Lopez's PK lifts Wizards into tie with D.C. United
Posted Oct 25, 2009 12:10 AM
KANSAS CITY, Kan. -Claudio Lopez's penalty kick in second-half stoppage time salvaged a 2-2 tie for the Kansas City Wizards against D.C. United on Saturday night.
The draw effectively ended United's playoff hopes in the regular-season finale for both teams.
Julius James' header in the 82nd minute gave United a 2-1 lead, but D.C. midfielder Fred drew a handball and automatic red card for using his arm to block Roger Espinoza's shot on the goal line in the second minute of extra time.
Lopez put the ball past Steve Cronin for the second penalty-kick goal of the game.
With six teams still in the hunt for the final two playoff spots going into the weekend, D.C. (9-8-13) could have qualified with a draw but would have needed plenty of help.
The Wizards (8-13-9), winless in their final five matches, were eliminated with last week's 3-2 home loss to Seattle.
Kei Kamara's 30th-minute header put the Wizards up 1-0, but Jaime Moreno, a late first-half sub, equalized with a penalty kick in the 67th after drawing a foul against Kansas City's Matt Marquess.
Replays showed Moreno backing into Marquess, who was making his first appearance of the season, and falling backward to the pitch.
James made it 2-1 after pouncing on a short punch-save by Kansas City goalkeeper Kevin Hartman.
Kamara's goal from 6 yards, off a free kick from Graham Zusi, was his sixth of the season but the first since Kansas City acquired him from Houston in mid-September.
It was only the 12th first-half goal for Kansas City this year. The Wizards are 8-0-4 when scoring first.
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Story from: STATS LLC,
http://www.stats.com.
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2009-10-25 00:54:59
