Another Loss

It's been almost a month now since the Wizards won a game (the game against Minnesota technically goes down as a draw), and against opponents not from USL-1 they've managed to score a grand total of 2 goals in that time period. Last night's performance against Houston was just the latest in this current trouble for the Wizards. Unlike some previous games, the Wizards actually had some good opportunities to at least salvage a point.

In the first half, KC created some decent chances, with Josh Wolff going close on a header and just missing on a low cross. Unfortunately it was the Dynamo that struck first blood when Kei Kamara got away from Rauwshan McKenzie and headed home a cross to give the Dynamo an early 1-0 lead. KC got their feet back under them, and McKenzie almost made up for the defensive mistake later in the half, but his header from a Claudio Lopez free kick went just wide of the net.

Into the second half, the Wizards still pushed the game, but were struggling to get good chances. Houston should have caught the Wizards on the counter early in the half, but Dominic Oduro shot right into Kevin Hartman's gut and it stayed at 1-0. KC continued to attack with Michael Harrington, Wolff, Lopez, and others all get at least half chances to score the goal. Michael Kraus had a great opportunity off of a corner but couldn't get high enough to direct his header on goal. The best of the chances probably fell to Wolff when his header bounced up and hit the elbow of the of the goal before bouncing away. Lopez had one last chance to salvage a point for the Wizards in second half stoppage time from a free kick. Unfortunately Lopez hit the outside of the net and the final whistle was blown seconds later.

Once again the Wizards struggled to score a goal, since the New England league game, the Wizards two goals outside the Open Cup have come from an own goal and a free kick, during the run of play they're not finishing their chances. They can't rely on the odd free kick every time they go out, they need to convert some chances.

Wizards Man of the Match - Santiago Hirsig - I thought Hirsig had a strong game in the middle containing Brad Davis who was playing in the center of midfield. Whether it was because Davis is normally on the wing or Hirsig's play, but Davis did a lot of drifting out to the wings last night.

Player Ratings - Hartman 5, Watson 4, Hohlbein 4, McKenzie 4, Besler 5, Harrington 4, Hirsig 5, Jewsbury 5, Gomez 4, Wolff 4, Lopez 4. Subs Thompson 5, Kraus 4