Beltran’s own goal breaks KC’s winless streak

Finally, a little luck is flowing the Kansas City Wizards’ way. Eighty-nine long fruitless minutes after Saturday night’s opening whistle, Davy Arnaud looped a free kick over Real Salt Lake’s defensive wall that bounced off defender Tony Beltran and into goal, for the match’s only tally. With the 1-0 victory, the Wizards break a seven game winless streak that stretches back two months and, perhaps finally, get themselves back on track.

“It’s not about how pretty it is,” said Coach Curt Onalfo after the hard fought game. “At the end of the day, it’s about getting three points. We need to maximize points at home. I don’t care if it’s a goal in the 3rd minute or the 94th. We’re going to build on it.”

Given their recent lack of scoring, the Wizards took the field in a more attacking 4-3-3 formation with Jack Jewsbury and Michael Harrington in the wing back positions. The switch immediately began to pay dividends as KC managed the lion’s share of opportunities in the first half. In the 10th minute, Harrington, overlapping on the left, passed low to Arnaud inside the box but Arnaud’s shot went wide left. In the 13th minute, Arnaud crossed in to Scott Sealy who one touched to Jewsbury, overlapping on the right. Jewsbury’s shot, however, sailed over the crossbar.

While the Wizards created their chances early, they failed to capitalize, generally shooting high or wide. Salt Lake, however, made little impression on the match through the first thirty minutes. Kenny Deuchar forced a giveaway in the Wizards’ defensive third in the 29th minute but his shot flew high. Deuchar pounced on another opportunity in the 30th with a shot from inside the penalty area but the ball slid straight to Keeper Kevin Hartman.

RSL faired better as halftime neared, gaining more possession and putting more pressure on KC’s defense, but to little avail. Nat Borchers managed the visitors’ best chance of the half off a corner kick in the 37th minute, but he too headed the ball over the crossbar and into touch.

The game opened up in the second half as both teams exited their locker rooms in attacking mode. Salt Lake produced the first serious attempt in the 48th minute. Midfielder Javier Morales broke free sown the left side and passed to Kyle Beckerman in front of goal. Beckerman’s shot deflected off a defender, however, as did Andy Williams’ clean up attempt. The Wizards nearly pulled ahead themselves as a clever give-and-go between Sealy and Harrington put Sealy in on goal in the 49th minute. Like all of their previous attempts on the evening, however, the shot went wide.

“I thought we created some decent chances,” said Onalfo. “I think we’re starting to get a little worried and we’re just thinking about it too much. That’s kind of what happens when you get a period of time where you’re not finishing well.”

As the second half neared its midpoint, Onalfo bolstered his offense, subbing in midfielder Carlos Marinelli and forward Ryan Pore. Immediately the Wizards attack improved. In the 64th minute, Marinelli found space down the right side and crossed in for Sealy whose shot flew over the crossbar again. Four minutes later, Marinelli played himself deep into RSL’s penalty area before kicking back out to Claudio Lopez at the top of the box. Lopez unleashed KC’s best volley of the night, but his shot deflected off a defender and out of bounds.

The match entered its final ten minutes and still neither side could break the scoreless deadlock. Andy Williams gave RSL another chance in the 79th minute, shooting from inside the box, but his shot slid wide right. Lopez created more chances for the Wizards, including a shot in the 82nd minute that barely deflected to the right of goal.

Then, in then, 89th minute, Salt Lake defender brought down Ryan Pore just beyond the penalty area to set up a free kick for KC. Arnaud took the shot, lofting it over the defensive wall and down into the melee in front of goal. The ball deflected off RSL defender Tony Beltran’s head and into the back of the net for a debilitating own goal. After eighty nine scoreless minutes, the Wizards finally took the lead.

With little time left, Salt Lake failed to seriously threaten Kansas City’s goal so the score line stood at 1-0. The Wizards will take their one game winning streak into a busy 4th of July week, playing a US Open Cup game on Tuesday before suiting up Friday for an Independence Day match up with FC Dallas. For now, the Wizards can breath easier, having shaken the winless streak off their backs.