Wizards lose game, Conrad and Arnaud sent off

Gavin Glinton's goal was enough to give the lowly Los Angeles Galaxy a 1-0 victory against the Kansas City Wizards on Thursday night.

KC defender Jimmy Conrad and midfielder Davy Arnaud were both issued red cards in the match, which means both will now miss the Wizard's key Eastern Conference showdown against DC United on Friday, Oct. 5th.

The KC loss also means the Chicago Fire could pull within a point of the Wizards with a win against Chivas USA on Saturday.

For the third straight season the Wizards are stumbling to the finish line. It seems unlikely that KC will miss the playoffs for a third straight year but the Wizards don't look like they'll be lasting too long once they make them.

What do you think of the Wizards' latest late-season swoon? Share your thoughts below.

Comments

[chris]

Over 32K, nice beckham crowd for KC anyway you look at it!

[Sean]

How many more weeks do we have to suffer through Dave O'Brien?

[Ben]

Is there a likelihood that the two will be suspended multiple games as the first was an ejection for serious foul play and the second for violent conduct?

Mikel John Obi got a 3 game suspension from the FA for a far less serious foul play red. If MLS does what is right both players could miss up to 3 games.

[Matt from KC]

If you want to know what KC fans are saying just check bigsoccer http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=604676

[bandit]

If KC completes this fall, I don't see how there's any way EJ is still a Wizard come January. He's still talented enough that there will be offers for him, and I don't see how he could turn them down given the state of this team.

[tommymcb]

This is great news for the Bulls!!!!!!!!

[ag nigrin]

Us Bulls fans are very aware of KC's late season failures. This is nothing new and we are still grateful for it. Keep doing what you are doing KC we expect it from you!

[Allen]

I've seen the Wizards lose a few games this season but still play well. That wasn't the case last night. But I still wouldn't compare them to previous teams. I think Onalfo's taking them into a new direction. They still needs some changes in their squad to get there. A healthy , in form Sealy is definitely one of them.

[Fire_Juve10]

What happened to Glenn Davis commentating? The last two weeks were by far the best broadcasts of the season.

[Tom]

Yup, EJ will go overseas and his lack of rudimentary ability will not be tolerated by any club or fan.
People say he is incredibly weak mentally. Well, Europe and it's expecattaions will eat him alive.

The guy has more holes in his game than Swiss cheese.

He is MLS caliber or lower level Europe. A TT type, except he has that speed that makes people want more.

The fact that he has zero clue how to use it, pass to his teammates in spce (except 20 yards back of course), can't run at a defense with that speed and the ball at his feet, shies away from contact, can't see the field well, and has a very average shot will make him a real fav in Europe.

Man, for the sake of the Nats, Jose better be the real deal, because TT and EJ are not even close to Int'l level. Any decent team in the world and TT would never see the NAts and EJ might for the most meaningless minnow matches.

The guy is so clueless out there it hurts. Sigh.

If you respond with a "Well how did he score 15 golas" it simply means you don't get the relative differnece in quality, and what "basic" abilities are neede to succeed qt international, and top league levels.

A shining example of US youth coaching. Physically outrun everyone son. Why learn anything else?

Outside the US, everyone leanrs something else. Just not here it seems. Sigh.

[Nathanhj]

Screw KC, that was the Galaxy that won!

Okay, watching the Galaxy hasn't been fun since, well since the beginning of the season, but winning on the road, putting two wins together, winning even when they look like crap and get out-shot, hey, that's almost like a team.

I said on these baords in the last playoff discussion that the Galaxy would cause playoff contenders some problems and I was right. I just didn't expect them to crack the KC defense with their makeshift offense, nor did I expect EJ and crew to fail to finish against the worst defense in the league.

Great for me as a fan, horrible for me as a fantasy manager.

How awesome would it be if the Galaxy finish with more points than Colorado? I really can't stand that team because I can't bear to watch them play. They aren't called the Crapids for nothing.

[RichBullNY]

I said something about the Galaxy last week. I was half-kidding but imagine them winning out and getting back in this thing, even as spoilers. What's Beckham's injury status? Maybe that last game against the Bulls will be quite meaningful afterall. Maybe Becks plays and plays well, like he did in his first game against us. Interesting thought...

[JP]

I was at the stadium last night. Just an overall poorly played game. Part of the reason, MLS struggles to attract the knowledgeable soccer fan.

The number of people in the stadium who were clueless about the game was amazing. They even celebrated a goal that did not exist (for about 2 minutes)

Before the wise tell me that it's the non-soccer fan that MLS wants to market to, let me tell you that they failed at that as well. Service in and around the stadium was poor. And the entertainment level of the game was awful.

The Wizards seemed nervous in front of a "big" crowd. EJ and Donovan were poor as well. Conrad and Arnaud looked like naive 3rd division players.

No refunds were given! :-)

At least they decided not to charge for parking since Becham wasn't there.

[FP from the Left Coast]

I caught this game on ESPN Espanol while in Ecuador! So how cool is that, to turn on the tube and watch an MLS game even when this deep in South America. I found the game very entertaining, don't know what some of your were watching, but EJ looked fine, easily the most dangerous player on the pitch in the first 1/2. The card on Conrad was deserved, the 2nd on Arnaud not so much.
It would be kinda cool for the water cooler crowd, if the Galaxy can come all the way back...but I'm not holding my breath.

[Tom]

FP you are right. The game was not that bad.
In the US most fans are "self loathing/to critical" of the play here. There is a basic lack of judgement, and many only hold MLS to ridiculous standards.

EJ is dangerous in MLS but needs a lot of chances to score. NExt time pay attention to his passing and decision making. Very poor. Only passes back, never to running teammates or anything incisive. ALways 20 yards back. Watch how he can't run with the ball and when he tries he almost always loses it or runs away from goal into the corner to pass it 20-40 yards back. Shooting? Well, you saw last night. 0-4 on good chances. Very EJ like. Once in a while he gets in a groove but more often than not it is lik elast night.

One of soccers biggest problems here in the US is the supposed US fan itself. Was the game great? No, but it wasn't dog crap either. Dead spots at the end of half one and beginning of half two but that is understood and happens everywhere. Here in fantasy US world the standards are set higher than anywhere else in the world it seems. Reality very rarely shows it's head.

I think it's a general insecurity among fans combined with a lack of knowledge and comparisons/expectations that are pretty non sensical.

[Alex_M]

Check out this blog by Jimmy Conrad (US national Team player) This dude is funny as hell http://www.athletixnation.com/blogs/JimmyC/214. I think he will be blogging here regularly