KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- The Kansas City Wizards kept pace in the wild card race for the MLS Cup Playoffs after a 2-0 home victory against Eastern Conference foes Toronto FC on Saturday night at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.
Jack Jewsbury converted a penalty kick in the 63rd minute and Kevin Souter, playing in his second game for Kansas City, scored his first goal as the Wizards moved to 32 points on the season. For the moment, it pulled them within a point of D.C. United (who played later Saturday night) and three points of the New York Red Bulls for the wild card spots.
Kansas City began the match just two points in front of Toronto FC, who have won only two matches away from their BMO Field home. Having won six of 11 at home, with three draws, the Wizards came in inspired by their 2-0 defeat of the Los Angeles Galaxy last weekend.
Each side lined up precisely as last week, Toronto especially glad their international players had time to rest from the national team duties that made a full 90-minute effort last week in a 1-1 draw at home against Columbus difficult.
Play began with each side showing a clear intention to attack on the night, both using every inch of width on the narrow CommunityAmerica ballpark field. Toronto held a slight early edge gaining the first couple of chances on goal, but none created much concern for K.C. goalkeeper Kevin Hartman.
A moment of defensive carelessness gave Kansas City a chance in the 26th minute as a flighted ball was allowed to bounce deep into the Toronto box. Forward Josh Wolff gained position on Reds' defender Julius James and nearly poked the ball past goalkeeper Greg Sutton.
Having escaped, Toronto captain Jim Brennan tried to give his side a massive boost with a long overlapping run down the left side. As he penetrated the Wizards box, James fed the Canadian international but too heavily, and Hartman scooped up for Kansas City.
Minutes later, K.C. had a near miss of their own as Wolff broke free on the right side of the box for a cross from right midfielder Herculez Gomez. Wolff jumped to strike acrobatically for goal but missed connecting from 10 yards out.
A minute from halftime Sutton and James played saviors for the visitors. Twelve yards diagonal from the left post, Wolff spun after receiving a pass from left midfielder Roger Espinoza and struck quickly only to see Sutton deny the chance with a deft palm save. Wolff soon endeavored again but was denied this time by an alert play by James.
Wolff found the back of the net in the 51st minute after settling and then finishing past Sutton, but the foray was ruled offside. But Wolff would return again in the 55th. Quickly cutting the ball past TFC back Tyrone Marshall, Wolff sprinted for the end line and bolted a cross that headed right for forward Abe Thompson. But Sutton floated just in front of the extended Thompson to snatch the ball.
Kansas City was in the groove yet still had nothing to show for their attacking vigor. In the 58th minute, Gomez wound up his powerful right foot from an ambitious 36 yards and came close, his low shot blazing by Sutton's right post.
Then in the 61st minute, Wolff again broke into the Reds box and was upended by Marshall. To TFC's wonder, referee Baldomero Toledo blew his whistle and pointed to the spot. A host of Toronto players surrounded Toledo protesting vehemently, but all to come was a yellow card to midfielder Carl Robinson for dissent.
Jewsbury stepped up to take the responsibility for the Wizards and confidently put his shot to the right corner just out of reach of a leaping Sutton to give Kansas City a lead that surely sent sighs of relief through his team.
Plenty of time remained and the match stayed tight despite the turn of events. But Kansas City would tighten the screws. Kevin Souter, a Wizards open tryout survivor, scored in his second appearance for the club three minutes after coming on as a substitute.
Espinoza switched fields to Wolff, finding him open wide on the left wing. Wolff settled and lined in a cross that Souter put past a surprised Sutton with the outside of his right foot from 10 yards.
The only blot on Kansas City's closing out of the match was a 90th minute yellow card to Jewsbury, which means the center midfielder will miss next week's match due to yellow card accumulation.
The Wizards will travel to take on Chivas USA next Saturday before returning home for their last three matches, while TFC will play host to defending MLS champion Houston Dynamo with their backs nearing the wall.
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