Early goal too much for Wizards to overcome

COLUMBUS -- Playing the best team with the best home record in MLS was going to be a tough task for the Kansas City Wizards from the start.

Giving up an early goal to break the tie on aggregate after the first leg the previous week at home was downright impossible as the Wizards discovered Saturday at a chilly Crew Stadium.

Midfielder Brad Evans scored in the seventh minute and midfielder Robbie Rogers added a crushing blow in the 58th and the Columbus Crew downed Kansas City 2-0 to win their Eastern Conference Semifinal Series 3-1 on aggregate.

"It's always going to be an uphill battle," K.C. goalkeeper Kevin Hartman said. "We had a chance directly after that, maybe two yards out, maybe a sitter. Unfortunately, we were unable to put it away. When those things happen you wonder if it's going to be your day or not."

The Crew will face visiting Chicago Nov. 13 for the right to play in MLS Cup 2008. The Wizards have the offseason to ponder the turning point against the Crew.

While the goal by Evans officially will be the series winner, it was really the Game 1 goal in stoppage time by Crew rookie forward Steven Lenhart to tie the match at 1-1 that changed the entire complexion.

"It gave them a jump in their step coming back home," Wizards coach Curt Onalfo said.

Columbus took advantage early on in the second leg when midfielder Brian Carroll looped a ball past the Wizards backline that Evans ran onto. He then chipped the ball over a charging Hartman from just outside the top of the box.

"We were disappointed to give up the first goal," said Hartman. "I think we might have stepped the line when we should have been dropping. I tried to cover the space but he did a good job of steering it over me."

Kansas City settled down after the score and nearly got the tying marker in the 15th minute when midfielder Kevin Souter's service from the right side landed at the feet of forward Abe Thompson at the goalmouth. As Thompson struck the ball, goalkeeper William Hesmer went to his knees and grabbed it before nestling it to his chest.

The Wizards didn't have another shot until Jimmy Conrad laced a low drive from 20 yards that missed the left post by a yard in first half stoppage time.

"We continued to fight. We continued to battle," Hartman said.

With Kansas City looking for the equalizer, the Crew started a counterattack with Guillermo Barros Schelotto leading Alejandro Moreno down the right flank. Moreno slipped a rolling pass to the far post where Rogers banged in the insurance tally.

"On the second goal we tried to step the line again. I think Alejandro beat the offside trap," Hartman said. "They're a good team, no bones about it. We knew that coming in. We're also a good team. When you have a series like this it's always going to come down to one or two opportunities and tonight they had the better finishing.

"They got the result. It was one of those things where maybe if we were able to come in with a goal advantage that we coughed up at home," he continued. "You're always going to say what could have been at the end of the season but I have a ton of respect for the guys I played with this year. Even when we were down 2-0 we continued to fight. There weren't guys arguing with each other. It's a really class act and I'm proud to be part of the organization."

Columbus won the Supporters' Shield as the best team in the regular season and have now won seven consecutive games at home in league and cup play since tying the Wizards on July 17.

"They've been a very good time all year. They're all on the same page. I wish them well," Onalfo said. "We knew it would be a difficult challenge. We just fell short."

Onalfo noted that his team is getting better just as coach Sigi Schmid has steadily improved the Crew the past two years.

"We have a lot to be proud of. Our team finished two points better than it did last year with what, quite frankly, is a very, very young team; similar to what Sigi has been able to do here the last couple of years in playing a lot of young players and giving them experience," Onalfo said. "We've been able to do that as well. This is a step in our progression as a group. Obviously, it stings. It hurts. You never want to have your season over but we look forward to continuing to get better next season."

Hartman is also eyeing next year after the Wizards finished strong down the stretch with a 5-1-1 record to qualify for the playoffs on the last weekend.

"It took us awhile to figure out what works. Now that we've found guys that can continue to do that on a consistent basis, next year it will be a situation where we'll be able to accumulate more and more points," he said. "It won't be a feeling-out period like we went through this year."