Sunday, August 23, 2009

Another Game, Another Loss

The Wizards had looked to pick up a point on the road with a 0-0 draw with San Jose yesterday until late in second half stoppage time. San Jose then found the back of the net through Chris Wondolowski, and the Wizards fell for the third straight game and 4th time in 6 league games. The team's winless streak has now reached 11 games in all competitions when you factor in the Open Cup and SuperLiga.

At times KC looked dangerous, but at times we saw the Wizards team we've come to expect lately, especially early when San Jose was dominating play. Cornell Glen thought he'd scored twice in the first half, but was once whistled for a push on Jimmy Conrad and the second time was offside. The Wizards have Kevin Hartman to thank for not being down 1-0 in the first half. After coming out off his line to break up a play, the ball fell to Glen, who tried to chip Hartman as he hurried back onto his line. Hartman got his hand up and got just enough of a touch on the ball to push it onto the post and out of play. Glen was a menace for KC until he came off in the first half due to injury. KC did have chances of their own in the first half, as Herculez Gomez played Jack Jewsbury in behind the Earthquakes defense, but Jewsbury couldn't beat Joe Cannon 1v1. Conrad also had a chance on a free kick from Claudio Lopez, but Conrad's run had basically taken him pass the ball, as it hit his trailing foot as he ran into the box.

In the second half, KC came out as the stronger side, but didn't produce any chances of substance. As the second half wore on, the Wizards started to push for the point, as Matt Besler came on as a substitute. A goal didn't look likely as the second half wore on, but as stoppage time started, Josh Wolff broke down the left and looked to be setting up a good opportunity, but his ball into the box was poor and easily picked off. San Jose came back down the field and Ramiro Corrales played a ball into the box, where Wondolowski flicked the ball on with his head and pass Hartman into the net. A crushing blow to the Wizards who couldn't mount any more offense in the last part of stoppage time.

Wizards Man of the Match - Herculez Gomez - The Wizards didn't offer much going forward, but what they did have going forward seemed to mainly go through Gomez. He pushed the issue down the right and probably should have had an assist or two.

Player Ratings - Hartman 5, Watson 5, Conrad 4, McKenzie 3, Harrington 4, Gomez 5, Hirsig 4, Jewsbury 4, Lopez 4, Arnaud 3, Wolff 3. Subs Besler 4, Cristman NR.

2 comments:

Reepicheep said...

Getting painful to watch.

I think it was Lopez (not Jewsbury) who was one on one with Cannon in the first half. He missed an easy one.

Mike said...

Both had a chance 1v1. Lopez had one early in the game, Jewsbury's was later in the half.