Desperate for a victory and facing a long layoff for the World Cup, the Kansas City Wizards made a statement.
Kei Kamara and Graham Zusi scored first-half goals and the Wizards wore down the 10-man Union, heading into the break with a 2-0 victory at CommunityAmerica Ballpark and a much needed shot of confidence.
With the victory, Kansas City broke a nine-game winless streak in all competitions. The Union remain at the bottom of the league table while the Wizards improved to fifth in the Eastern Conference.
The game started slowly, with each side finding their footing and the ball rarely leaving the midfield with little connecting play going forward. That changed in the ninth minute, when Kansas City got the early goal that they have needed for the better part of two months.
With left back Michael Harrington opening space with an overlapping run, Ryan Smith cut inside and found Davy Arnaud in space near the top of the 18-yard box. Arnaud turned and slipped in Kei Kamara, who took the chance first time and unleashed an unstoppable screamer into the upper side netting for his sixth goal of the season and the Wizards first lead in exactly two months.
The advantage allowed the Wizards to sit back, hold their shape and attack on the counter, something that hasn’t happened often this year.
The Union responded by holding the majority of possession and testing Kansas City’s back line from wide positions and from dead-ball situations.
But with both sides lacking a cutting edge, it was Smith once again who would prove the difference, feeding midfielder Graham Zusi for his first career goal on a blistering counterattack.
After receiving the ball just over the half line, Smith pushed forward, cut past two defenders and was barely able to find an unmarked Zusi in the penalty area, where the second-year midfielder applied a simple finish to the back post.
Philadelphia pressed on, though, but a critical mistake by defender Michael Orozco ruined any chance of a comeback when he chopped Josh Wolff down just outside the area and earned his second yellow card of the game.
Still, a 10-man Philadelphia remained the more dangerous of the two sides until the final whistle of a game with few clear-cut scoring chances.
In the second half, Kamara nearly increased the Wizards’ lead to 3 in the 60th minute. After outmuscling a Union defender in the box, and with the right side of the net wide open, his shot from just outside the six-yard box sailed over the goal.
The Union refused to give up and, in the second half, were able to create a few opportunities for goal. Unfortunately for them, the fact that they were missing a man really hurt them, as nobody was in the area to finish off any chances.
In the end, the Union were punished for two first-half lapses while manager Peter Vermes and the Wizards collected their first victory in two months.
With the victory, Kansas City head into the World Cup break with an improved 3-5-3 record and now sit fifth in the Eastern Conference.
Philadelphia, on the other hand, remains at the bottom of the league table with a 2-7-1 record.
Scoring Summary:
KC -- Kei Kamara 6 (Davy Arnaud 2, Ryan Smith 4) 9’
KC -- Graham Zusi 1 (Ryan Smith 5) 35’
Misconduct Summary:
PHI -- Michael Orozco (caution; Reckless Foul) 26’
KC -- Jack Jewsbury (caution; Reckless Tackle) 28’
PHI -- Michael Orozco (caution; Reckless Tackle) 42’
PHI -- Michael Orozco (ejection; Second Caution) 42’
KC -- Josh Wolff (caution; Reckless Foul) 52’
PHI -- Cristian Arrieta (caution; Reckless Tackle) 74’
KC -- Michael Harrington (caution; Reckless Foul) 78’
Lineups:
Philadelphia Union -- Chris Seitz, Shea Salinas (Andrew Jacobson 65), Danny Califf, Michael Orozco, Jordan Harvey, Sebastien Le Toux, Stefani Miglioranzi, Amobi Okugo (Roger Torres 60), Fred, Alejandro Moreno, Danny Mwanga (Cristian Arrieta 43). Substitutes Not Used: Shavar Thomas, Jack McInerney, Kyle Nakazawa, Brad Knighton.
Kansas City Wizards -- Jimmy Nielsen, Chance Myers, Jimmy Conrad, Pablo Escobar (Matt Besler 10) (Jonathan Leathers 68), Michael Harrington, Davy Arnaud, Jack Jewsbury, Josh Wolff, Graham Zusi, Ryan Smith (Korede Aiyegbusi 53), Kei Kamara. Substitutes Not Used: Birahim Diop, Santiago Hirsig, Teal Bunbury, Eric Kronberg.
Referee: Alex Prus
Referee's Assistants: Adam Wienckowski; Brian Poeschel
4th Official: Landis Wiley
Weather: Partly Cloudy and 81 degrees
Attendance: 10,176
