Chances But No Finishes

The Wizards created numerous chances last night, tying a season high with 11 shots on goal, but could not beat Revolution goalkeeper, Matt Reis. The 0-0 result gave the Wizards a point, but with that many shots on goal, you would have hoped that KC could have put one of them away.

It was actually New England that started the game stronger, and almost capitalized. Less than a minute in, Kenny Mansally found himself free on the right side of the Wizards defense after a cross, but his shot was stopped by Kevin Hartman's foot and Hartman covered up the rebound. The game went back and forth for much of the first half. Michael Harrington had a decent look after a give and go, but couldn't get his shot over Reis. Claudio Lopez had a great opportunity to make it 1-0 KC when he took advantage of a poor back pass by New England, getting 1v1 with Reis, but Lopez couldn't lift his chip over the Revolution goalkeeper. Josh Wolff almost took advantage of a similar situation later in the half, but could not catch up to the header back by the Revolution defender.

In the second half, KC continued to threaten, as Jack Jewsbury had a couple chances that were both saved by Reis. New England had the best chance of the second half in the 75th minute when Edgaras Jankauskas touched a cross back across the face of goal to Nico Colaluca. Hartman had been pulled to the far post, so Colaluca had the full net to shot at, but put it wide of the near post. In the 79th, Wolff forced Reis into a good save after he flicked a cross on net. In the 81st, the game changed when Lance Watson was given a straight red for a tackle on Colaluca. The tackle didn't seem to be a red card worthy tackle, and even the Revolution announcers (who are notoriously bias for the Revolution) thought the tackle should have only warrented a yellow.

In the end, neither team found net and the teams each settled for a point. For the Wizards, they now earn a nice week off after having played 7 games in the last 20 days, 5 of which were on the road. The rest will give them time to work out the small knocks and hopefully get some of the injured players back to health.

Wizards Man of the Match - Aaron Hohlbein - Hohlbein did a good job yesterday of shutting down the Revolution attack. Hartman only had to make 3 saves, and outside of the first, the saves were routine. Hohlbein was able to Jankauskas fairly well in the second half as well, limiting him to really only one dangerous opportunity.

Player Ratings - Hartman 6, Watson 4, Hohlbein 6, McKenzie 6, Besler 5, Harrington 5, Hirsig 5, Jewsbury 4, Gomez 4, Wolff 5, Lopez 5. Subs Kraus 4, Morsink NR, Thompson NR.