#TBT Highest Scoring Game in KC History

On May 2nd, 1996, the then KC Wiz played at the time, the highest scoring MLS game in the league's short history. Against the Columbus Crew at Arrowhead Stadium, KC came from behind to top the Crew 6-4.

Played in front of 8,848, KC jumped out to an early 1-0 lead thanks to a rocket of a shot by Mark Chung after a patented cut back by Preki drew three defenders to him in the fifth minute. Columbus was ale to find the equalizer in the 20th minute when Brian McBride headed home a corner from Billy Thompson, deflecting off of defender Tommy Reasoner who tried to keep the ball out with his knee. The score would stay at 1-1 headed into the half time break.

The second half started with a bang as KC jumped back out in front in just the 47th minute. Preki received the ball out wide and tried to curl a shot into the net. He succeeded in beating goalkeeper, Bo Oshoniyi, but didn't beat the cross bar. The rebound though fell to Mo Johnston who knocked the rebound home for a goal in his debut for KC. This time the lead lasted only a minute as a long throw in from McBride found Todd Yeagley in the box, he was able to bring the ball down and bury it. Columbus would take the lead for the first time a little after the hour mark as Mike Clark beat Reasoner to a cross by Thompson and headed the ball into the net to make it 3-2.

Only a minute after making it 3-2, Columbus made it 4-2 as McBride crossed the ball into the box looking for Adrian Paz, but Reasoner in an attempt to cleared the ball, fired the ball into his own net. The two goal lead would only last a couple minutes though as KC won a penalty kick as Digtal Takawira tried to dribble around a Crew defender on the ground who hit the ball with his hand. Preki stepped up to take the penalty, pulling a Panenka, softly chipping the ball past Oshoniyi and into the net to make it 4-3. Only a couple minutes after the penalty kick, KC was level with Johnston again the scorer. After a partial clearance out wide, Takawira headed the ball back into the middle where Johnston knocked it home to make it 4-4. KC wasn't done and in the 77th minute, Mike Sorber got in on the act firing a shot from long range that beat Oshoniyi and put KC in front 5-4. With Columbus chasing the game late, KC found a sixth to seal the game on the counter in the 88th minute. Takawira led the counter dribbling against two Crew defenders. At the top of the box, Takawira took a bit of a big touch and Preki pounced on the ball, one timing it into the corner right in front of Takawira.

The game would stand as the highest scoring game in league history for just two years before being surpassed by the LA Galaxy's 7-4 win over the Colorado Rapids in 1998. The game is still the highest scoring in KC history and tied for the record for most goals score in a game.

#TBT - The First Home Opener

Continuing my new Throw Back Thursday thing, I take a look back at the very first home opener for Kansas City, back on April 13th, 1996. The KC Wiz opened the inaugural MLS season at home against the Colorado Rapids at Arrowhead Stadium, in front of 21,141 people (an attendance record for KC that would stand until 2002) KC won the game 3-0 starting a strong tradition of opening the season well, as the team has gone 12-2-5 in their home openers throughout their history.

After a scoreless first half, Kansas City scored three goals in a 12 minute span last in the second half to see themselves past the Rapids. The first goal came in the 71st minute when a low cross by Tommy Reasoner was fired on goal by Mark Chung. The shot was initially saved, but the rebound fell to Digital Takawira who knocked the ball home for the first goal in KC's history and bringing out the first Digital Crawl (funny enough, even though his shot was saved, in the official stats, Chung was given an assist on that goal). Six minutes later a cross by Samuel Ekeme was not handled well by the Rapids defense and fell to US international, Frank Klopas who knocked the ball home to double KC's lead. Takawira capped off the night in the 83rd minute. Eric Eichmann received the ball out wide, dribbling into the box and cut inside his defender before firing a shot on goal that was saved. Once again though Takawira was there to put the rebound home (and like Takawira's first goal, Eichmann was given an assist).

For me personally I don't remember a ton of the details of that night as a kid, but I remember being there, and I remember the buzz of the crowd before and during the game. Unfortunately we don't have the full game highlights, but last year as part of the SKC Vantage Point series, Sporting put the goals from the team's very first game online for our viewing pleasure.



The very first KC Wiz lineup:

Pat Harrington; Samuel Ekeme, Sean Bowers, Tommy Reasoner (Scott Uderitz 83), Uche Okafor; Matt McKeon, Preki, Mark Chung, Eric Eichmann; Frank Klopas (Diego Gutierrez 83), Vitalis Takawira