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Nine-Man Kansas City Hold Visiting Chivas USA
A delightful curling free kick goal by Claudio Lopez earned a point for nine-man Kansas City against visiting Chivas USA.
May 24, 2009 12:21:30 AM
The Kansas City Wizards overcame two red cards to hold league-leaders Chivas USA to a draw at CommunityAmerica Ballpark. The 1-1 tie drops Kansas down to fourth in the East, although the team is only one point off D.C. United in first. Chivas USA continue to lead the league a third of the way through the 2009 regular season.
Rookie Chukwudi Chinjudu earned a rare start up front and was partnered with Maykel Galindo, starting his second straight match after returning from injury. The Chivas team, coached by Wizards legend Preki, boasted a series of ex-Kansas players including Carey Talley, Shavar Thomas, and Sasha Victorine.
KC played with the league's joint-top-scorer in Josh Wolff partnered by Argentine legend Claudio Lopez in attack. Kevin Hartman in the KC goal was second in shutouts in Major League Soccer this season, trailing only Chivas USA's Zach Thornton, although neither added another clean sheet.
First Half
A drab opening half nearly started with a bang. Chivas fullback Mariano Trujillo tamely headed a cross into the path of Josh Wolff, but the former U.S. international blasted his volley high, showing early game rust in the second minute of play.
The shamefully cramped confines of CommunityAmerica Ballpark largely stifled any sort of free-flowing passing from cropping up, and the best chances came from hoofed balls and long shots.
Chukwudi missed a pair of opportunistic chances on either side of a Sacha Kljestan long-range shot that Hartman punched over the bar. The former LA Galaxy goalkeeper was quick to push a deflected Talley free kick over the bar minutes later to keep the game level.
Chivas dominated the opening exchanges and possession. However, towards the end of the half, Kansas City came to life. Jack Jewsbury latched onto a ball poked away from Wolff in the box, but his shot from distance was too tame to trouble Thornton.
Five minutes from time, Wolff wrong-sided marker Jonathan Bornstein to find space in the box and thwacked a low shot, but Thornton cut off the angle.
In the dying seconds of the half, the game had its best chance. A penetrating move down Chivas USA's left flank saw Wolff cut the ball back for Lopez, who had peeled away form his marker to find space in the box. However, the Argentine sliced his shot wide of the mark.
Second Half
Sacha Kljestan, who had taken four Advil in the middle of the first half, came off for namesake Sasha Victorine, in a like-for-like swap on the right flank.
Again, there was drama early on. A long ball into the area by Chivas looked to have been handled by Matt Besler in the penalty area, but penalty protests fell on deaf ears.
From there, Kansas City took control of the match, showing a lot of the drive and direct play that had been missing from the opening half. The pace quickened considerably as a host of chances were carved out.
Ten minutes after the restart, Jewsbury chipped the Chivas backline to find Lopez, but Bornstein marshaled the ball safely out for a corner. Minutes later, Paulo Nagamura gave away a dangerous free kick for a high kick.
Lopez stepped up and curled a delightful ball around the wall into the top corner of Thornton's goal to open the scoring in style. Hosts Kansas led 1-0.
The goal seemed to have the wrong effect on the Wizards. Instead of grabbing control of the game and pushing on for more, they let Chivas USA claw back into the game.
Eduardo Lillingston, inserted into the game following the goal, hit two warning shots immediately. First, an Atiba Harris cross fell to the Mexican, who tried an audacious bicycle kick that was cleared off the line. As the ball was knocked back towards the goal, Lillingston latched onto it and smacked a one-touch volley that was called back for offsides.
Kansas City didn't heed the warning strikes from Lillingston. On 64 minutes, a free kick ball was allowed to bounce around the KC area before falling to the Mexican. He collected with his back to goal, trapped, and swiveled before side-footing into the bottom corner of the net. 1-1 and game on.
Wolff nearly responded from the kickoff, but his shot from a tight angle trickled wide.
Three minutes after the goal, Kansas City needed a fantastic double-save from Hartman to stay in the match. First, Galindo ran onto the ball along the left side of the box and drew the 'keeper out of his box. However, by the time Galindo reared up to take a shot, Hartman had covered the distance needed to paw the ball away. The rebound fell to Victorine, whose volley was held by Hartman.
There was more drama on the very next play. Trujillo went into the back of Wolff with a crushing tackle. Wolff's appeals for a free kick were waved off with Trujillo indicating that he had dived. That incensed Wolff, who leaped up pointing angrily at the Mexican. The two confronted each other, and Wolff appeared to attempt a tame head-butt. Trujillo pushed Wolff away angrily. The referee awarded Wolff with an immediate red and Trujillo collected a yellow. For protesting the decision, Jewsbury earned a yellow card as well.
A man up and in possession of the momentum, Chivas USA pushed on for a winner. Fifteen minutes from time, Galindo found Paulo Nagamura on top of the box with a brilliant diagonal ball, but the Brazilian curled his shot wide.
With less than ten minutes remaining, Santiago Hirsig joined Wolff in the locker room. The Argentine left a trailing leg as Victorine passed him to pick up his second yellow on the night and leave Kansas City with nine men.
Both teams altered personnel to cope with the change in scenario. Attacker Bojan Stepanovic replaced defender Shavar Thomas as Preki's men looked for a winner, and utility-man Michael Harrington relieved Lopez with Kansas City looking to hold onto the point.
With time running out, Chivas couldn't find the space on the tiny pitch between Kansas City's resolute defenders to string together an effective attack.
Five minutes from time, Chivas wasted its best chance. Harris tried to chip an on-rushing Hartman, but the 'keeper reached it and pushed the ball down. It fell kindly to Lillingston, who just couldn't get the ball to settle as he looked to shoot on an open net.
From then on, stern defending preserved the valuable point for Kansas City, and a frustrated Chivas will return to Los Angeles with a second consecutive disappointing point in two weekends.
Zac Lee Rigg, Goal.com
Follow MLS action on Goal.com
Rookie Chukwudi Chinjudu earned a rare start up front and was partnered with Maykel Galindo, starting his second straight match after returning from injury. The Chivas team, coached by Wizards legend Preki, boasted a series of ex-Kansas players including Carey Talley, Shavar Thomas, and Sasha Victorine.
KC played with the league's joint-top-scorer in Josh Wolff partnered by Argentine legend Claudio Lopez in attack. Kevin Hartman in the KC goal was second in shutouts in Major League Soccer this season, trailing only Chivas USA's Zach Thornton, although neither added another clean sheet.
First Half
A drab opening half nearly started with a bang. Chivas fullback Mariano Trujillo tamely headed a cross into the path of Josh Wolff, but the former U.S. international blasted his volley high, showing early game rust in the second minute of play.
The shamefully cramped confines of CommunityAmerica Ballpark largely stifled any sort of free-flowing passing from cropping up, and the best chances came from hoofed balls and long shots.
Chukwudi missed a pair of opportunistic chances on either side of a Sacha Kljestan long-range shot that Hartman punched over the bar. The former LA Galaxy goalkeeper was quick to push a deflected Talley free kick over the bar minutes later to keep the game level.
Chivas dominated the opening exchanges and possession. However, towards the end of the half, Kansas City came to life. Jack Jewsbury latched onto a ball poked away from Wolff in the box, but his shot from distance was too tame to trouble Thornton.
Five minutes from time, Wolff wrong-sided marker Jonathan Bornstein to find space in the box and thwacked a low shot, but Thornton cut off the angle.
In the dying seconds of the half, the game had its best chance. A penetrating move down Chivas USA's left flank saw Wolff cut the ball back for Lopez, who had peeled away form his marker to find space in the box. However, the Argentine sliced his shot wide of the mark.
Second Half
Sacha Kljestan, who had taken four Advil in the middle of the first half, came off for namesake Sasha Victorine, in a like-for-like swap on the right flank.
Again, there was drama early on. A long ball into the area by Chivas looked to have been handled by Matt Besler in the penalty area, but penalty protests fell on deaf ears.
From there, Kansas City took control of the match, showing a lot of the drive and direct play that had been missing from the opening half. The pace quickened considerably as a host of chances were carved out.
Ten minutes after the restart, Jewsbury chipped the Chivas backline to find Lopez, but Bornstein marshaled the ball safely out for a corner. Minutes later, Paulo Nagamura gave away a dangerous free kick for a high kick.
Lopez stepped up and curled a delightful ball around the wall into the top corner of Thornton's goal to open the scoring in style. Hosts Kansas led 1-0.
The goal seemed to have the wrong effect on the Wizards. Instead of grabbing control of the game and pushing on for more, they let Chivas USA claw back into the game.
Eduardo Lillingston, inserted into the game following the goal, hit two warning shots immediately. First, an Atiba Harris cross fell to the Mexican, who tried an audacious bicycle kick that was cleared off the line. As the ball was knocked back towards the goal, Lillingston latched onto it and smacked a one-touch volley that was called back for offsides.
Kansas City didn't heed the warning strikes from Lillingston. On 64 minutes, a free kick ball was allowed to bounce around the KC area before falling to the Mexican. He collected with his back to goal, trapped, and swiveled before side-footing into the bottom corner of the net. 1-1 and game on.
Wolff nearly responded from the kickoff, but his shot from a tight angle trickled wide.
Three minutes after the goal, Kansas City needed a fantastic double-save from Hartman to stay in the match. First, Galindo ran onto the ball along the left side of the box and drew the 'keeper out of his box. However, by the time Galindo reared up to take a shot, Hartman had covered the distance needed to paw the ball away. The rebound fell to Victorine, whose volley was held by Hartman.
There was more drama on the very next play. Trujillo went into the back of Wolff with a crushing tackle. Wolff's appeals for a free kick were waved off with Trujillo indicating that he had dived. That incensed Wolff, who leaped up pointing angrily at the Mexican. The two confronted each other, and Wolff appeared to attempt a tame head-butt. Trujillo pushed Wolff away angrily. The referee awarded Wolff with an immediate red and Trujillo collected a yellow. For protesting the decision, Jewsbury earned a yellow card as well.
A man up and in possession of the momentum, Chivas USA pushed on for a winner. Fifteen minutes from time, Galindo found Paulo Nagamura on top of the box with a brilliant diagonal ball, but the Brazilian curled his shot wide.
With less than ten minutes remaining, Santiago Hirsig joined Wolff in the locker room. The Argentine left a trailing leg as Victorine passed him to pick up his second yellow on the night and leave Kansas City with nine men.
Both teams altered personnel to cope with the change in scenario. Attacker Bojan Stepanovic replaced defender Shavar Thomas as Preki's men looked for a winner, and utility-man Michael Harrington relieved Lopez with Kansas City looking to hold onto the point.
With time running out, Chivas couldn't find the space on the tiny pitch between Kansas City's resolute defenders to string together an effective attack.
Five minutes from time, Chivas wasted its best chance. Harris tried to chip an on-rushing Hartman, but the 'keeper reached it and pushed the ball down. It fell kindly to Lillingston, who just couldn't get the ball to settle as he looked to shoot on an open net.
From then on, stern defending preserved the valuable point for Kansas City, and a frustrated Chivas will return to Los Angeles with a second consecutive disappointing point in two weekends.
Zac Lee Rigg, Goal.com
Follow MLS action on Goal.com
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