KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Defender Jimmy Conrad finally solved an FC Dallas defense that played brilliantly, scoring in added time as the Kansas City Wizards salvaged a 1-1 tie Saturday at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.
The Wizards weren’t clicking offensively, mainly due to a spirited effort from the FC Dallas back line. The game’s two goals were bookends to the match that left each team 6-7-8 (26 points) on the MLS season.Midfielder Andre Rocha received a 25-yard cross from midfielder Dax McCarty, then beat Wizards goalkeeper Kevin Hartman with a kick to the near post. The score in the seventh minute was Rocha’s first of the season. McCarty had just returned from playing with the U.S. Olympic soccer team in Beijing.The FC Dallas back line shined all evening, especially in the 32 minutes they played a man short. Coach Schellas Hyndman was complimentary of goalkeeper Dario Sala."He was strong in the air," Hyndman said. "He was communicating with his teammates well. His goal kicks were long and kind of stretched the opposition."Sala was a bit crestfallen about the last-minute goal by Conrad, but he took an optimistic attitude away from the experience."[I]f we would have known before the game that we would have been one man down on the road, and pulled out a tie, we would have taken it right away," Sala said.The Wizards consistently had chances to score, but they didn’t finish a chance until Conrad’s heroics.FC Dallas midfielder Pablo Riccheti was issued a red card and sent off the field in the 62nd minute. Riccheti earlier was issued a yellow card for a deliberate handball in the 46th minute. He was ejected after a reckless tackle on Wizards midfielder Davy Arnaud.After a flurry of Wizards shots, Claudio Lopez found himself with the ball, and with an open shot from about 18 yards out. His running kick missed the goal. The 70th-minute attack was the most dangerous offensive move of the match for the Wizards.Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
