April 26, 2008 MLS Toronto FC vs Kansas City Wizards (from MLSnet.com)

04/26/2008 8:31PM
K.C. collapse shrouded by controversy
Wizards suspect goal-scoring Guevara to be offside in 2-0 loss
By Mark Polishuk / MLSnet.com Staff

TORONTO -- The first road loss of the season for Kansas City Wizards was not without its share of controversy. A questionable goal from Toronto FC striker Amado Guevara proved to be the difference in a 2-0 loss Saturday at BMO Field.

In the 56th minute, TFC defender Marvell Wynne set off on a long run down the right side before being stalled in front of the Kansas City net. Wynne's close-range shot was deflected, but only somewhat cleared by a pair of K.C. defenders, and the resulting rebound bounced right to Guevara in the goal area. The Honduran fired it past Wizards goalkeeper Kevin Hartman, who thought that both Guevara and another TFC player were offside.

"From my perspective on the original play [before] the ball was knocked in, the guys were offside and they were gaining an advantage on the ball that we tried to clear by being offside," Hartman said. "I was expecting the flag to come up, and I guess there's a different interpretation. I'd love to go back and look at it and I've love to have someone explain to me the rule, [but] at this point it's a moot point -- we lost 2-0.

"It's one of those things that's always going to be up to the referee and you hope that they're making the right calls. You give them the benefit of the doubt until you see it on tape."

Team captain Jimmy Conrad was right in the midst of the play and was the most vocal of several Wizards who were questioning the lack of a call. Conrad's protests earned him a yellow card from the official, but he said he felt the goal shouldn't have counted since he felt Guevara began the play offside.

"With the new FIFA rule that every play is a new play, when it's a deflection off of our own guy and it goes to [Guevara], it's a new play and he was in the best spot," Conrad said. "So that's unlucky. My argument was that Amado was in the offside position first and [the referee] could've called it then, and he chose not to."

The goal was a deflating moment for the Wizards, who were happy to be tied 0-0 at the half after playing back on their heels for most of the 45 minutes. K.C. attacked more in the second half, outshooting TFC 5-3, but couldn't get any consistent pressure on Reds 'keeper Greg Sutton. Guevara's second goal, in the 77th minute, essentially ended any hope of a comeback for the Wizards.

"We made an error in clearing the ball on what was probably a questionable offsides call as well, and Toronto capitalized on that," said K.C. head coach Curt Onalfo. " I kind of felt the momentum was shifting a bit in our favor, but ... the second [goal] put the nail in our coffin. We had a couple of very good opportunities today, and [if] you sneak one of those you suddenly get a bit of momentum. "

The loss drops Kansas City to 3-2-1 in the young season, and out of the top spot in the overall league table that the Wizards enjoyed after last weekend's action. It was an especially hard result given that the match was the second of six consecutive away games that the Wizards will play before returning to CommunityAmerica Ballpark on June 14.

Conrad knows that away points are crucial, and said his club plans to rebound with a stronger performance next Saturday in Columbus.

"Last year this would've affected us quite a bit," said the K.C. captain. "But this year we've preached consistency ... and this is as good a test as any to see how we bounce back from this.

"For the most part I thought we did a pretty good job, kept the play in front of us quite a bit. [But] if you can't keep the ball, whether you're at home or on the road, you're going to have a long game."

Mark Polishuk is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.

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