Sat May 17 22:12:58 2008

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Borman's late blast earns 10-man N.Y. a draw with K.C.

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East Rutherford, NJ (Sports Network) - For 81 minutes it looked like Kansas City Wizards veteran goalkeeper Kevin Hartman would steal a Major League Soccer fixture from the New York Red Bulls on Saturday, but a late equalizer by rookie Danleigh Borman forced the teams to share points in a 1-1 draw at Giants Stadium.

The Red Bulls (3-2-2) outshot the Wizards 20-12, forcing Hartman to make several high quality saves in the game, but Borman's second goal in as many games was enough for the home side to overcome the ejection of midfielder Dave Van den Bergh while down a goal in the closing minutes.

Jimmy Conrad scored early in the first half for the Wizards (3-3-2) to give the visitors the early lead.

The game started slow, with the Wizards adjusting to the Giants Stadium turf. New York defender Kevin Goldthwaite got the game's first shot on goal in the ninth minute with a weak dribbler that was easily scooped up by Hartman.

Hartman was forced to make his first tough save on a hard blast by Van den Bergh about 10 minute later.

The Wizards got the game's first goal a couple minutes later off a corner kick when Conrad headed home a Carlos Marinelli laser for the veteran center back's third goal of the season. Conrad made a run to the near post and flicked the header past New York 'keeper Jon Conway after defender Jeff Parke, who was marking him, was screened off by Sacha Victorine.

New York almost got the equalizer about 10 minutes later when Dane Richards stole the ball on right wing and fired into the center of the field in the offensive third to forward Jozy Altidore. The 18-year-old U.S. international got control of the ball in the box and fired on goal with Hartman out of position after a scramble, but Jack Jewsbury cleared the shot off the line to keep the Red Bulls scoreless.

About 10 minutes after the break, Victorine headed another New York chance off the line after a corner kick a couple minutes before Hartman came up big again.

Juan Pablo Angel crossed a ball to Borman in the box, but Hartman robbed the rookie with a save in the 57th minute, minutes before turning aside an Angel point-blank blast.

New York looked like it had it's best chance to draw even in the 68th minute when Altidore drew a foul just outside the area, but Angel's shot was saved by Hartman before the rebound being headed over the goal by Red Bulls' rookie Luke Sassano.

Angel had yet another chance 18 minutes from time, but his flick header off a Goldthwaite throw in went inches wide of the far post and out of bounds.

The Red Bulls looked like they would suffer their first home loss of the season 10 minutes later when Van den Bergh was given a straight red card after elbowing Davy Arnaud in the face with the veteran hanging on his back. Arnaud also received a yellow on the play.

But playing a man down, Borman got the equalizer with just nine minutes to play after Altidore flicked ball to Angel in box. Angel then flicked to the left side to Borman, he took a touch and blasted a shot in near post past Hartman.

The Red Bulls will have a chance to build on the impressive comeback draw when they host Chicago at Giants Stadium on May 25 in their next league fixture while the Wizards, who were coming off a bye week, play at the Los Angeles Galaxy a day earlier.

GAME NOTES: New York defender Andrew Boyens got his first start at right back since being signed on May 6. The second-year defender was picked up on waivers after being let go by Toronto on April 14 ... New York coach Juan Carlos Osorio was ejected in the closing minutes of the game after an argument with fourth referee Lee Suckle over an apparent non-call.