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Movsisyan's late goal powers Wizards to thrilling win

Jul 30, 2007 - 1:59 AM KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Ticker) -- Yura Movsisyan converted a blast from just inside the left penalty box area in the 89th minute to give the Kansas City Wizards a 3-2 victory over Chivas on Sunday.

Movsisyan's score was his fifth of the season and broke a 2-2 deadlock that had existed since Chivas' John Cunliffe scored in the 55th minute. The late goal allowed the Wizards to cap a 2-0-1 homestand.

"I saw two guys in front of me, so I wasn't going down to the end line," Movsisyan said. "I tried to come back and put the ball on goal, on target. I got a lucky deflection and it went in."

"Give Yura a lot of credit," Wizards coach Curt Onalfo said. "We've asked him to come in and be dangerous off the bench and he's done it consistently."

Chivas opened the scoring in the 17th minute as defender Jonathan Bornstein took a pass from Ante Razov and beat Kansas City goalkeeper Kevin Hartman with a left-footed shot from 16 yards out for his first MLS goal.

Chivas thwarted two Kansas City opportunities at the equalizing goal within three minutes. Goalkeeper Brad Guzan made a diving save on a right-footed shot by the Wizards' Carlos Marinelli in the 20th minute, then stopped a penalty kick by Marinelli in the 23rd minute after the Kansas City star was tripped in the penalty area.

"I thought my group played really good tonight," Chivas coach Preki said. "We fought for 90-plus minutes. It was one of those games where we didn't get any breaks. But, we had a chance to win this game. In a lot of ways, I thought we were the better team. We controlled the ball better than them, we had better chances. This is a cruel game sometimes."

After three excellent chances - all stopped by Guzan - the Wizards gained the equalizing goal in the 38th minute to tie the game at 1-1. Midfielder Kerry Zavagnin took a pass from Sasha Victorine, dribbled to his left and blasted a left-footed shot from 30 yards just inside the far post. It was his third goal of the season and first in seven matches.

"The coaches have been encouraging us - especially since Chivas is so compact defensively - to take long shots," Zavagnin said. "Tonight was a perfect example of what can happen when you do that. It came at a great time and helped us win the game."

Eddie Johnson, who leads the MLS in scoring, was held scoreless in the match, ending a four-game scoring streak. Kansas City won for just the second time this season in a match that Johnson did not find the back of the net.