MLS Game #15
Saturday, July 10, 2010, 7:30 p.m. CT
English TV: KCWE 29
Spanish TV: KCWE 29 (SAP)
Columbus Crew Stadium | Columbus, Ohio
Weather: 88 degrees, clear
Attendance: 11,304
Score: 1 2 F
Columbus Crew (8-3-4, 28 pts) 0 0 0
Kansas City Wizards (4-8-3, 15 pts) 1 0 1
Kansas City Wizards: Jimmy Nielsen; Michael Harrington, Shavar Thomas, Jimmy Conrad, Roger Espinoza; Davy Arnaud, Stéphane Auvray (Korede Aiyegbusi 83), Craig Rocastle (Graham Zusi 64); Kei Kamara, Teal Bunbury, Ryan Smith (Birahim Diop 88)
Subs not used: Eric Kronberg, Jonathan Leathers, Jack Jewsbury, Josh Wolff
Columbus Crew: Will Hesmer; Frankie Hejduk (Emmanuel Ekpo 75), Chad Marshall, Andy Iro, Gino Padula; Eddie Gaven, Brian Carroll, Adam Moffat, Robbie Rogers (Emilio Renteria 65); Guillermo Barros Schelotto, Jason Garey (Steven Lenhart 66)
Subs not used: Andy Gruenebaum, Danny O’Rourke, Eric Brunner, Shaun Francis
Stats: CLB KC
Shots 19 7
Shots on Goal 7 2
Saves 1 7
Fouls 9 14
Offside 4 2
Corner Kicks 8 1
Misconduct Summary:
CLB -- Frankie Hejduk (caution; Reckless Tackle) 40
Scoring Summary:
KC -- Teal Bunbury 1 (Ryan Smith 6, Roger Espinoza 1) 14
(July 14, 2010) – The Kansas City Wizards earned a hard-fought road victory Wednesday night, posting a 1-0 result over the 1st place Columbus Crew. Rookie striker Teal Bunbury scored his first MLS goal on the night, while goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen posted his 6th shutout of the year with a season-high seven saves. Three of Nielsen’s saves were highlight-reel efforts.
After Columbus held most of the possession early, Kansas City broke out on the counter and took a 1-0 lead through rookie striker Bunbury in the 14th minute. Left back Roger Espinoza, an Ohio State University product, started the play by intercepting a pass from Frankie Hejduk and turning immediately up field. Espinoza found winger Ryan Smith at the half line, and Smith unlocked the Crew’s defense with an inch-perfect pass in between defenders into the path of Bunbury. The University of Akron product made no mistake, blasting home a shot between the legs of goalkeeper William Hesmer for his first MLS goal.
Kansas City goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen made his first huge save of the match in the 19th minute. Columbus midfielder Adam Moffat stepped around a defender and laced a shot on goal from 20 yards out that was on goal just under the crossbar, but Nielsen extended a big palm and pushed the ball over and out of bounds to keep Columbus off the score sheet.
The Wizards nearly went up 2-0 on back-to-back chances in the 27th and 28th minutes. First, Smith served a dangerous cross behind the Crew defense that left back Gino Padula deflected straight at his own net, forcing a reaction save from goalkeeper Will Hesmer. On the ensuing corner kick, Kamara rose high and headed the ball toward goal, but midfielder Eddie Gaven cleared the ball off the line to keep Columbus within striking distance.
Kansas City had another chance to pad their lead in the 50th minute when Espinoza again started a counter attack. Kansas City’s World Cup participant launched a long ball ahead to right forward Kei Kamara in the penalty area. Kamara brought the ball down and laid it back for on-rushing midfielder Davy Arnaud at the top of the box. Arnaud’s first-time effort went wide, however, and the match remained 1-0 in favor of the Wizards.
Nielsen made his next big save in the 70th minute, standing his ground and sticking out his right boot to deny Columbus attacker Guillermo Barros Schelotto from close range.
The Wizards could have sealed victory in the 81st minute after a pair of opportunities, but they converted neither. First, Smith put Bunbury in behind the defense. Bunbury rounded goalkeeper Hesmer, but his touch took him too wide, and he was forced to hold the ball up and cross toward substitute midfielder Graham Zusi at the back post. Zusi rose and headed the ball toward goal, but Hesmer had recovered and blocked the shot.
Nielsen made his final highlight-reel save in the 89th minute, parrying a shot off the foot of substitute Emmanuel Ekpo wide even though several players on both teams were in Nielsen’s line of sight. Nielsen made two more routine saves in stoppage time to seal his 6th shutout of the season, good for a tie for 3rd in MLS. His 51 saves on the year also put him 3rd in MLS among goalkeepers.
The Wizards have little time for recovery, traveling immediately to Colorado Thursday morning before a Saturday night match against the Colorado Rapids. The game will kick off at 8 p.m. CT, live on KCWE 29. Next Sunday, English Premier League giants Manchester United come to Kansas City to play the Wizards at 5 p.m. CT in the first-ever event at newly renovated Arrowhead Stadium. Tickets for the match are still available through Ticketmaster.com or by calling the Wizards at 888-4KC-GOAL for special packages.
Fast Facts:
• Kansas City is now 4-8-3 (15 pts) on the season.
• The Wizards jumped to 5th place in the Eastern Conference with the win.
• Kansas City won their first match against Columbus since September 15, 2007.
• The Wizards are 17-19-5 all-time against the Crew, including an 8-11-3 record on the road.
• The Wizards scored the first goal in the game for the 4th time this season.
• Kansas City is 4-0-0 when scoring first.
• Rookie Striker Teal Bunbury recorded his first MLS goal on the night.
• Bunbury attended nearby Akron University and was playing his first game back in Ohio as a professional.
• Bunbury made his 4th start as a professional, playing as the center forward in Kansas City’s 4-3-3 formation.
• Midfielder Ryan Smith picked up his 6th assist of the season on the goal.
• Smith is now tied for 4th in MLS in assists.
• Defender Roger Espinoza registered his 1st assist of 2010 on the play.
• He now has six career assists.
• Espinoza played college soccer at Ohio State University in Columbus and scored his lone professional goal at Columbus Crew Stadium.
• Goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen tied a season high with seven saves on the night to keep his 6th clean sheet of the season.
• Nielsen is now tied for 3rd in MLS in shutouts.
• Nielsen now has 51 saves on the season, good for 3rd in MLS.
• Kansas City was without striker Zoltan (torn ACL).
