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Angel's two goals lead Red Bulls past Wizards

Oct 14, 2007 - 4:02 AM EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) -- Juan Pablo Angel scored twice as the New York Red Bulls posted a 2-1 victory over the Kansas City Wizards on Saturday.

New York (12-11-6), which has already qualified for the MLS playoffs, came into this contest without a win in its last five games.

The Red Bulls, playing in their last regular-season home game, had gone 0-2-3 in their previous games. Angel struck first in the 19th minute when he beat Wizards goalkeeper Kevin Hartman on a penalty kick to give the Red Bulls an early 1-0 lead. The Columbian is a perfect 5-for-5 on penalty kicks this year.

The penalty kick was awarded when Wizards defender Jose Burciaga Jr. put his hand on the ball in the penalty area on a crossing pass.

Kansas City knotted the score two minutes later when Jack Jewsbury, after taking a 26-yard free kick from teammate Davy Arnaud, outjumped several Red Bulls players to put a header past the outstretched arms of goalkeeper Jon Conway.

"I'm very disappointed in the way we gave up the game-tying goal after taking a early lead," Red Bulls coach Bruce Arena said. "We have to do a better job of securing leads when we have one."

Angel connected again in the 24th minute when Burciaga made another mistake by losing the ball near his own goal area. Red Bulls midfielder Dane Richards took advantage of the loose ball, sending a pass to a running Angel, who buried a hard liner under the arms of Hartman into the net.

"It was very important to get a victory today," Angel said. "This game was important to win and to get ready for the playoffs."

The Wizards had several opportunities to tie the game, the first try came in the 53rd minute on a penalty kick, in which Conway stopped Eddie Johnson.

"I read a little of Johnson in which way he was going to kick the ball and I made a great stop," Conway said. "This is the first penalty kick save I've made in a Red Bulls uniform."

In the 75th minute, the Wizards had another shot to tie, but New York defender Dave Van den Berg saved the day for his team. Van den Berg kicked a loose ball out from in front of the Red Bulls net after Conway fell down on a crossing pass and was out of position to make a save.

Overall, Conway stopped six shot attempts for New York, which finished its 2007 homestand with a 9-3-3 record and will face Eastern Conference rival New England Revolution in the first round of the MLS Cup Playoffs. The Red Bulls will hosting the first game at Giants Stadium on October 27.

Hartman made seven saves for the Wizards (10-12-7), who are still fighting for one of the last two playoff spots.

The Red Bulls finished their 2007 homestand with a 9-3-3 record and will face Eastern Conference rival New England Revolution in first round of the MLS Cup playoffs, hosting the first game at Giants Stadium on October 27.