavagnin made very clear on Saturday night after the game. Real Salt Lake scored four goals, two in each half, but in truth the margin could have been even more if not for Jimmy Nielsen and some lackadaisical finishing by RSL.
3) The streak started ugly, and it will have to end ugly.
A comment by Zavagnin during a postgame interview following the match really caught my attention. Zavagnin mentioned that the team needed more “warriors.” That’s not a great sign for a squad trying desperately to dig itself out of an early hole. With no momentum to lean on, the time to play attractively has long gone. Vermes’ side is going to have to fight, scratch and claw for any point they get from here on out.
Two players who stood out…
Midfielder Davy Arnaud
Forced into a more defensive role by Stephane Auvray’s knee injury and Josh Wolff’s inclusion in the starting lineup, Arnaud showed last night why Vermes gave him the armband this season. He was active and vocal from the opening whistle, bouncing back from a nasty looking ankle injury to set up Wolff’s goal. Nevertheless, his second red card of the season is troubling, even if a bit bewildering, and will test the Wizards’ midfield depth against Toronto FC.
Forward Josh Wolff
Finally. That’s what Wolff must be thinking after going without a goal for the first eight games of the season and seeing very few chances. Interestingly, the veteran started in more of an attacking midfield role against RSL after rotating between center and right forward earlier in the season. Kansas City desperately need someone to get hot, and Wolff would seem to have the track record to be a leading candidate, even if he hasn’t been terribly dangerous thus far in 2010.
One play that changed the game…
Arnaud seemed baffled by Ricardo Salazar’s second yellow and subsequent red card late in the second half. It was hard to tell what exactly occurred from the replay, but, no matter the case, Arnaud has to exercise more constraint in that situation. Salazar had been quick with cautions all night, and a result was still squarely within reach when a bump, choice language or both earned Kansas City’s captain an ejection. Sure enough, Robbie Russell scored on the ensuing free kick and the game was over.
Final verdict…
There’s not much to say here that hasn’t been said before over the course of the last month. It just wasn’t good enough. RSL took care of business and exposed Kansas City’s weaknesses while successfully masking their own. Truth be told, the Wizards are reeling and don’t look close to righting the ship with injuries, international call-ups and suspensions stretching the roster thin.
Next up...
Saturday, June 5, at Toronto FC (5-4-1).
Vermes’ squad has yet to come away with a result on the road this season, and the deck will be stacked against them again in Toronto. The Reds are, well, red-hot right now with Dwayne De Rosario leading a confident group that has held serve thus far at BMO Field. Without Auvray or Arnaud, Kansas City will have to turn in an inspired performance to keep the winless streak from running to eight games.
