PASADENA, Calif. (AP) -- Chris Klein's goal in the 29th minute gave the Kansas City Wizards a 1-1 tie with the Los Angeles Galaxy on Saturday night.
The tie kept the Western Division-leading Wizards (13-6-6) four points ahead of the Galaxy (11-7-8). Kansas City has seven matches remaining, Los Angeles six.
The Galaxy opened the scoring in the third minute when Sebastien Vorbe outjumped Kansas City defender Nick Garcia and headed in Cobi Jones' crossing shot for his third goal of the season.
The Wizards evened the score thanks to miscommunication by the Galaxy on a clearing pass by Preki.
Paul Caliguri mishandled the errant pass and the ball went to goalkeeper Matt Reis, who's clearing attempt went right to Klein. He then deposited the ball into a wide-open net.
Kansas City was forced to play shorthanded the final 59 minutes
of the game when midfielder Matt McKeon was ejected for tackling
Mauricio Cienfuegos from behind.
The Galaxy had four credible scoring chances in the second half,
but Robin Fraser's headers in the 53rd and 56th minutes sailed wide
right and over the net and Kansas City goalkeeper Tony Meola made a
save another header by Fraser in the 87th minute.
Cienfuegos' apparent goal in the 77th was nullified when he was
ruled to be offside.
Playing defensively to preserve the tie, the Wizards took just
one shot in the second half, Mo Johnston's 83rd-minute effort that
went high.
The Galaxy led 19-6 in overall shots and 7-3 in shots on goal. Meola made five saves and Reis two.
Los Angeles played without forward Luis Hernandez, who was training with Mexico's national team for a World Cup 2002 qualifier Tuesday against Canada, and starting goalkeeper Kevin Hartman, who is recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery.