Wizards, Wolff steal points on the road
MLS-record home winning streak for Rapids ended with late drama
Two minutes into time added on, Wizards midfielder Chris Klein threaded a through ball between a pair of Colorado defenders to Wolff, and the U.S. international was pulled down by Rapids central defender Nat Borchers, who was sent off. Wolff himself stepped up to take the spot kick, easily beating Rapids 'keeper Joe Cannon down the middle of the goal for his team-leading fourth goal of the season.
After going winless - and goalless - in their first three games on their travels, the Wizards have now won the first two games on a five-game road stretch, and are just a point behind the Western Conference-leading Los Angeles Galaxy. Colorado, which was coming off a 10-day layoff, remains in last place in the West.
GAME COVERAGE | |
 1 |
- 0
 |
Another de la Torre service resulted in the other clear opportunity of the half for the home side. A 31st-minute free kick from the right flank found forward John Spencer at the penalty spot, but the Scotsman's volley was swatted over the crossbar by Wizards goalkeeper Tony Meola. It would prove the Rapids' only shot on goal of the game, as Meola added to his MLS record total with his 53rd clean sheet, against the lowest-scoring team in the League.
Meola was one of four players in the match who was originally called into the U.S. national team for their 2006 World Cup qualifier against Grenada on Sunday. But when the Rapids invoked their right to release defender Pablo Mastroeni only after the midweek game, U.S. manager Bruce Arena removed Mastroeni from the roster along with three original Wizards call-ups: Meola, forward Josh Wolff and midfielder Kerry Zavagnin. Mastroeni received an 80th minute yellow card for dissent which triggered an automatic suspension for caution points ahead of the Rapids next match on Saturday.
Two minutes after Meola's reflexes saved the Wizards, the visitors saw their best look at goal of the first half foiled by de la Torre. After beating Mastroeni down the right flank, Wizards forward Davy Arnaud sent a cross into the box which was met by a first-time rocket from Chris Klein just inside the top of the box, but de la Torre deflected the shot wide of goal.
Wolff threatened just five minutes after the break in a sign of things to come. He ran onto a ball behind the Rapids back line but goalkeeper Joe Cannon came off his line to deny the Wizards striker with a sliding save. Kansas City then came close to scoring in the 62nd minute as Diego Gutierrez weaved his way through the heart of the Rapids defense and into the box, but his close-range shot across the face of the goal went wide of the left post.
The Rapids rarely troubled the Wizards over the final 45 minutes, but just as it seemed the match would peter out into a scoreless draw, the Wizards grabbed the three points at the death. Playing their third game in seven days, Kansas City became the first team since the MetroStars back on May 17, 2003 to defeat the Rapids in Denver. It also marked the first victory in Denver in eight league meetings for Kansas City, the last coming on April 29, 2000 (5-0).
Kansas City, which fielded the same starting lineup for a third straight game, continues with its road swing with a trip to Columbus on Saturday, June 12, the Wizards' fifth game in 14 days. Colorado is back in action on Saturday, June 12 when it faces D.C. United at RFK Stadium (7:30 p.m. ET; FOX Sports World, FOX Sports en Espanol).
MLSnet.com Man of the Match: Josh Wolff (Kansas City Wizards)
Kansas City Wizards (5-4-2) vs. Colorado Rapids (2-3-4)
June 09, 2004 -- Invesco Field at Mile High
Scoring Summary: KC -- Josh Wolff 4 (penalty kick) 93+
Kansas City Wizards -- Tony Meola, Jose Burciaga Jr. (Alex Zotinca 77), Jimmy Conrad, Shavar Thomas, Nick Garcia, Diego Walsh (Francisco Gomez 46), Diego Gutierrez, Kerry Zavagnin, Chris Klein, Davy Arnaud, Josh Wolff.
Substitutes Not Used: Bo Oshoniyi, Vuk Rasovic, Matt Taylor.
TOTAL SHOTS: 15 (Diego Gutierrez 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 5 (Josh Wolff 2); FOULS: 7 (Shavar Thomas 4); OFFSIDES: 3 (Nick Garcia 2); CORNER KICKS: 3 (Chris Klein 3); SAVES: 1 (Tony Meola 1)
Colorado Rapids -- Joe Cannon, Antonio de la Torre, Nat Borchers, Pablo Mastroeni, Matt Crawford, Chris Henderson, Kyle Beckerman, Daryl Powell, Seth Trembly (Ritchie Kotschau 86), Zizi Roberts, John Spencer.
Substitutes Not Used: Adrian Cann, David Castellanos, Mark Chung, Jordan Cila, Michael Erush, Zach Kingsley, Gary Sullivan, Scott Vallow.
TOTAL SHOTS: 14 (Zizi Roberts 6); SHOTS ON GOAL: 1 (John Spencer 1); FOULS: 18 (Nat Borchers 4); OFFSIDES: 5 (Zizi Roberts 3); CORNER KICKS: 11 (Antonio de la Torre 6); SAVES: 4 (Joe Cannon 4)
Misconduct Summary:
KC -- Chris Klein (caution; Dissent) 52
COL -- Kyle Beckerman (caution; Tackle from Behind) 67
COL -- Seth Trembly (caution; Reckless Foul) 78
COL -- Pablo Mastroeni (caution; Dissent) 80
COL -- Nat Borchers (caution; Professional Foul) 90
COL -- Nat Borchers (ejection; Denied Goal Scoring Opportunity (Foul)) 92+
Referee: Andrew Chapin
Referee's Assistants: Greg Barkey, Steven Taylor
4th Official: Scott McCaslin
Attendance: 12,546
Time of Game: 1:52
Weather: Partly Cloudy and 65 degrees
