No One to Blame But Ourselves

KC's 4 game unbeaten run came to a quick halt last night in San Jose as KC continued their poor run of form in the Bay area. And they have really no one but themselves to blame, as KC had 3 goals called back in the second half for being offside. They were also outdone by some good goalkeeping from San Jose goalkeeper, Joe Cannon.

The early going was back and forth, as KC pressed forward and San Jose would counter, looking to catch Jimmy Nielsen looking into the sun in the first half. Arturo Alvarez went close inside the first 5 minutes of the game after cutting inside on Roger Espinoza. Shortly after, KC should have taken the lead, Teal Bunbury got on the end of a poor back pass to Cannon, but Cannon was quick off his line and knocked the ball away, the ball fell to Davy Arnaud, who faked a shot and chipped the ball into the middle to Bunbury whose diving header went wide of the goal. Arnaud likely would have been better trying to play that ball on the deck to Bunbury for a simple tap in. KC continued to control the game at that point and created a few half chances through Arnaud and Ryan Smith, but could not find net. In the 26th minute, a Smith free kick went right into the wall and led to a counter for the Quakes. Cornell Glen dribbled the ball 2/3rds the length of the field and fired wide when he had Alvarez open for a square ball.

After that play, the Quakes began to control the game. Shortly after that play, Glen again had a golden opportunity as Khari Stephenson played him a great ball, but he headed wide. The Quakes continued to hold possession and the Wizards had trouble even getting out of their own end of the field. A goal was coming and finally came in the 35th. Once again it was Stephenson, playing a great ball over the top behind the Wizards defense to Chris Wondolowski whose one touch volley beat Nielsen and gave the Quakes the 1-0 lead. The Quakes continued to push for the rest of the half and they looked more likely to score a second than the Wizards were to look to get on the board. Stephenson hit the top of the cross bar on a free kick as well.

In the second half, the Wizards came back out an reasserted themselves into dominating the game, and thought they'd equalized in the 47th through Arnaud off of a Smith free kick, but the flag went up for Arnaud being offside. Note that, because it became a theme for the second half. Less than 10 minutes later KC had another excellent chance, as Bunbury beat the offside trap, but once again Cannon came up with the big save, getting off his line quickly to cut down the angle so Bunbury had no where to shoot it. It was then Kei Kamara's turn to join in the offside calls, as he was slow getting back onside after the ball was cleared out of San Jose's box. Kamara finished on the second attempt, but again the flag was up.

In the 70th minute, KC thought they'd equalized for the third time in the evening, as Michael Harrington played a great ball into the box after a partial clearance by San Jose. But once again Arnaud hadn't gotten himself all the way back onside and the goal was again waived off. Josh Wolff again came in off the bench and provided a nice spark for KC. He took the ball down the left wing and crossed into the box where 3 Wizards had the chance at it. The ball went by both Bunbury and Smith and came to Graham Zusi, who was able to get a touch on it, but had over ran it and couldn't get a shot off. Even an 88th minute red card to Jason Hernandez for an off the ball challenge on Bunbury didn't give the Wizards the boost they needed to get the win.

Once again KC makes an undermanned team look good. KC had plenty of opportunities to get not just one, but all 3 points, but could not get the attackers to finish their chances. The offense continues to be the team's biggest problem. The team has 11 games left in the 2010 season and have only scored 15 goals. The team record for fewest goals in a season is 33 set in 99, 01, and 09. This team is on pace to shatter that record. When the season's over, that more than any defensive problems will be what the Wizards can point to as the problem for them this season.

Wizards Man of the Match - Michael Harrington - No one had a really stand out game, but Harrington had another strong solid performance from the right back position.

Player Ratings - Nielsen 5, Espinoza 4, Conrad 5, Thomas 4, Harrington 6, Auvray 5, Rocastle 5, Aranud 5, Kamara 3, Bunbury 4, Smith 4. Subs Zusi 4, Wolff 5, Jewsbury NR.