Press Release: Wizards tie TFC 0-0

MLS Game #10
Saturday, June 5, 2010, 3:00 p.m. CT
English TV: KCWE 29
Spanish TV: KCWE 29 (SAP)
BMO Field | Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Weather: 68 degrees, clear
Attendance: 21,583

Score:                                                    1    2    F
Toronto FC (5-4-2, 17 pts)                      0    0    0
Kansas City Wizards (2-5-3, 9 pts)         0    0    0

Kansas City Wizards: Jimmy Nielsen; Chance Myers (Jonathan Leathers 65), Jimmy Conrad, Pablo Escobar, Michael Harrington; Jack Jewsbury, Josh Wolff, Craig Rocastle (ejection 57); Teal Bunbury (Korede Aiyegbusi 59), Kei Kamara, Ryan Smith (Graham Zusi 77)

Subs not used: Eric Kronberg, Matt Besler, Birahim Diop, Santiago Hirsig

Toronto FC: Stefan Frei; Dan Gargan, Adrian Cann, Nana Attakora, Nick Garcia (ejection 27); Jacob Peterson (Ty Harden 46), Amadou Sanyang (Gabe Gala 46), Julian de Guzman, Nick LaBrocca; Dwayne De Rosario, Chad Barrett (O’Brian White 64)

Subs not used: Jon Conway, Maksim Usanov, Sam Cronin, Faud Ibrahim


Stats:                 TFC       KC
Shots                    6         7 
Shots on Goal       3         3
Saves                    3         3
Fouls                     9         8
Offside                  5         4
Corner Kicks          2         2

Misconduct Summary:
TOR -- Nick Garcia (ejection; Serious Foul Play) 27
KC -- Craig Rocastle (caution; Reckless Foul) 35
TOR -- Dwayne De Rosario (caution; Unsporting Behavior) 46+
KC -- Craig Rocastle (caution; Reckless Tackle) 57
KC -- Craig Rocastle (ejection; Second Caution) 57

Scoring Summary:
None

(June 5, 2010) – The Kansas City Wizards earned their first road point of 2010 Saturday afternoon in a hard-fought 0-0 draw at Toronto FC. With his 4th shutout of 2010, goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen moves into a tie for 3rd in MLS in shutouts. He made a pair of highlight-reel saves in the opening 45 minutes to keep Kansas City even at the break.

Nielsen first came up big in the 8th minute, stopping a one-on-one opportunity against TFC midfielder Jacob Peterson. Toronto playmaker Dwayne De Rosario slipped Peterson through behind the defense, and Peterson had only Nielsen to beat for an early Toronto lead. Nielsen came smartly off his line, however, cutting down the angle before standing tall and taking Peterson’s shot off the face. Nielsen lay momentarily on the ground, stunned, but was not injured seriously on the play.

TFC defender and former Wizard Nick Garcia was then shown a red card in the 27th minute for a challenge against Kansas City striker Kei Kamara, forcing Toronto to adjust their alignment and tactics.

Kansas City’s best opportunity of the opening half came in the 32nd minute, when left-sided playmaker Ryan Smith cut in onto his right foot and launched a shot from distance toward the upper-right corner. Toronto goalkeeper Stefan Frei did well to push the shot wide and keep Kansas City off the score sheet.

Nielsen made another outstanding save in the 38th minute, when Canadian international Julian de Guzman found himself open at the top of the 18 waiting for a cross. De Guzman unloaded on the first touch, but Nielsen had come off his line to cut down the angle and made a sprawling save. Nielsen did well to immediately cover the rebound, as de Guzman followed up his original shot.

Before Kansas City could take advantage of the extra player, the teams were back on level terms after midfielder Craig Rocastle received a 2nd yellow card for a tackle against de Guzman near the center circle.

Nielsen was required to make one more big stop. In the 65th minute, de Guzman stole the ball at the half line and immediately raced toward goal. He eventually fired a left-footed shot from the top of the penalty area that forced a great diving save from Nielsen to keep the clean sheet. The game played out as a scoreless draw, propelling the Wizards to their first road point of the 2010 campaign.

Kansas City plays their final match before a two-week World Cup break next Thursday against the expansion Philadelphia Union at 7 p.m. CT at CommmunityAmerica Ballpark. For tickets, visit KCWizards.com or call the Wizards at 888-4KC-GOAL or visit your favorite Ticketmaster outlet.

Fast Facts:
•    Kansas City moved to 2-5-3 (9 pts) on the season and is currently 6th in the Eastern Conference.
•    The Wizards are 3-3-3 all-time against Toronto, including a 1-2-2 record at BMO Field.
•    Kansas City picked up their first road point of 2010 and first road shutout.
•    Goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen and the defense recorded the 4th shutout of 2010.
•    Nielsen is currently tied for 3rd in MLS in shutouts.
•    The Wizards have only been called offside 12 times through nine games, by far the best mark in MLS.
•    The next closest team, the Philadelphia Union, has been whistled for offside 17 times through eight matches.
•    Craig Rocastle was ejected from Saturday’s game for picking up two yellow cards. The Wizards have now suffered three red cards in 2010.
•    Rocastle was making his 1st career MLS start.
•    Defender Jimmy Conrad played in his 270th MLS game Saturday.
•    Kansas City was without defender Roger Espinoza (World Cup), midfielder Davy Arnaud (red-card suspension), midfielder Stéphane Auvray (knee) and striker Zoltan (torn ACL).
•    Espinoza is currently with the Honduras National Team at a pre-World Cup training camp.
•    Espinoza played 45 minutes Saturday in a pre-World Cup friendly at Romania.
•    Espinoza is the 20th player in Wizards history to be named to a World Cup roster, and the 7th player to make the World Cup while on Kansas City’s roster.
•    Auvray missed his 4th straight match after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery three weeks ago. Auvray is expected to miss 1-2 more matches.