By Kurt Austin, special KC Wizards correspondent and President, Mizzou Soccer Club
Local boy Jack Jewsbury (Kickapoo H.S. alum, 1999) scored his first goal of the season, but it was too little, too late in the Wizards 2-1 loss at Columbus on Wednesday. The underdog Crew recorded just their second win of the season and their first in eight games with second-half goals by Eddie Gaven and Stefani Miglioranzi.
Jewsbury’s unassisted strike from outside the box took a deflection and beat Crew goalkeeper Will Hesmer in the 93rd minute. Though the goal proved to be of little consequence, there was a consolation – it prevented a Wizards’ shutout, extending the team’s scoring streak to all 11 games this season.
Hesmer, a backup in Kansas City last year behind Bo Oshoniyi and a recent replacement to Overland Park, Kansas native Andy Gruenebaum for the Crew, made three saves and earned just his second career victory. His first came with the Wizards, ironically, in a 1-0 victory at Columbus just over a year ago.
Despite Columbus being without the services of several regular players, it was the Wizards who most missed their lone absence: striker Eddie Johnson. Without his speed and ability to draw the attention of the opponent’s back four, Kansas City’s offense lacked the danger that it has become known for so far this season.
A quick reflection on the keys to a win shows where the Wizards went wrong:
1. Get on the board first: failed. For the sixth straight game the Wizards’ net bulged first, and shortly thereafter a second time, allowing Columbus to dictate the tempo.
2. Control the second half: failed. Columbus had scored three goals in the second half all season (11 games). They scored two Wednesday night, in the 56th and 61st minutes.
3. Don’t forget about defense: failed. Gaven and Miglioranzi scored their first goals of the season, Guillermo Barros Schelotto extended his assist streak to four consecutive games, and Alejandro Moreno has now earned at least a point in each of the Crew’s last five.
The Wizards return home to play their third game in eight days on Sunday against the Houston Dynamo of the Western Conference. The game kicks off at 4 p.m. at Arrowhead Stadium and will be broadcast on Telefutura and MetroSports. Check back here at Springfield Soccer for a preview prior to the match and a recap following the action.
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