Late Selolwane goal leaves Fire, Wizards tied
Chicago twice comes back from a goal down to secure 2-2 draw
Despite a miraculous save attempt by Wizards goalkeeper Tony Meola, Selolwane's equalizer barely made it over the goal line after he had saved a close-range header from Ante Razov, capping the Fire's second comeback of the night.
Chris Klein gave the home side the lead in the eighth minute, but Justin Mapp pulled the Fire level early in the second half. Davy Arnaud again re-established the home side's lead in the 64th minute before Selolwane's late tally.
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That was the only time though in the first half that either goalkeeper was tested. Razov came close with a free kick from just outside the penalty area in the 25th minute, but his low, curling attempt dipped wide of the right post.
The Fire threatened early after the break as the their Jamaican internationals nearly connected in the 49th minute. Forward Damani Ralph dribbled by a defender along the right end line before serving Andy Williams, whose close-range shot from the top of the six-yard box was blocked by Meola.
The equalizer came only three minutes later in the 52nd minute as Mapp found the back of the net on a penetrating run down the left flank. Mapp raced around Wizards defender Alex Zotinca in the left side of the penalty area before slotting the ball between Meola's legs, the first goal allowed by the Wizards at home in four games this season.
Mapp's goal brought about a immediate reaction from the Wizards, but they were stopped by Ring twice on shots inside the box from Josh Wolff (54th minute) and Arnaud (58th minute).
Arnaud would get revenge when he scored on a spectacular strike in the 64th minute to give the Wizards the lead. He collected a pass inside the box before cutting past defender Kelly Gray and smashing a searing left-footed drive which found the top corner inside Ring's right post.
After Meola had momentarily preserved the lead with a reaction save in the 75th minute on a point-blank shot by Selolwane, his goalkeeping heroics in the 83rd minute could not prevent the Fire from leveling the score.
The veteran 'keeper first parried a close-range header by Razov but Selolwane crashed the net near the right post to head the rebound back on goal. Meola got a piece of it but the ball crossed the goal line as Gutierrez attempted to clear the ball off the goal line. Although Razov banged Gutierrez's failed clearance into the back of the net to be safe, Selolwane was awarded his second goal of the year.
The Wizards (2-1-2) return to action to face D.C. United at RFK Stadium on Saturday, May 15 (7:30 p.m. ET). On the same day Chicago (2-1-3) will also play on the East Coast as it faces the MetroStars (7:30 p.m. ET).
MLSnet.com Man of the Match: Davy Arnaud (Kansas City Wizards)
Scoring Summary:
KC -- Chris Klein 2 (Diego Gutierrez 2) 9
CHI -- Justin Mapp 1 (Ante Razov 1) 52
KC -- Davy Arnaud 2 (Josh Wolff 2, Chris Klein 1) 64
CHI -- Dipsy Selolwane 2 (unassisted) 83
Chicago Fire -- Henry Ring, Evan Whitfield, Jim Curtin, Kelly Gray, Justin Mapp (Leonard Griffin 89), Logan Pause (Dipsy Selolwane 71), Andy Williams (Craig Capano 82), Chris Armas, DaMarcus Beasley, Damani Ralph, Ante Razov.
Substitutes Not Used: Denny Clanton, D.J. Countess.
TOTAL SHOTS: 15 (3 tied with 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 7 (Ante Razov 3); FOULS: 7 (Chris Armas 2, Damani Ralph 2); OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 4 (Andy Williams 2); SAVES: 3 (Henry Ring 3)
Kansas City Wizards -- Tony Meola, Alex Zotinca, Jimmy Conrad, Shavar Thomas, Diego Gutierrez, Davy Arnaud, Jack Jewsbury, Kerry Zavagnin, Chris Klein, Matt Taylor (Francisco Gomez 60), Josh Wolff.
Substitutes Not Used: Justin Detter, Taylor Graham, Will Hesmer, Bo Oshoniyi, Vuk Rasovic, Diego Walsh.
TOTAL SHOTS: 15 (Josh Wolff 5); SHOTS ON GOAL: 5 (Davy Arnaud 2, Josh Wolff 2); FOULS: 9 (3 tied with 2); OFFSIDES: 3 (Josh Wolff 2); CORNER KICKS: 7 (Chris Klein 7); SAVES: 3 (Tony Meola 3)
Misconduct Summary:
KC -- Alex Zotinca (caution; Reckless Foul) 78
Referee: Alex Prus
Referee's Assistants: Steven Davidson, Emiliano Monje
4th Official: Ali Saheli
Attendance: 11,094
Time of Game: 1:51
Weather: Partly Cloudy and 81 degrees
