The Wizards returned to Arrowhead for the only time this season and came away with a big 2-0 win over the LA Galaxy. While last week seemed hopeless, this game, gives hope to the idea that the Wizards actually could make the playoffs this year. With 4 of the last 6 games at home, the Wizards can certainly put up a fight for a playoff spot, but will need help to get in.
As for last night, the Wizards made some lineup changes, the most notable was Claudio Lopez being moved to the bench for the first time in league play this season. The first half was a dull affair with neither team getting a whole lot of chances to really get on the board. The best chance for KC came when Josh Wolff played a 1-2 and then played a ball through to Abe Thompson, but Thompson's shot was scuffed and went right to Josh Wicks. LA's best chance came right before half, when Landon Donovan chested down a cross to Edson Buddle, who's side volley went off his shin instead of his foot and went over the goal. Before the whistle blew, the Wizards had another chance to take the lead, when Jack Jewsbury hit a shot from 25 yards out that Wicks couldn't handle. Thompson, though, couldn't get to the rebound in time and the rebound was cleared away.
The second half, the game started to pick up, first David Beckham just went wide with a shot. Then it was Herculez Gomez's turn. From about 25 yards out off a free kick, Gomez forced Wicks to push the ball wide. The break through came in the 67th minute. After a shot by Jewsbury was blocked, the Wizards remained patient, Davy Arnaud played the ball wide to Gomez, who crossed into the box where Wolff let the ball run through his legs before hittting the ball with the inside of his foot sending the ball by Wicks with the cheeky finish. A little over a minute after the first goal, the Wizards had doubled their lead. Arnaud collected the ball about 35 yards from goal, too a touch forward and let loose a screamer from 33 yards out that went into the upper 90 leaving Wicks with no chance. Arnaud was helped by the fact that Beckham laid back from going into a challenge on Arnaud. Still you can't take away from Arnaud's goal, which should easily be a goal of the year candidate. The Wizards held off the Galaxy fairly easily the rest of the way and sent the Galaxy to their 13th game without a win.
WIZARDS Man of the Match - Davy Arnaud - An absolute golazo for Arnaud last night and an assist as well, Arnaud is back to full fitness after surgery last offseason and has really started to show well, with goals in his last 3 matches to tie him with Jimmy Conrad for the team lead in goals in league play this season.
Honorable Mention - Jimmy Conrad, Tyson Wahl
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