The Kansas City Wizards swept a two-game series against the U.S. U-17 national team Tuesday as a split Wizards squad played two games simultaneously against a split U-17 squad.
Team "A," coached by Chris Henderson, won 3-1 on goals from Jack Jewsbury, Scott Sealy and a U-17 own goal. Team "B," coached by Kris Kelderman, pitched a 3-0 shutout behind strong goalkeeping from Eric Kronberg and Chris Konopka and two goals from Mamado Ba.
Henderson's side got off to a quick start as Jewsbury opened the scoring in the fifth minute with a free kick goal from just outside the penalty area. His right-footed shot found the back of the net for an early 1-0 lead.
The Wizards surrendered a goal in the 15th minute. Forward Yura Movsisyan was responsible for Kansas City regaining the lead, even if he could not get a touch to the ball. Movsisyan pressured the U-17 defense inside their penalty area, causing the ball to squirt free and into the net for a 2-1 Kansas City lead.
The pace picked up in the second half and the Wizards closed off the scoring in the 73rd minute on a Sealy goal. He received a pass from midfielder Will John with his back to the goal. Sealy turned and struck a ball that deflected off a U-17 defender and found its way inside the back post to put Kansas City up 3-1.
Kelderman's squad was involved in a more up-and-down affair, with Kansas City clearly demonstrating more skill and purpose with the ball, though possession was nearly even between the teams.
Team "B" started quickly as well when rookie forward Willy Guadarrama scored a 10th-minute goal on an assist by Ryan Raybould.
Midfielder Momadu Ba, a newcomer to camp with Kansas City, added a goal 30 minutes into the game off a feed from Lance Watson. The pace remained swift for the rest of the first half, although no goals were added by either side.
Ba concluded the scoring in the 60th minute when forward Michael Kraus set him up for his second goal of the match. Second-half substitute Konopka finished the shutout for starter Kronberg and the reserves held on for a 3-0 result.
1 2 F
KCW "A" 2 1 3
United States U-17s 1 0 1
Goals:
KC: Jewsbury (unassisted) - 5th minute
U-17: 15th minute
KC: U-17 own goal - 25th minute
KC: Sealy (John) - 73rd minute
KCW "A" (4-4-2)
Hartman, Jewsbury, Garcia (Wahl-46), Conrad, Burciaga, Jr. (Harrington-46), John, Morsink, Zavagnin (McMahen-46), Victorine, Sealy, Movsisyan
1 2 F
KCW "B" 2 1 3
United States U-17s 0 0 0
Goals:
KC: Guadarrama (Raybould) - 10th minute
KC: Ba (Watson) - 30th minute
KC: Ba (Kraus) - 60th minute
KCW "B" (4-4-2)
Kronberg (Konopka-46), Godbolt, Wahl (Garcia-46), Hohlbein, Thomas, Harrington (Tsiskaridze-46) Raybould, Ba, Watson, Guadarrama, Kraus
