Drama and goals flowed freely at CommunityAmerica Ballpark on Wednesday night as the Wizards rallied to defeat the Houston Dynamo, 4-3, on a last-second goal.
Fighting for their playoff lives, Kansas City came back from two goals down to snatch three points at the death through a header from Josh Wolff. Kansas City moved to 9-9-6 to keep their playoff hopes alive. They now trail the eighth-and-final playoff spot, occupied by Seattle, by just three points.
Houston dropped to 6-14-5.
The victory is the first in MLS this year in which a team has come back from two goals down to win. The result also tied the league season record for most goals scored in a single game. Houston defeated Chicago, 4-3, exactly a month ago.
Houston had paced a two-goal lead midway through the first half after Cam Weaver poked in Mike Chabala's cross in the 13th minute before Dominic Oduro ran onto Weaver’s flick to drive the ball past Jimmy Nielsen, doubling the score in the 35th minute.
Kamara answered back just a minute later with Craig Rocastle providing the assist. Incredibly, the Dynamo added a third goal – the third tally overall in four minutes – in the 37th minute when Shavar Thomas’ clearance from a Houston free kick fell to defender Adrian Serioux at the back post to bundle into the back of the net.
With their playoff chances riding on the final seven games, manager Peter Vermes made two offensive-minded changes at halftime, inserting Teal Bunbury and Jack Jewsbury for Birahim Diop and Stephane Auvray.
Kansas City came inches from pulling a second goal back five minutes into the second half when Kamara sent a cross to the back post. Jewsbury’s header beat Onstad, but Bobby Boswell cleared it off the line only for Bunbury’s follow to be blocked.
But Bunbury got another chance in the 60th minute and made no mistake to make the score 3-2 in strange fashion from a Houston goal kick. Onstad slipped when taking the spot kick and Bunbury beat the Dynamo defense to the ball and slid it between the goalkeeper’s legs for his fourth goal of the year.
Amazingly, that’s when things got even crazier.
Kansas City’s determination paid off again in the 72st minute when Smith’s shot came off Serioux for the Wizard’s equalizer. Arnaud nearly grabbed the go-ahead goal a few minutes later, but his half volley hit the outside of the post.
But the drama didn’t end there as a bevy of yellow cards and injuries resulted in almost six minutes of stoppage time, and Wolff nodded Michael Harrington’s cross past Onstad, kicking off wild celebrations in the stands.
Houston Dynamo 3, at Kansas City Wizards 4
CommunityAmerica Ballpark
Attendance: 9,679
Houston Dynamo (6-14-5)
Kansas City Wizards (9-9-6)
Scoring Summary:
HOU -- Cam Weaver 2 (Brad Davis 8, Mike Chabala 3) 13
HOU -- Dominic Oduro 3 (Cam Weaver 1) 34
KC -- Kei Kamara 10 (Craig Rocastle 2, Ryan Smith 8) 35
HOU -- Adrian Serioux 2 (unassisted) 37
KC -- Teal Bunbury 4 (unassisted) 60
KC -- own goal (Adrian Serioux) 72
KC -- Josh Wolff 2 (Michael Harrington 2) 97+
Houston Dynamo -- Pat Onstad, Mike Chabala, Bobby Boswell, Adrian Serioux (Ryan Cochrane 90), Andrew Hainault, Corey Ashe, Geoff Cameron, Lovel Palmer, Brad Davis (Danny Cruz 71), Cam Weaver, Dominic Oduro (Joseph Ngwenya 83).
Substitutes Not Used: Samuel Appiah, Richard Mulrooney, Eddie Robinson, Tyler Deric.
Kansas City Wizards -- Jimmy Nielsen, Michael Harrington, Jimmy Conrad, Shavar Thomas, Roger Espinoza, Davy Arnaud, Stephane Auvray (Jack Jewsbury 46), Craig Rocastle (Josh Wolff 85), Kei Kamara, Birahim Diop (Teal Bunbury 46), Ryan Smith.
Substitutes Not Used: Korede Aiyegbusi, Jonathan Leathers, Graham Zusi, Eric Kronberg.
Misconduct Summary:
HOU -- Andrew Hainault (caution; Reckless Foul) 46
KC -- Roger Espinoza (caution; Reckless Tackle) 67
HOU -- Lovel Palmer (caution; Reckless Tackle) 84
HOU -- Bobby Boswell (caution; Dissent) 89
HOU -- Joseph Ngwenya (caution; Reckless Tackle) 95+
Referee: Jair Marrufo
Referee's Assistants: -Philippe Briere; Jeff Gontarek
4th Official: Michael Kennedy
Weather: Clear-and-80-degrees
