Scott Sealy's strike 17 minutes from the end gave the Kansas City Wizards a shock 2-1 away victory over Eastern Conference leader New England Revolution on Saturday night at Gillette Stadium.
Sealy finished a through ball from Josh Wolff to claim victory after the two sides exchanged early second half goals. Chris Klein's 47th minute opener, also set up by Wolff, was immediately canceled out by a Shalrie Joseph header a minute later.
New England looked the better side in the first half, as Kansas City sat in and soaked up intensive pressure. But numerous spurned chances, including a pair from Clint Dempsey, allowed the Wizards to find their feet in the second half to hand New England its first home defeat since Sept. 4, 2004 against San Jose.
The home side started brightly, attacking through the flanks in an attempt to eject Kansas City from its defensive posture. Two wasted chances within the opening five minutes would prove fateful as the match progressed.
Joe Franchino, deployed on the left flank in preference to Marshall Leonard, swung in a dangerous cross for Steve Ralston after three minutes, but he put it over the bar when he perhaps could have done better.
Jose Cancela played Clint Dempsey through two minutes later. Dempsey had no trouble running on to the perfectly weighted pass, but wasted the opportunity with a poor shot that was an easy save for Wizards 'keeper Bo Oshoniyi.
Kansas City replied in the 11th minute through converted right back Khari Stephenson. The former Williams College striker drove a 30-yard blast that forced Revolution 'keeper Matt Reis to dive to his left to turn the effort around the post.
Shalrie Joseph was at the heart of another Dempsey chance on 22 minutes. Poking the ball away from the wayward Oshoniyi, Joseph played the cross into the box for Dempsey. His header was too soft, allowing the Wizards 'keeper to rush back to his line and calmly grab the effort.
Oshoniyi did well to deny Cancela in the 25th minute, as the Uruguayan's low shot was headed to the far post before Oshoniyi's dive diverted the attempt.
The best chance of the stanza fell to U.S. international Josh Wolff in the 31st minute. Eluding Avery John at the top of the box, Wolff rounded Reis and put a shot towards goal. But Revolution defender James Riley cleared off the line to keep the scores level.
Wolff turned provider for the opener two minutes after the break. His vision found the surging Chris Klein over the top of the New England defense. There was a hint of offside, but Klein's composed finish past Reis left no doubt.
The Revolution engineered an immediate reply in the 48th minute through Joseph. Twellman curled in a cross from the right hand side of the box. Joseph, who was a striker in college at St. John's University, ran past the static Wizards defense and powered his header into the upper right hand corner from six yards.
Trinidad & Tobago international Sealy edged his team ahead as more defensive ball watching allowed the Wake Forest product to slot past Matt Reis after 74 minutes. Kansas City's quick buildup, with Burciaga's cross field pass finding Arnaud and Arnaud's pass into Wolff's feet in the center, came from nothing and unsettled the home side.
Looking up quickly, Wolff threaded the ball through the stationary John and Riley to the onrushing Sealy, who made no mistake to finish past Reis.
New England pushed forward in the final minutes, but the Wizards defense held off a furious late charge to seal the three points.
MLSnet.com Man of the Match: Josh Wolff (Kansas City Wizards)
Kansas City Wizards (8-5-8) vs. New England Revolution (10-4-6)
August 06, 2005 -- Gillette Stadium
Scoring Summary:
KC -- Chris Klein 6 (Josh Wolff 5) 47
NE -- Shalrie Joseph 3 (Taylor Twellman 5) 48
KC -- Scott Sealy 6 (Josh Wolff 6, Jose Burciaga Jr. 3) 73
Kansas City Wizards -- Bo Oshoniyi, Khari Stephenson (Brian Roberts 71), Jimmy Conrad, Shavar Thomas, Jose Burciaga Jr., Chris Klein, Davy Arnaud, Sasha Victorine, Kerry Zavagnin, Josh Wolff, Scott Sealy (Jack Jewsbury 77).
Substitutes Not Used: Dustin Branan, Will Hesmer, Preki.
TOTAL SHOTS: 9 (Josh Wolff 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 5 (Josh Wolff 2); FOULS: 11 (Khari Stephenson 2, Kerry Zavagnin 2); OFFSIDES: 2 (Josh Wolff 2); CORNER KICKS: 1 (Chris Klein 1); SAVES: 5 (Bo Oshoniyi 5)
New England Revolution -- Matt Reis, Steve Ralston, Avery John, Michael Parkhurst, Joe Franchino (Marshall Leonard 78), James Riley, Jose Cancela (Khano Smith 71), Andy Dorman, Shalrie Joseph, Taylor Twellman, Clint Dempsey.
Substitutes Not Used: Gilberto Flores, Jeff Larentowicz, Luke Vercollone, Doug Warren, Easton Wilson.
TOTAL SHOTS: 10 (Clint Dempsey 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 6 (Clint Dempsey 3); FOULS: 10 (James Riley 4); OFFSIDES: 1 (Taylor Twellman 1); CORNER KICKS: 7 (Jose Cancela 6); SAVES: 3 (Matt Reis 2)
Misconduct Summary:
KC -- Kerry Zavagnin (caution; Pushing, Holding) 41
NE -- Clint Dempsey (caution; Dissent) 87
KC -- Jose Burciaga Jr. (caution; Dissent) 88
KC -- Jack Jewsbury (caution; Tackle from Behind) 92+
Referee: Ben Jones
Referee's Assistants: George Vergara; C.J. Morgante
4th Official: Niko Bratsis
Attendance: 10,204
Time of Game: 1:50
Weather: Clear-and-82-degrees