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Tillamawnin
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 Posted - May 25 2001 : 01:10:15 AM
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Wizards Late-Game Heroics Ignite Team in 1-0 Win; Lowe Scores 92+ Minute Goal in MLS Debut
Kansas City Wizards (4-4-1, 13 points) vs. NY/NJ MetroStars (6-3-1, 19 points)
Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO
Thursday, May 24, 7:30 p.m. (CT), MLS Game #45
Attendance - 7,873
Weather - Partly Cloudy, Cool & Breezy, 60
Scoring by Half: 1 - 2 - F
Kansas City Wizards - 0 - 1 - 1
NY/NJ MetroStars - 0 - 0 - 0
Scoring Summary:
KC- Lowe-1 (Gomez-3, Klein-4) 92+
Game Summary:
Kansas City controlled every aspect of the match, limiting the dangerous Clint Mathis to just two shots and taking a season high 20 shots of their own. Jamaican National Team star Onandi Lowe, who signed as an allocation with the Wizards just over 24 hours earlier, scored his first-ever MLS goal during stoppage time to give the Wizards their third home victory in four games and extending their unbeaten streak at home to nine games including the playoffs. The Wizards also extended their opponents scoreless streak to 206 minutes at Arrowhead Stadium. Lowe's goal tied for the latest in Wizards history and was the team's latest game-winner.
The Wizards came into this match looking to break out of their three game losing streak after falling to the MetroStars, Los Angeles and Chicago all on the road. This will be the Wizards lone game in this homestand before heading back on the road for three straight games.
The opening kick saw a couple new faces wearing the Wizards blue as newly acquired forward Onandi Lowe made his MLS debut and midfielder Mark Santel made his first start for the Wizards. Kansas City started of with firepower, playing aggressively and quickly taking possession and looking to immediately get on the board. In just the 5th minute, forward Onandi Lowe showed why the Wizards coveted the 6-3, 195 pound Jamaican as he stormed through a crowd of MetroStars midfielders and defenders and still managed to keep control and eventually broke loose. Lowe's one on one chance was quickly stopped however, as referee Kevin Terry called the MetroStars for a foul.
As the Wizards attack cooled off after an aggressive opening run, the Wizards defense was extremely solid. The always-dangerous MetroStars forward Clint Mathis was kept in control by the Wizards defense early as they turned away numerous MetroStars threats before the crafty Mathis could threaten.
The Wizards continued their offensive attack in the 22nd minute as midfielder Chris Brown dribbled deep into the left side of the MetroStars zone and found a sprinting Roy Lassiter cutting through the center of the defense. Lassiter had a perfect scoring chance as he faced goalkeeper Tim Howard alone in the center of the box but was whistled just inches offside, after putting his shot in the back of the net.
Six minutes later midfielder Kerry Zavagnin sent a corner kick from the left corner to a nicely positioned Onandi Lowe. Lowe took advantage of his massive frame and got a head on the ball, but his shot was turned away as MetroStars defender Orlando Perez made a goalmouth block to deny the MLS newcomer. MetroStars goalkeeper Tim Howard sent the ensuing kick right to an awaiting Chris Brown. Brown made a great move on the left side to shake off the defense and slotted a through ball to a streaking Roy Lassiter in the middle of the field. Lassiter led a pass to forward Onandi Lowe who sent a screaming one-time shot that sailed high over the crossbar.
The Kansas City forward duo of Roy Lassiter and Onandi Lowe made their presence felt again in the 37th minute, as midfielders Mark Santel and Chris Klein combined to take another Wizards attack deep into MetroStars territory. After shaking the MetroStars defense with great ball movement, Klein sent a crossing pass from the right side to the center of the box as Roy Lassiter and Onandi Lowe, simultaneously crashed in side by side, both looking for the diving header to put on goal. Lassiter got there first and connected but his shot floated just wide left.
The final minutes of the first half saw a barrage of Wizards attacks, as they aggressively looked to score before the whistle. Midfielder Chris Brown shuffled down the left side and got to the endline before being turned away by the MetroStars. Midfielder Mark Santel took control of the deflected ball and tried to take a shot of his own but the MetroStars traffic was enough to turn another opportunity away. Forward Onandi Lowe got in on the action as well but his scoring chance was denied amid the cluttered penalty box.
In the 41st minute, Brown unleashed a hard right-footed blast from 17 yards out, that flew just wide of the far post. The MetroStars midfielder Richie Williams answered the attacking barrage as the MetroStars finally took control and began a counter attack. Williams found his way to the right side of the Wizards box and took a shot on goal, but Wizards goalkeeper Tony Meola easily grabbed the shot without even moving a step. The halftime whistle blew and both teams headed for the locker room, neither able to get on the board.
The second half for the Wizards began just as they ended the first half with an aggressive, attack-oriented threat looking for the back of the net. In the 52nd minute, midfielder Chris Brown found space on the left side of the field just steps behind forward Roy Lassiter. Lassiter read Brown's mind perfectly and rotated around the MetroStars defense to receive a pinpoint pass from Brown as Lassiter was on the run. Lassiter situated himself for a one-time shot just nine yards out on the left of the box but pushed it wide left.
As the MetroStars looked to began their first attacking chance of the second frame, the Wizards immediately turned them away and sent the ball immediately the other way. Midfielder Mark Santel and forward Roy Lassiter ran parallel up the field in a dead sprint with only two defenders in their way. As Santel slowed to change directions, he lost control and the MetroStars were able to turn away yet another Kansas City attack.
The MetroStars offense finally began to show some signs of life in the 68th minute, as midfielder Petter Villegas sent a long pass from the right side into the Wizards zone where forward Alex Comas was waiting. Comas laid out for a diving header but sent it back towards the right of the goal and just inches out of play. They quickly threatened again as midfielder Mark Chung broke loose at the top of the 18- yard box. The predominately left-footed Chung took a right-footed shot but didn't have enough on it as goalkeeper Tony Meola easily made the stop.
While the Wizards dominated the entire game, their first closest scoring chance came in the 77th minute as Kerry Zavagnin, who before tonight had only taken three corner kicks in his career (eight tonight), sent a corner kick in from the left side as midfielder Matt McKeon. McKeon jumped and got a head on the ball but his textbook header banged off the corner of the right post and the crossbar and into the possession of the MetroStars.
As the final minutes of regulation counted down, both teams began to show the effects of a well-fought, scoreless battle as nearly everyone on the field slowed down to a jog and appeared to gasp for every breath. It was in stoppage time when the Wizards offensive prowess finally paid off. Late game substitute midfielder Francisco Gomez used his fresh legs to break free across the midline. Gomes sent a pass off to midfielder Chris Klein who darted down the right side. Forward Onandi Lowe, playing in the United States top soccer league for the first time, worked his way into open space at the top of the six yard box as Klein caught sight of the towering Lowe. Klein sent a beautiful cross, like he has done many times in the contest, to the open Onandi Lowe. Lowe smashed a one-time, left-footed shot into the upper left netting of the goal, putting the Wizards on top 1-0. It marked his first MLS goal.
The Wizards needed only to play keep away for the closing seconds before Kevin Terry signaled the end of stoppage time as the Wizards circled around their newest member and the hero of the game. Goalkeeper Tony Meola also recorded his third shutout of the season, the 40th of his career and with his four saves, he passed goalkeeper Mike Ammann for the most saves ever in a Wizards uniform (now has 208). The Wizards got the revenge they wanted against the MetroStars and improved their record to 4-4-1 (3-0-1 at Arrowhead Stadium) with 13 points and back into second place in the Western Division.
The Wizards will have the holiday weekend off and resume training at the Arrowhead Practice Facility next week before leaving on Friday for Tampa Bay. Kansas City will face the Mutiny on Saturday June 2nd at 6:00pm CT. The game will be shown live on ESPN2.
Notebook:
Notes for the Kansas City Wizards vs. NY/NJ MetroStars
The Wizards lead the all-time series against the MetroStars 9-6-1 and are 7-2-0 at Arrowhead Stadium (outscoring them 18-7).
The Wizards have outscored the MetroStars 25-18 all-time, and have out-shot them 274-209 (111-91 on goal).
The Wizards allowed just two goals to the MetroStars, compiling a 2-1-1 record against them, in 2000 (4 GF, 2 GA).
Forward Roy Lassiter is the leading scorer against the MetroStars with 34 points (14g, 6a), while playing 19 games with D.C., TB, MIA and KC.
The Wizards have now allowed just four goals to the MetroStars at home in nine total meetings. They have given up just one goal to them since September 12, 1997.
Wizards goalkeeper Tony Meola came over from the MetroStars in a trade before the 1999 season with defender Alexi Lalas for midfielder Mark Chung and goalkeeper Mike Ammann. Defender Peter Vermes, midfielder Kerry Zavagnin and Assistant Coach Brian Bliss all spent time on the MetroStars roster during their career.
Kerry Zavagnin took all eight corner kicks tonight. He had only taken three in his career (all with the MetroStars in 1997).
The Wizards 20 shots were a season-high (the all-time high is 27).
League Marks
Forward Chris Brown and midfielder Matt McKeon are tied for 12th in the league in scoring with 7 points apiece (3g, 1a).
Midfielder Chris Klein is tied for 2nd in the league with four assists.
Midfielder Chris Klein is now tied with Kerry Zavagnin for 2nd in the league with 2 game-winning assists.
Forward Chris Brown was tied for 5th in the league in shots on goal with 10.
Team Marks
Kansas City currently owns a nine game unbeaten streak (7-0-2) at home including the playoffs, dating back to August 18, 2000.
Ten different players have now recorded a point for the Wizards.
Forward Onandi Lowe took a Wizards season high 5 shots.
The Wizards are tied for 4th in the league for goals scored in road games with 7. They have scored first in four of the five games they have played on the road.
The Wizards have scored the first goal in six of their first nine, (counting a 0-0 draw) including four of their five road games.
Matt McKeon and Chris Brown are tied for the team lead with 7 points (3g, 1a).
The Wizards loss on Saturday to Chicago marked their first loss this season when giving up the first goal.
Individuals
Prior to the game, forward Chris Brown received his award for being named the Wizards Pittcraft Player of the Month for April, which was voted on by media members throughout the Kansas City area.
Forward Roy Lassiter is two points away from becoming the first MLS player in the 200-point club.
Goalkeeper Tony Meola is tied for 3rd in MLS with three shutouts, boosting his career total to 40. The next closest goalkeeper on the MLS all-time shutout list is Kevin Hartman (Los Angeles) with 28. Meola is 2nd in the league in saves with 43.
vvv Midfielder Mark Santel has came off the bench in seven of the Wizards eight games this season but made his first start for the Wizards tonight, starting on the right flank.
Forward Onandi Lowe, who signed with MLS on Wednesday, made his MLS debut starting up top for the Wizards. He scored his firs MLS goal during stoppage time (92+). The goal tied the Wizards record for the latest goal scored in a game.
Forward Gary Glasgow is currently with the Trinidad and Tobago National Team playing in the Caribbean Cup through May 26th. He has played in all three matches T & T has played thus far in the tournament, starting in the last match on May 19th.
Midfielder/ defender Jose Burciaga was named to the U-20 National Team that will travel to France to play in the Toulon Festival from May 24-June 2. Burciaga left on Sunday May 20th.
Jose Burciaga and Michael Green played in three games with the Project-40 Team last weekend. The duo then played with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds (A-League) in a U.S. Open Cup Qualifying match against the Reading Rage on May 11th (Pittsburgh won 2-1). Green scored the game-winning goal on a header in the 53rd minute.
Green, Andrew Gregor and Tahj Jakins will join Pittsburgh for games this weekend.
Goalkeeper Tony Meola (208) is now the Wizards all-time leader in saves overtaking Mike Ammann (206).
Midfielder Matt McKeon moved into sole possession of 5th place on the Wizards all-time games played list.
Kansas City Wizards Lineup: Meola-GK (captain), Garcia, Vermes, Prideaux, Santel (Gomez-81), Zavagnin, Klein, McKeon, Brown, Lassiter, Lowe
NY/NJ MetroStars Lineup: Howard-GK, Petke, Jolley, Perez, Villegas, Alvarez, Ramos (captain), Williams, Chung, Mathis, Comas (Farria-71)
Officials:
Referee- Kevin Terry
Senior Assistant Referee- Jon Wilson
Junior Assistant Referee- Jose Andrade
Fourth Official- Joseph Heyden
Cautions:
MET - Comas (Tripping) 7'
KC - Brown (Dangerous play) 17'
Ejections:
None
Post-Game Quotes:
Kansas City Head Coach Bob Gansler
On the Game
"I thought we gave a reasonable account of ourselves in Chicago. We did a lot of things better there than in the previous two outings. Tonight was a continuation of that and at home you have an extra quotient of confidence. The guys believed we would find a way to score tonight. We have 90+ minutes to score. It was a good three points and lets build on that."
Kansas City Forward Onandi Lowe
On the his new team "I've been practicing with these guy three or four times and I feel very comfortable being here. I like to win so it's good being with the champions. If you are a soccer player you need to know tendencies of your teammates. Roy (Lassiter) and I worked well together tonight."
Kansas City Goalkeeper Tony Meola
On the game
"This game typical of us last year. We waited until the end but us getting the three points was justified."
Kansas City Forward Roy Lassiter
On the team and himself
"I'm feeling really good. I'm healthy and the team is looking good. Each individual did what he had to do, definitely. At times they came at us, but we were patient and we knew that the goal was going to come, and in the future they will come more frequently. My partner (Lowe) is in town and I'm happy."
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An eye for an eye, would make the whole world blind.
Ghandi
Edited by - Tillamawnin on May 25 2001 01:11:49 |
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