KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- The Kansas City Wizards won their second consecutive game at home and extended their undefeated streak to four games with a 2-1 triumph against the visiting New York Red Bulls Thursday evening at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.
Jimmy Conrad scored his team-leading fourth goal of the season and Davy Arnaud added his first for the Wizards, each coming early in each half. Juan Pablo Angel countered for the Red Bulls in 71st minute and the visitors nearly grabbed a late equalizer, but the Wizards held on.
The game's first opportunity came after 11 minutes, and it led to the first goal. After midfielder Sasha Victorine earned a corner kick on the left side of New York's goal, Claudio Lopez placed a perfect ball into the heart of the box for Conrad. The center back made no mistake, driving the ball off his head high into the center of Jon Conway's net to set off an emphatic celebration.
The Wizards had achieved their pregame goal of jumping on top early, through their captain's fourth marker of the season, as Lopez recorded his third assist. It was now the Wizards' task to add to their lead and avoid losing two points like they did in the 89th minute at Dallas the week before.
By the 23rd minute, the Wizards had accumulated three corners, all converted by excellent service from Lopez. In the 23rd minute, Conrad was at it again, this time off a rebound of a taken corner. Eighteen yards out to Conway's left, Conrad let rip a drive that went only a yard wide of the right post. The crowd's reaction and Conrad's hands to his head showed how close the chance was.
But then, starting his first match since June 5, Red Bulls striker Juan Pablo Angel tested K.C. goalkeeper Kevin Hartman at the other end. Angel's shot from 20 yards forced the 11-year veteran to punch the ball over his bar for an eventual benign corner.
Toward the end of the half, New York grabbed some momentum after an inauspicious start. After the break, however, there was no doubt who was in control.
In the 47th minute, midfielder Kurt Morsink sent in winger Davy Arnaud in alone on goal with a defense-splitting ball from his own half. Arnaud, making a long run himself, raced in from the right and poked the ball past Conway to the goalkeeper's right as he rushed off his line. The goal was Arnaud's first on the season after coming back from offseason knee surgery.
Winless in their last three, the beleaguered Red Bulls would not lie down. Found all alone on the right side by defender Kevin Goldthwaite in the 71st minute, Dane Richards sent in a high cross that Angel met 10 yards out from goal. The Colombian pounded home a goal that gave his side hope in the remaining 17 minutes and created a renewed sense of urgency for the Wizards.
And it was the Red Bulls who were the more successful in their attempt to take at least a share of the points. In successive minutes, Hartman and his right post held ground for the Wizards despite New York's industry.
The 84th minute saw Richards involved again as he took a long pass and half-volleyed a blistering shot right at the Wizards goalkeeper, who was forced to deflect the ball away for a corner. On the ensuing chance, forward John Wolyniec, an 81st-minute substitution, hit a rebound for goal that pinged off the post.
There was one more opportunity. In the 90th minute, former Wizards midfielder Dave Van den Bergh took a shot from the left that Hartman again deflected for a corner.
Full time soon followed and the Wizards had survived and could rejoice in grabbing three points at home and catching the Red Bulls in the standings, each now with 20 points and tied for sixth in MLS's Eastern Conference.
The Wizards will host Mexican club Atlas in an exhibition Friday night at CommunityAmerica Ballpark and will then travel to Columbus to take on the Crew next week in an ESPN Primetime Thursday matchup. The Red Bulls return home to face the Los Angeles Galaxy at home next Saturday, July 19.
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