KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Sunday, May 29, 2005) - After surrendering a two-goal lead and falling behind in the second half, the Kansas City Wizards Reserves battled back to tie the San Jose Earthquakes Reserves 3-3 at Arrowhead Stadium Sunday morning.
Wizards defender Brian Roberts scored the tying goal in the 89th minute, erasing the 'Quakes lead they built in the second half courtesy of two Chris Wondolowski goals. Wizards forward Ryan Pore also scored twice in the match.
Both sides came out eagerly seeking the game's first goal as the fast-paced action saw each team move quickly from end to end and create chances early on. The Wizards pressure paid off first as Ryan Pore scored in the 19th minute. Defender Daniel Dobson sent a curling ball into the box from the left side that Pore was able to rise up to and redirect a header inside the near post past 'Quakes goalkeeper Jon Conway.
Pore doubled Kansas City's lead with his second goal of the game in the 36th minute after a well-timed give and go with Pat McGinnis. Pore fed McGinnis on the left, then broke towards the box. McGinnis tapped the ball ahead to Pore as he broke free from his defender. Pore then took one touch inside the box and slipped a ball to the left of a diving Jon Conway.
San Jose got within a goal just before the break when Wizards defender Daniel Dobson took down Roger Levesque just outside the top of the box on the right side. Kevin Goldthwaite stepped up to take a left-footed freekick and sent a curling shot over the Wizards wall that nestled under the far upper corner of the crossbar, out of the reach of Wizards 'keeper Martin Hutton.
San Jose drew even, then took the lead early in the second half when halftime substitute Chris Wondolowski scored twice in nine minutes. His first came in the 59th minute as midfielder Ian Russell sent a seemingly harmless ball into the box from the left, but Wondolowski charged in unmarked from the right and pounced on the ball directing it inside the near post.
His second goal came in the 68th minute after he intercepted an errant pass from Wizards midfielder Jack Jewsbury just outside the top of the box. Wondolowski then unloaded a low-lining shot that took an awkward bounce just in front of Martin Hutton as he stretched out for the save, skipping over Hutton's gloves before settling in the back of the goal and giving San Jose the lead.
The Wizards urgency increased in the closing minutes and they searched for the equalizer. Khari Stephenson had two chances in front of goal, but Conway was able to stiff them out. San Jose was content to defend their lead for the final minutes, staying back with numbers behind the ball.
Kansas City's constant pressure would payoff once again in the final minute of the game. Preki moved the ball towards the right corner, drawing two defenders, but managed to shake them off with his trademark cutback move. The move created enough space allowing him to slip a ball to an unmarked Brian Roberts outside the top of the box. Roberts hammered a left-footed, one-time shot from 25 yards out that found its way past the goalkeeper before grazing the inside of the far left post.
Scoring Summary:
KC- Ryan Pore (Daniel Dobson) 19'
KC- Ryan Pore (Pat McGinnis) 36'
SJ- Kevin Goldthwaite (Unassisted) 42'
SJ- Chris Wondolowski (Ian Russell) 59'
SJ- Chris Wondolowski (Unassisted) 68'
KC- Brian Roberts (Preki) 89'
Kansas City Wizards Reserves: Martin Hutton-GK; John Minagawa-Webster, Brian Roberts, Dustin Branan, Daniel Dobson; Preki, Ryan Raybould, Khari Stephenson, Pat McGinnis; Justin Detter (Jack Jewsbury-62'), Ryan Pore (Adam Allee-76')
San Jose Earthquakes Reserves: Jon Conway-GK; Wes Hart, Ryan Cochran, Brett Rodriguez, Kevin Goldthwaite; Ian Russell (Orlando Ramirez-60'), Tighe Dombrowski, Danny O'Rourke, James Twellman (Chris Wondolowski-46'); Julian Nash, Roger Levesque
Misconduct Summary:
SJ- Russell (Professional Foul) 44'
SJ- Wes Hart (Reckless Foul) 47'
Referee: Hilario Grajeda
Referee's Assistants: Brad Clem, Andrew Fletcher
4th Official: Phil Thies
Attendance: Closed to the public; Weather: Sunny, 80 degrees
