Wizards Take Down Rapids

The Wizards are off to a 2-0 start this season after the team's 3-2 win over the Colorado Rapids yesterday. Both team's came in off of high scoring games in their first matches of the season. In the first half yesterday, though, it certainly didn't look that way, as the teams played to a dull stalemate at the half.

In the second half, the action picked up quickly. In the 52nd minute, Carlos Marinelli played a great free kick into the box that was met by Wizards captain, Jimmy Conrad. Conrad powered his header past Bouna Coundoul to give the Wizards the lead. Two minutes later, the Wizards had doubled their lead, again through Conrad, as he met a Marinelli corner kick to end the team's long corner drought. Conrad celebrate his second goal of the game by being the first Wizard to jump into the Cauldron at CAB.

With a 2-0 lead, you would think the Wizards would be able to shut down the game and end it. Unfortunately for the Wizards that wasn't true. Colorado came back only 3 minutes after Conrad's second pulling one back. The goal came through former Wizard, Jose Burciaga Jr. as he beat Kevin Hartman at his near post. In the 68th minute, Colorado was level. Following a scrum after a corner that saw 5 players go to the ground, Omar Cummings was the first back to his feet and on the ball, where it was met by John DiRaimondo who blasted it past Hartman.

With the game now knotted at 2-2, Coach Curt Onalfo pushed for the win, by pulling off defender, Tyson Wahl and throwing on a third forward in Eloy Colombano, switching to a 3-4-3. The gamble paid off, as 3 minutes from time, Colombano found Jack Jewsbury on the flank. Jewsbury then played in Scott Sealy, who's first effort was blocked, but stayed with it and on his second chance squeezed a shot past Coundoul to give the Wizards the dramatic win and stay unbeaten.

Wizards Man of the Match - Jimmy Conrad - The Wizards captain and central defender gets on the scoring sheet for the first time since 2006 with two goals off of great free kicks by Marinelli. Including ending the drought that the Wizards have had on corner kicks.

Honorable Mention - Carlos Marinelli, Scott Sealy