The Kansas City Wizards Reserve squad catapulted off the first team's dramatic 3-2 victory Saturday night versus the Columbus Crew to capture their second-straight victory and first shutout of the reserve campaign in a 2-0 victory Sunday morning at Swope Park in Kansas City. Ryan Pore provided both goals to push his reserve-team high to six and Eric Kronberg went the full 90 minutes for his first shutout of the season.
Columbus created the first chance of the game in the 8th minute through forward Kei Kamara. Kamara collected a ball near the center circle and carried past two defenders, firing on goal from 22 yards out. Kronberg was up to the task, however, and dove to collect the shot cleanly.
The Wizards opened the scoring in the 15th minute after a long run of possession up the right flank. A deflected pass found its way to midfielder Lance Watson in the middle of the park, and he immediately fed Pore who was open in space at the top of the 18-yard area. Pore turned and took one touch before burying a well-struck, right-footed shot just inside the back post past outstretched goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum, an Overland Park, Kansas native.
Kronberg again came up big in the 34th minute after a Gruenebaum punt found forward Andy Herron in space near the right side of the penalty area. Herron carried the ball, shooting from 18 yards out and forcing another diving save from Kronberg to keep the Wizards up 1-0 at the half.
Columbus tested the Wizards again in the 56th minute after a corner kick. Defender Ryan Junge eluded his defender and headed the ball diagonally toward the back post, but a Wizards player cleared the ball off the line to keep the Crew off the scoresheet.
Kansas City got the game-clinching goal in the 72nd minute after another long string off possession and incisive passing in the offensive third. Midfielder Will John played ahead from the center circle to cutting midfielder Edson Elcock 30 yards from goal. Elcock pushed the ball diagonally through the Crew defense for a streaking Pore who was then free to goal. Kansas City's all-time reserve scorer made no mistake, slotting the ball past Gruenebaum from inside the penalty area for the game's final goal.
The Kansas City Wizards Reserves are now 5-4-1 and next play Sunday, September 23 at Chivas USA. The Columbus Crew Reserves are now 3-4-2 and next play at home against the LA Galaxy Reserves Sunday, September 30 in a doubleheader with the first team.
CLB Reserves Line-Up: Gruenebaum, Peterson, Zayner, Junge, Pacheco, Virtuoso, Kamara, Miglioranzi, Blackburn, Herron (Palomares 60), Rogers
Substitutes not used: Guadette (GK), Lewis, Rudd, Hunter
KCW Reserves Line-Up: Kronberg, Raybould, Hohlbein, Wahl, Kraus, Elcock, Watson, John, Colombano, Pore, Guadarrama (Nekuda 77)
Substitutes not used: Konopka, Morsink, Victorine
Misconduct:
CLB- Herron (Caution; Reckless Tackle) 27'
KC- Wahl (Caution; Reckless Tackle) 85'
Referee: Brad Clem
Referee's Assistants: George Major, Younasse Tarbouni
4th Official: Jordan Shaw
