The Kansas City Wizards saw their playoff lives flashing before their eyes -- until two late goals snatched a 2-2 draw with FC Dallas at Pizza Hut Park on Saturday and a vital point in their chase for a spot in the Eastern Conference Semifinal Series.
Goals from Oscar Pareja and Ramon Nuñez six minutes apart in the second half gave FC Dallas a 2-0 lead after 75 minutes, and put the Wizards' future in serious danger. But answering goals from Davy Arnaud and Preki -- the equalizer in the 90th minute -- put the Wizards one point ahead of the MetroStars, meaning they must defeat Chivas USA at The Home Depot Center on Sunday to eliminate Kansas City from the MLS Cup Playoffs.
Despite much of the possession in the opening minutes going to the home team, Kansas City looked sharper of the two teams, with Antti Sumiala fouled by Greg Vanney in the ninth minute of the game, producing a direct kick and the first shot on goal of the night.
The Wizards continued to look strong with Josh Wolff up top using his speed to create chances and havoc among the Hoops defense with Vanney, Steve Jolley and Clarence Goodson together again in the back for the second match in a row, Jolley again playing right back.
The home team came to life in the with the Ronnie O'Brien-Ramon Nuñez connection in the 19th minute with a right-footed blast from Nuñez, but Kerry Zavagnin played savior as he blocked the shot.
Then it was Wizards goalkeeper Bo Oshoniyi who saved his side as Abe Thompson came in on the left side of the box, only to find the 'keeper waiting to take the ball off his foot. Thompson started up top as Carlos Ruiz was again unavailable, as he didn't return from Guatemala in time for the match.
The visitors nearly got their much-needed opening goal in the 38th minute from Sumiala as he positioned himself well to get past Goodson and take a point-blank shot at Scott Garlick, but the FCD 'keeper was able to dive left to block the shot and recover to capture the ball.
FCD nearly took the lead just before the break as the O'Brien-Nunez connection once again combined to full effect, but after O'Brien sent Nunez on his way to the goal the shot from the Honduras international was over the bar.
The home side continued to mount pressure after the break, and nearly hit home in the 51st minute through O'Brien who sent a diving header on goal, but Oshoniyi dove right and punched the ball clear.
Bobby Rhine then had a couple of chances as the Wizards continued to flirt with disaster. First, in the 56th minute, his header went high of the bar, then in the 68th minute Rhine dribbled uncontested up to the edge of the penalty area and shot, forcing Oshoniyi to dive right.
The largest crowd of the year at Pizza Hut Park erupted in the 70th minute when newly subbed Pareja and Roberto Mina linked up for the first goal of the night. Mina faked a shot to draw the defense in before slotting the ball to the Colombian, and he pounded the ball home to cap off his final MLS regular season game.
FCD doubled the lead in the 75th minute when Nunez received the ball from Simo Valakari just outside the area, darted right and ripped a left-footed blast past the diving 'keeper.
But the Wizards responded just two minutes later as Arnaud raced up the left flank to latch onto a long ball that caught out the FC Dallas defense. Going in one-on-one with Garlick, he beat the 'keeper with a wonderful curling shot high inside the far post to cut the margin in half.
Then Preki -- also playing in his final MLS regular season game -- capped off the comeback in the 90th minute when he got onto the end of Wolff's point-blank effort that was saved by Garlick. The rebound fell right into the ageless wonder's path, and he pounded it home for the tying goal.
The Wizards have to now wait until Sunday's Chivas USA-MetroStars match to determine their playoff fate. A MetroStars win, and Kansas City is out of the postseason; a Chivas USA win or a tie, and the Wizards will take on the New England Revolution in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
MLSnet.com Man of the Match: Josh Wolff (Kansas City Wizards)
Ron Goode is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
