Road woes continue for KC in Jersey
Wizards lose 1-0 to MetroStars, have yet to score on road
Wolyniec's goal 17 minutes from time came after the home side struggled mightily all night long to break down the Wizards defense, but was vital to maintain contact with the remainder of the conference, after three East clubs won earlier on Saturday.
It was also a first clean sheet on the season for the Metro defense and goalkeeper Jonny Walker, as Kansas City has yet to earn a point on the road and the Wizards haven't found the net in three matches away from Arrowhead Stadium.
MetroStars coach Bob Bradley started Wolyniec and Sergio Galvan Rey in attack, as Cornell Glen was unavailable on international duty with Trinidad & Tobago and Fabian Taylor moved to the bench. Despite a number of close calls over a tight opening 45 minutes, neither tested Wizards goalkeeper Tony Meola, who did not make a save until the final minutes.
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Just before the half came to a close, there was a tense moment for Wizards coach Bob Gansler when defender Jimmy Conrad was forced to leave the field with an open gash underneath his right eye, after taking an elbow up high in a penalty area scrum. But after receiving some medical attention to close the wound, Conrad returned in the second half.
In the opening seven minutes of the second half, Galvan Rey had two clear chances to score his first MLS goal. First, he was unable to turn a Chris Leitch cross on goal from inside the goal area, then after Eddie Gaven cut back a pass, his left-footed effort skipped wide of the post.
Walker kept the match scoreless when he made a huge save to deny Wolff. A long cross from the right wing found Wolff open inside the penalty area and he struck a powerful first-time volley on goal, but Walker reacted well to block the shot.
Meola got some help from the woodwork in the 68th minute after Gaven's deflected shot hit the angle of post and crossbar. But his posts weren't as friendly just moments later when the MetroStars took the lead.
Gaven beautifully flicked Guevara's free kick towards the back post with his head, and Meola flapped at it as it came off the face of the crossbar. Wolyniec was poised right at the doorstep to send the ball into the far corner with a diving header.
Wolyniec tried to double-up in the 81st minute when he fired in a strong shot from the right side of the area. Meola wasn't beaten this time as he stretched to his right to pull down the effort.
The Wizards thought they had drawn level just before the final whistle when Klein nearly saved a ball from crossing the endline and rolled it back into the goalmouth past Walker, but the ball was adjudged to have gone out of play before trickling over the goal line, and the Metros escaped with all three points.
The MetroStars will again be in action at Giants Stadium next weekend when the welcome the Dallas Burn for a Saturday night match that kicks off at 7:30 p.m. ET (FSW/FSE). Kansas City has a midweek match at home against New England (Wednesday, 8:30 p.m. ET) and will also be in action Saturday at Los Angeles (10 p.m. ET).
MLSnet.com Man of the Match: John Wolyniec (MetroStars)
Kansas City Wizards (3-3-2) vs. MetroStars (3-1-4)
May 30, 2004 -- Giants Stadium
Scoring Summary:
MET -- John Wolyniec 3 (unassisted) 73
Kansas City Wizards -- Tony Meola, Nick Garcia, Jimmy Conrad, Shavar Thomas, Diego Gutierrez, Chris Klein, Jose Burciaga Jr. (Francisco Gomez 85), Kerry Zavagnin, Jack Jewsbury (Diego Walsh 77), Josh Wolff, Davy Arnaud (Matt Taylor 80).
Substitutes Not Used: Bo Oshoniyi, Alex Zotinca.
TOTAL SHOTS: 15 (Josh Wolff 5); SHOTS ON GOAL: 6 (Josh Wolff 3); FOULS: 13 (Jack Jewsbury 3, Shavar Thomas 3); OFFSIDES: 1 (Josh Wolff 1); CORNER KICKS: 5 (Chris Klein 4); SAVES: 3 (Tony Meola 2)
MetroStars -- Jonny Walker, Craig Ziadie, Jeff Parke, Eddie Pope, Chris Leitch, Joselito Vaca (Tim Regan 89), Amado Guevara, Mark Lisi (Ricardo Clark 79), Sergio Galvan Rey (Fabian Taylor 69), John Wolyniec, Eddie Gaven.
Substitutes Not Used: Kenny Arena, Gilberto Flores, Mike Magee, Seth Stammler, Zach Wells.
TOTAL SHOTS: 20 (Amado Guevara 6); SHOTS ON GOAL: 4 (Amado Guevara 2, John Wolyniec 2); FOULS: 11 (Fabian Taylor 3); OFFSIDES: 2 (Sergio Galvan Rey 1, Eddie Gaven 1); CORNER KICKS: 5 (Joselito Vaca 3); SAVES: 6 (Jonny Walker 6)
Misconduct Summary:
None
Referee: Hector Tobon
Referee's Assistants: -Chris Strickland; Bahij Salman
4th Official: Alex Prus
Attendance: 9,101
Time of Game: 1:54
Weather: Clear-and-72-degrees
All Statistics contained in this boxscore are unofficial.
