The Wizards held red-hot Edson Buddle scoreless for the first time this season but couldn’t capitalize on a bevy of their own scoring opportunities as Kansas City and Los Angeles played to a 0-0 draw at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.
Manager Peter Vermes’ squad forced the unbeaten Galaxy to play on the defensive for much of the night with pressure high up the field, but Kei Kamara missed a gilt-edged chance and Donovan Ricketts made a handful of timely saves to preserve the draw.
The Galaxy failed to win for the first time this season and are now 4-0-1 while Kansas City moves to 2-1-1 and remained undefeated at home in 2010.
Looking to record their third victory in three chances at CAB, the Wizards should have grabbed the lead in the 17th minute, but Kamara slipped on the goal line with nothing standing between him and his third tally of the season. Davy Arnaud got behind the Galaxy defense, but his shot was deflected by Ricketts and bounced off the inside of the post and spun onto the edge of the goal line. With the ball begging for a finish, Kamara lost his footing on the wet turf, whiffed on his shot attempt and inadvertently knocked the ball into the goal with his arm.
That opportunity seemed to calm the game down, and both teams spent the next 20 minutes fighting for possession in the midfield and trading the occasional corner kick and dead-ball situation until Landon Donovan tested Jimmy Nielsen with a drive from distance in the 38th minute.
Nielsen gathered that shot and watched Birchall’s wild half-volley fly wide in stoppage time before Hilario Granjeda’s whistle brought a half to a close before either side could really made their mark on the game.
A few minutes later the Wizards came close, but Arnaud’s right-footed shot was punched away by Ricketts, and Kansas City couldn’t fashion another opportunity out of the attack. But that certainly wasn’t the end of the home side’s push for an opening goal.
Jewsbury had a drive blocked and another saved by Ricketts as the Wizards came close from a variety of dead-ball situations but simply could not find a way to put the ball in the back of the net.
That nearly changes for both teams in a matter of 30 seconds in the 67th minute when Roger Espinoza’s point-blank effort was cleared and Nielsen smothered Donovan’s ensuing chance off the resulting counterattack.
The remainder of the game included breakneck play as each side pushed for a winner. But in the end neither side had enough verve to create another clear-cut chance and the match ended in a scoreless draw.
Los Angeles Galaxy (4-0-1) vs. Kansas City Wizards (2-1-1)
April 24, 2010 -- CommunityAmerica Ballpark
Scoring Summary: NONE
Los Angeles Galaxy -- Donovan Ricketts, Gregg Berhalter, A.J. DeLaGarza, Omar Gonzalez, Todd Dunivant, Michael Stephens, Christopher Birchall (Jovan Kirovski 68), Juninho (Chris Klein 75), Landon Donovan, Mike Magee (Alan Gordon 82), Edson Buddle.
Kansas City Wizards -- Jimmy Nielsen, Michael Harrington, Matt Besler, Pablo Escobar (Aaron Hohlbein 69), Roger Espinoza, Davy Arnaud, Jack Jewsbury, Stephane Auvray, Ryan Smith, Kei Kamara (Birahim Diop 83), Josh Wolff (Chance Myers 80).
Misconduct Summary:
LA -- Juninho (caution; Reckless Tackle) 35
LA -- Christopher Birchall (caution; Reckless Foul) 57
KC -- Davy Arnaud (caution; Reckless Tackle) 74
LA -- Edson Buddle (caution; Tactical Foul) 94+
Referee: Hilario Grajeda
Referee's Assistants: Corey Rockwell; Adam Garner
4th Official: Alex Prus
Attendance: 10,045
Weather: Cloudy-and-55-degrees
