The Kansas City Wizards played two scrimmages against first division Argentinean side San Lorenzo Tuesday, with the reserves tying the first match 2-2 and the senior squad falling 2-1 in the second game.
The reserves began their early-morning game at 9:30 a.m., featuring the same lineup of players who started against Defensa & Justicia on Saturday. Both matches consisted of two 35-minute halves. San Lorenzo scored in the 11th minute, but the reserves answered when Ryan Pore, assisted by Will John, scored four minutes later. The first half ended with a score of 1-1.
In the second half, Lance Watson scored on a through ball from Willy Guadarrama in the 41st minute. The reserves played well and held their own against the first division team, but San Lorenzo managed to score in the last minute and the game ended in a 2-2 draw.
"One of the main reasons we came down to Argentina was to play against very good competition," Wizards head coach Curt Onalfo said. "Today was a perfect example of that, as we played two competitive games against a team that is in first place in the Argentinean first division. Our reserves outplayed the other team in many stretches of the game, and this competition will only make us better."
Next, the Kansas City Wizards senior squad faced off against San Lorenzo's veteran team in San Lorenzo's indoor stadium. Once again, the Argentinean side scored early, this time in the eighth minute, and the Wizards were unable to catch up throughout the slow-paced first half, which ended 1-0.
In the second half, San Lorenzo scored their second goal at the 50-minute mark and Wizards' forward Eddie Johnson missed a penalty kick with 10 minutes left. However, Scott Sealy scored in the 60th minute, when he stole the ball off the goalkeeper's foot and found the net. The game ended with a 2-1 victory for San Lorenzo.
"This was great experience for us to go up against a great team that is in the middle of the season and has already found its rhythm," Onalfo said. "Right now, we are a new team trying to find our rhythm. While we spent the first half trying to adjust, I was very happy with how we responded in our second half performance. Overall, it was a good game for us."
1 2 F
Wizards Reserves 1 1 2
San Lorenzo 1 1 2
1 2 F
Kansas City Wizards 0 1 1
San Lorenzo 1 1 2
Scoring Summary:
Reserves:
Pore (John, 16th minute)
Watson (Guadarrama, 41st minute)
Kansas City Wizards:
Sealy (60th minute)
Reserves
Lineup for first half: Pore, Guadarrama, Elcock, John, Raybould, Kraus, Watson, Thomas, Hohlbein, Godbolt, Konopka
Lineup for second half: Pore, Guadarrama, Kraus, Nuñez, Nekuda, John, Tsiskaridze, Thomas, Hohlbein, Godbolt, Konopka
Kansas City Wizards
Lineup for first half: Johnson, Sealy, Harrington, Morsink, Zavagnin, Arnaud, Burciaga Jr., Garcia, Conrad, Jewsbury, Kronberg
Lineup for second half: Johnson, Sealy, Harrington, Morsink, Zavagnin, Raybould, Burciaga Jr., Garcia, Conrad, Jewsbury, Kronberg
Weather: Hot, clear skies
