Chances Wasted

Sporting KC had a chance to really move away from some of the teams in the Eastern Conference, but some poor finishing on the few chances created against the San Jose Earthquakes kept them from taking all 3 points. In a game that was fairly unexciting for much of the game turned wild in the 85th minute as San Jose grabbed the lead only for Teal Bunbury to equalize 30 seconds later to give the teams a share of the points.

The game started off very quickly from the opening kick off, Kei Kamara got played in down the line and then fired a cross to the back post for Omar Bravo who headed over the bar. The Quakes came back down the field and Ramiro Corrales fired a shot just wide of Jimmy Nielsen's post as both teams came out quickly from the start. The play though calmed down fairly quickly. The Quakes got the majority of the possession but really didn't do a whole lot with the possession. The best chance of the half fell to KC in the 30th minute. Jeferson played a nicely chipped ball over the top for Bravo. Bravo successfully chipped Jon Busch, but there was not enough power on the chip and Steven Beitashour was able to recover and knock the ball away before it crossed the line.

In the second half, KC picked up the play more and started to get the better of the play. Bunbury was played in by Kamara down the line. Bunbury outraced his defender and forced a fine save from Busch to knock it away at the near post. Kc continued the pressure and in the 57th should have grabbed the lead. Bravo had an initial shot blocked. Bunbury raced and collected the ball laid it back to Jeferson, whose shot went into the path of Bravo again after some miscommunication between the San Jose defenders. Bravo turned and fired but put his shot wide of the post when he only had Busch to beat. KC continued to get good looks, in the 62nd Bunbury had a chance that he should have put away. A goal kick by Nielsen was headed on to Bunbury by Kamara. Bunbury cut back inside causing Bobby Burling to fall, giving Bunbury the space to shoot. He tried to fire inside the near post like he did against Vancouver with the same move earlier this year, but Busch came up with a good kick save to keep the ball out. Bunbury likely would have scored if he'd fired it low to the far post, but Busch still came up with a good save.

Once again in the 69th and 70th minute, KC had two good chances to find the first goal, both off of corners. On the first one, Jeferson's corner went right to the middle of the box but Aurelien Collin could not quite get to it in time and the ball got knocked away fro another corner. On the next corner Kamara fired a shot wide of the post.

In the 85th KC was made to pay for their missed chances. Beitashour played a nice cross into the box for Wondolowski. Collin missed on his attempt to clear the ball and Wondolowski hit it first time, burying it past Nielsen to make it 1-0 San Jose. KC thought immediately came back and equalized 30 seconds later. Jeferson played the kickoff out wide to CJ Sapong. Sapong held off the first defender and dribbled at 3 more, cut inside and played a ball through for Bunbury. Bunbury one timed his shot past Busch tying the game. All credit on that play to Sapong who absolutely made that play, beating numerous San Jose defenders and draw others in before playing Bunbury through. KC almost got one real good opportunity to win the game. Graham Zusi and Bunbury broke on a counter. As Bunbury raced down the far side, Jason Hernandez fell down leaving Bunbury all alone. Zusi tried to play a ball over Hernandez but Hernandez got his legs up and blocked the ball or else Bunbury was in all alone on Busch. The result stings and could haunt KC if they end up not finishing in the top two due to their poor finishing, but they still hold their own destiny in their hands with 2 games to play.

WIZARDS Man of the Match - Matt Besler - San Jose really only got one good look on goal all game. Unfortunately for KC, San Jose took that chance. But the rest of the game Besler and the rest of the KC defense really shut down San Jose from doing much with their possession that they had.

Player Ratings - Nielsen 5, Myers 6, Collin 6, Besler 7, Sinovic 6, Cesar 6, Arnaud 5, Jeferson 4, Kamara 5, Bunbury 6, Bravo 5. Sapong 7, Joseph NR, Zusi NR.