Press Release: KC Ties Defending Champs

MLS Game #18
Saturday, August 7, 2010, 7:30 p.m. CT
English TV: KCWE 29
Spanish TV: KCWE 29 (SAP)
CommunityAmerica Ballpark | Kansas City, Kansas
Weather: 90 degrees, clear
Attendance: 10,385 – Sold Out

Score:                                                           1       2       F
Kansas City Wizards (5-8-5, 20 pts)       1       0       1
Real Salt Lake (10-4-5, 35 pts)                1       0       1

Kansas City Wizards: Jimmy Nielsen; Michael Harrington, Shavar Thomas, Jimmy Conrad, Roger Espinoza; Davy Arnaud©, Stéphane Auvray, Craig Rocastle (Graham Zusi 63); Kei Kamara, Teal Bunbury, Ryan Smith (Jack Jewsbury 90)

Subs not used: Eric Kronberg, Korede Aiyegbusi, Nick Kounenakis, Jonathan Leathers, Chance Myers

Real Salt Lake: Nick Rimando; Robbie Russell, Jamison Olave, Nat Borchers, Chris Wingert; Ned Grabavoy (Andy Williams 65), Kyle Beckerman©, Javier Morales, Will Johnson; Alvaro Saborio (Pablo Campos 89), Robbie Findley (Fabian Espindola 70)

Subs not used: Kyle Reynish, Nelson Gonzalez, Jean Alexandre, Tony Beltran

Stats:                 KC      RSL
Shots                  16        9
Shots on Goal    4         4
Saves                   3        3
Fouls                   10       13
Offside                  3         5
Corner Kicks       8         2

Misconduct Summary:
RSL -- Javier Morales (caution; Reckless Tackle) 22
KC -- Ryan Smith (caution; Dissent) 29
RSL -- Will Johnson (caution; Reckless Foul) 31
RSL -- Nat Borchers (caution; Delaying a Restart) 41
RSL -- Ned Grabavoy (caution; Reckless Tackle) 61
KC -- Teal Bunbury (caution; Dissent) 71

Scoring Summary:
KC -- Kei Kamara 7 (Ryan Smith 7) 21
RSL -- Robbie Findley 5 (Robbie Russell 4) 33

(August 7, 2010) – The Kansas City Wizards earned a 1-1 draw Saturday night against 2009 MLS Cup champs Real Salt Lake in front of a sellout crowd at CommunityAmerica Ballpark. Striker Kei Kamara scored the opener for Kansas City off an excellent pass from Ryan Smith. USA World Cup veteran Robbie Findley answered back for RSL later in the first half off a Robbie Russell cross. Kansas City momentarily looked to have won the match late, but Teal Bunbury was flagged for being offside on a finish in the 86th minute.

Kansas City pressed the game early, generating the first dangerous chance of the game in the 9th minute. Left back Roger Espinoza fed winger Ryan Smith outside the penalty area. Smith cut inside a defender and centered the ball for striker Teal Bunbury, who attempted to put a shot on goal. Bunbury’s deflection didn’t reach the net, however, and sat up in the middle for Davy Arnaud. Arnaud raced to the ball and took a shot on goal that RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando did well to save off his line, keeping the match tied 0-0.

Smith continued to cause problems for RSL, dancing around defenders in both the 17th and 18th minutes to shoot toward goal. Both shots were blocked, however, with the second leading to a corner kick. After the corner, Espinoza fed Kamara for a header from the PK spot, but the shot went wide of the post.

Smith and Kamara then connected to put Kansas City on the score board just three minutes later in the 21st. After another dead ball situation, Smith collected a loose ball and made a nifty cut around two RSL defender to give himself time and space for a right-footed cross. Smith’s cross found Kamara’s head 8 yards from goal, and Kamara redirected the ball perfectly into the upper 90 just past the outstretched arm of Rimando for Kamara’s 7th goal of the season. The goal set a new career high for the Sierra Leone international forward.

Salt Lake answered back in the 33rd minute to tie the game 1-1 through USA World Cup veteran Robbie Findley. Right back Robbie Russell found himself with time and space on the right flank, and his pinpoint cross hit Findley in stride at the top of the six-yard area. Findley was wide open and nodded the ball down inside the back post for his 5th goal of the 2010 MLS season.

RSL nearly went up 2-1 in the first minute of stoppage time through a long-range shot from midfielder Will Johnson, but Wizards goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen came up big with a near-post save to keep the ball out of the upper corner.

Kansas City outshot RSL 9-4 after halftime, but only put one of those efforts on frame en route to a 1-1 draw. Of Real’s four shots, two were on goal and were met by excellent saves from Kansas City All-Star Nielsen.

In the 49th minute, RSL All-Star Javier Morales found himself behind the defense at the top of the area. Nielsen rushed off his line, however, to swat away Morales’ shot from 17 yards out and keep the game tied at 1-1. Then in the 61st minute, Morales directed a free kick on goal from 28 yards out, but Nielsen again pushed the ball wide to keep Kansas City level.

Kansas City’s best chance of the half came in the 84th minute after a counterattack put Davy Arnaud in prime position on the right side of the penalty area. Rimando scooped up Arnaud’s low, hard shot just before Bunbury arrived to tap home the centering effort. Bunbury’s rebound goal two minutes later was flagged for offside, and the match ended 1-1.

Kansas City hits the road next Saturday, facing the San Jose Earthquakes at 9 p.m. CT at Buck Shaw Stadium. San Jose fell to the Colorado Rapids 1-0 Saturday night in Commerce City, Colorado. The Wizards have yet to play San Jose in 2010. The match will be broadcast live on KCWE 29 in both English and Spanish (SAP).

Fast Facts:
•    Kansas City is now 5-8-5 (20 pts) on the season.
•    Kansas City is an undefeated 2-0-2 in their last four MLS matches, all of which have come against teams in playoff positions.
•    Counting the win against Manchester United, Kansas City is 3-0-2 in their last five games.
•    The Wizards are currently tied for 4th place in the Eastern Conference. Chicago, who is tied with Kansas City for 4th, hosts New York Sunday.
•    Kansas City is now 5-4-3 all-time against Real Salt Lake, including a 3-1-2 record at home.
•    The Wizards scored the first goal in the game for the 7th time this season.
•    They have scored first in each of their last four MLS games.
•    Kansas City has scored first in their last five matches, counting the 2-1 win over Manchester United.
•    Striker Kei Kamara scored his 7th goal of the season.
•    He is tied for 6th in MLS in goals and has now set a new career high.
•    Kamara became just the second current Wizards player to have a career goal against RSL. Josh Wolff, the other, has four.
•    Forward Ryan Smith recorded his 7th assist on the play.
•    Smith is tied for 4th in MLS in assists.
•    Goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen made three saves on the night and now has 56 on the season.
•    He is now tied for 3rd in MLS in saves.
•    Nielsen lowered his goals against average to 1.16, still 8th in MLS.
•    Kansas City is 5-0-2 when striking first.
•    Kansas City was without strikers Zoltan (torn ACL) and Josh Wolff (strained quadriceps) and midfielder Birahim Diop (concussion).
•    On-loan defender Aaron Hohlbein started for Miami FC (USSF D-2) in a 1-1 tie at Puerto Rico Islanders.