Postgame Thoughts: TFC leaves Kansas with a Point.

By: Michael | July 2nd, 2007

In Summary:
Leading 1-0 at the half, pouring shot after shot toward the general direction of MLS-debut GK Sam Reynolds, and playing the final fifteen minutes with against a 10-man Toronto were not enough for the Wizards to take three points from their Arrowhead clash with TFC this weekend. Michael Harrington continued his solid rookie season with a goal in the first half, but it was a Dichio header at the open of the second half and the Wizard’s continuing issues with finishing that held us to only one point. How can we only put in one of TWENTY-FIVE shots!? That kind of play does not win games…

So Yura’s Back on the Hot Seat…
What was Yura thinking not taking the wide open shot he had available to him in the one-on-one against? I have been enjoying his strong play of late, but I you have to think a lack of experience is contributing to his poor MLS finishing. High school and a year of community college can’t prepare someone for the pressure of executing a must-score situation in front of 10,000 people. You have to think with more time Yura will start finishing the opportunities his raw talent (or Carlos Marinelli) get him into. Until then, however, consider this statistic from the MLS account of the game: the leading shot-taker for the Wizards was Yura, with seven. The leading shots-on-goal tally was two, put onto the net by Carlos. Failing to put more than one shot at the keeper means if he had mustered 100 shots on goal, he would have only put 14 on net, and given his rate of finishing shots on net, might not have scored a goal. In one hundred tries.

Let’s Take Some More Time from Our Day to Fret:
After starting the season 6-2-1 in our first nine, we now sit at 6-4-3. While only taking two points from four games isn’t season ending, it’s troubling… We were taking a fraction above 2 points per game, but now our average is down to 1.6 per game. While a half point doesn’t sound like a huge deal, in the East it’s the difference between first ranked New England (22 points, 1.7 per game) and second-from-the-cellar Chicago (15 points, 1.2 per game). While we stand in a good position still – knotted with RBNY at 21 points for fourth best in the MLS – continuing this performance would see us drop like a rock. Fortunately, EJo and Conrad will soon be back to us given the USMNT’s play in the Copa.

Prediction Time:
My prediction: KC 2 – 0 TFC
FIFA ‘03 prediction: KC 0 – 1 San Jose Earthquakes
Through 13 games, I’m up on FIFA ‘03 6-5-2, but I have to admit, I’m a bit perturbed at the realization that I do about as well as a 4-year-old computer randomization as far as being an MLS pundit goes.

The Final Word:
Things will be looking up for the Wiz, but for now, they’re looking decidedly down…