Result:
1-0 defeat on Saturday night against FC Dallas (5-2-6, 21 points) at Pizza Hut Park
WATCH:MATCH HIGHLIGHTS: DAL 1, KC 0
Table position:
Fifth place in the Eastern Conference, 12 points (3-7-3)
Three things to take away:
1) Referee decisions played a part in the loss, but KC just weren’t good enough. It’s easy for the Wizards to walk away from this result feeling like they got the short end of the stick, however, in the end, they know much of the blame falls on their shoulders. Kansas City rarely tested Dallas goalkeeper Kevin Hartman and couldn’t put their one or two clear chances away. Sure, one decision given and two waved-off played a role in the result, but so did the visiting team’s erratic play and lack of attacking impetus.
2) The Wizards looked much better after switching back to the 4-3-3. Simply put, the first 45 minutes didn’t go as planned for the visitors. In a bid to slow the Hoop’s unpredictable and fast-breaking attack, manager Peter Vermes went with a more defensive 4-4-2 formation to start the game. The Wizards didn’t respond well. Dallas forced Kansas City deep into their own half and Vermes reverted back to the team’s normal setup at halftime. The results were immediate, as the Wizards took back some control and began putting pressure on FCD.
3) Consistency in the back line will be the key moving forward. Shavar Thomas didn’t have a perfect debut; nonetheless, the eight-year veteran should bring a calming presence to the center of defense, an area of constant change in 2010. Roger Espinoza and Michael Harrington also returned to the positions they began the year in and that should help solidify the relationships in the back as the Wizards look to regain their early defensive form.
Two players who stood out:
1) Goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen: He couldn’t stop David Ferriera’s penalty, but Nielsen did manage to paw away everything else Dallas threw at him. “The White Puma” brought out all the stops, kicking away a first half chance and closing his five-hole in a split second to smother another opportunity. The trick now will be to start giving him a cushion to protect, something Kansas City havn’t done often since early April.
2) Forward Craig Rocastle: For the second-consecutive game, Rocastle put in the dirty work for Kansas City. The rugged Englishman isn’t likely to be a guy who drives the attack or beats defenders off the dribble, but for a side needing a little more steel defensively, Rocastle’s tough challenges and aggressive nature fit the bill.
One play that changed the game...
Graham Zusi had the best chance of the match for the Wizards only a minute after he entered the match in the 71st. Zusi brought the ball down well but couldn’t find a way to slip it past “El Gato.” It’s hard not to point to either of the penalty no-calls, but this was one the Wizards could have decided themselves.
Final verdict...
This one is tough to swallow because it is another lost opportunity to pick up points as the season nears its midpoint. Kansas City may officially sit fifth in the eight-team Eastern Conference, but the reality is that they are only one point above the four team’s bringing up the bottom of the table. With Columbus and New York pulling away at the top, the Wizards must begin stringing together results away from home to have any chance of finding a way back into the playoff hunt.
Next up...
The Wizards are set to host Chivas USA (3-9-2) on Saturday, July 10. The fact that the Goats were happy with a home draw against the expansion Philadelphia Union tells you all that you need to know about the stretch that they find themselves in. On the surface, this game would appear to be a perfect opportunity for Kansas City to bounce back against another team down on its luck.
