Nhleko goal keeps Burn unbeaten
Dallas forward's first-half goal sinks Kansas City
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Toni Nhleko finished off another lightning-quick counter-attack in the 17th minute for the game's only goal, just seconds after the Wizards were denied at the other end of the park. The victory was the second in a row for Dallas after beginning the season with a draw against Colorado.
The Burn have also opened the season with a three-game unbeaten streak for just the second time in club history, first since 1998. It was the first loss of the campaign for the visitors, who allowed a goal for the first time year as well.
The Wizards had the best of the opening exchanges. Diego Walsh first tested Burn 'keeper Scott Garlick very early from just outside the area, then Chris Klein finished off a quick break out of midfield with a drive from a tight angle that Garlick had trouble with.
After Garlick fumbled the Klein shot in the penalty area, the clearance was swung out to the left, then a long ball was sent down the flank.
As Nhleko fought with Wizards defender Jimmy Conrad to reach the ball, the Kansas City defender fell, allowing the South African international to run crossfield into the area. Racing through the box he rolled a soft shot back across goal which slipped in behind two defenders and Wizards 'keeper Tony Meola to open the Dallas account.
Barely a minute later the Burn just missed a glorious opportunity to double their lead. Ronnie O'Brien's early cross from the right touchline found Eddie Johnson all alone at the back post, but he put his first-time effort just wide of the goal.
The Wizards began to control the play after the goal, winning the ball increasingly in midfield. Klein twice had good looks at goal but sent shots wide on both occasions, from the heart of the penalty area in the 27th minute, then just missing the upper right-hand corner 10 minutes later.
Still, Dallas had the better chances in the remainder of the half, Meola twice making excellent saves. A powerful long-range effort from former Wizards midfielder Eric Quill was just tipped over the bar at full stretch, while the veteran 'keeper also made a good block as Nhleko again outraced the Wizards to run on to a long ball played from the back.
Kansas City missed a golden opportunity to even the match just after the break, when Josh Wolff slipped Walsh through with a short pass. But Garlick was quick off his line and forced Walsh into hurrying his shot, which he rolled just wide of the left post.
The Burn regained the initiative and could have added a second goal on a number of occasions. O'Brien got behind the Wizards defense, but Meola came racing out of the area to clear the ball in the 63rd minute. Then just three minutes later Johnson found himself in alone on Meola, the Wizards 'keeper not allowing him to get off an immediate shot. When he did, Shavar Thomas was there to block it.
In the 67th minute Nhleko fought off a defender on the right and put another angled shot past Meola, but it was disallowed for a foul by the Dallas striker.
Then in the 82nd minute Burn substitute Bobby Rhine collected a deflection and sent a powerful effort goalward with Meola scrambling to get back, but Thomas was again well positioned, heading clear from the goalmouth.
The Wizards made a final push in the dying minutes, after U.S. international Cory Gibbs had to leave the Dallas back four with a groin strain. Kansas City saw an apparent goal of their own disallowed when rookie substitute Matt Taylor headed past Garlick in the 89th minute, only for the flag to go up for offside. Klein had a final shot in stoppage time after cutting across the top of the area, but once again it sailed just outside the post.
Dallas travels to Columbus on Saturday, May 1, to take on the Crew (6:30 p.m. CT; HDNet), while the Wizards return home next Saturday for a vital Western Conference showdown against the Colorado Rapids at Arrowhead Stadium (7:30 p.m. CT).
MLSnet.com Man of the Match: Toni Nhleko (Dallas Burn)
Scoring Summary:
DAL -- Toni Nhleko 1 (unassisted) 17
Kansas City Wizards -- Tony Meola, Alex Zotinca (Matt Taylor 77), Jimmy Conrad, Shavar Thomas, Nick Garcia (Jose Burciaga Jr. 46), Chris Klein, Diego Gutierrez, Kerry Zavagnin, Diego Walsh (Francisco Gomez 62), Davy Arnaud, Josh Wolff.
Substitutes Not Used: Taylor Graham, Bo Oshoniyi.
TOTAL SHOTS: 20 (Chris Klein 8); SHOTS ON GOAL: 6 (Chris Klein 2); FOULS: 5 (Alex Zotinca 2); OFFSIDES: 3 (3 tied with 1); CORNER KICKS: 1 (Francisco Gomez 1); SAVES: 5 (Tony Meola 4)
Dallas Burn -- Scott Garlick, Philip Salyer, Cory Gibbs (Chris Gbandi 79), Steve Jolley, Matt Behncke, Ronnie O'Brien, Brad Davis, Simo Valakari, Eric Quill (Carey Talley 83), Edward Johnson, Toni Nhleko (Bobby Rhine 73).
Substitutes Not Used: Jeff Cassar, Ty Maurin, Ramon Nunez, Oscar Pareja, Jordan Stone, Jason Thompson.
TOTAL SHOTS: 20 (Edward Johnson 5); SHOTS ON GOAL: 6 (Toni Nhleko 2, Eric Quill 2); FOULS: 14 (Edward Johnson 3, Steve Jolley 3); OFFSIDES: 2 (Toni Nhleko 1, Bobby Rhine 1); CORNER KICKS: 8 (Brad Davis 8); SAVES: 6 (Scott Garlick 6)
Misconduct Summary:
KC -- Nick Garcia (caution; Pushing, Holding) 45
DAL -- Steve Jolley (caution; Pushing, Holding) 87
Referee: Gus St. Silva
Referee's Assistants: Greg Barkey; Jose Corro
4th Official: Terry Vaughn
Attendance: 10,269
Time of Game: 1:53
Weather: Cloudy-and-64-degrees
All Statistics contained in this boxscore are unofficial.
