The Kansas City Wizards reserves started fast and collected a 4-2 victory over the FC Dallas Reserves Sunday at Sprint World Headquarters in Overland Park thanks, in part, to huge games from forward Ryan Pore and midfielder-turned defender Michael Kraus.
Kraus, playing out of position at left back, notched a goal and two assists. Pore contributed two goals. He leads the Wizards reserves with three on the year.
Kraus began the Wizards first scoring play in the third minute when his pass into space allowed midfielder Edson Elcock to get free in the penalty area. Elcock held the ball up and then laid it off for Pore who unleashed a one-time shot with his right foot from 12 yards out inside the far post. Goalkeeper Ray Burse could not move as the well-struck ball found the back of the net.
Kraus continued pushing forward just two minutes later, collecting a ball in the defensive half of the field and pushing up the left flank more than 35 yards. Dallas never closed him down and he lined up a right-footed shot form 23 yards out. Kraus bent the ball with pace just under the bar at the back post to give the Wizards a two-goal lead.
In the 50th minute, midfielder Will John played provider. John dribbled into the area then slid the ball across for Pore 10 yards from goal. Pore collected the ball and took a touch into space before sliding a shot inside the far post past the helpless Burse.
FC Dallas came out strong in the second half, using a pair of goals within the first 10 minutes of the frame to draw within one. Forward Dominic Oduro stole the ball in the penalty area and worked in behind the Wizards defense, slotting home past helpless goalkeeper Chris Konopka who came on for starter Eric Kronberg after the break.
Two minutes later, forward Carlos Ruiz won a free kick 20 yards from goal after a battle with center back Tyson Wahl. Ruiz, one of the most dangerous free-kick strikers in MLS, stood over the ball and buried it inside the far post to bring the Hoops within one.
Kansas City sealed the victory, however, in the 77th minute on another great run from Kraus out of the back. Kraus won the end line with pace and played the ball along the ground to midfielder Lance Watson who was finishing up a 35-yard run through the midfield. Burse could not reach the ball and Watson got a foot to it, deflecting it up and over the FCD goalkeeper and into the net, clinching a 4-2 result for the Wizards reserves.
The Kansas City Wizards Reserves next play Sunday, May 27, at 10 a.m. away to the New England Revolution Reserves. Kansas City improved to 1-1-1 in 2007 reserve division play.
Scoring Summary:
KC-Pore 2 (Elcock 1, Kraus 1) 3
KC-Kraus (unassisted) 5
KC-Pore 3 (John 1) 40
FCD-Oduro 1 (unassisted) 50
FCD-Ruiz 1 (unassisted) 52
KC-Watson 1 (Kraus 2) 77
KCW Reserves Line-Up: Kronberg (Konopka 46), Raybould, Lowery, Wahl, Kraus, Watson, Morsink, John, Elcock (Godbolt 66), Pore, Guadarrama
Substitutes not used: Nekuda, Pardo
FCD Reserves Line-Up: Burse, Rhine, Pitchkolan, Wagner, Wagenfuhr, Wallace, S. Gbandi (Potter 83), Jones (Wileman 58), Alvarez, Oduro, Ruiz
Substitutes not used: Hislop (GK), Alvarado
Misconduct:
FCD - Wallace (caution, Delaying a Restart) 8
FCD - Oduro (caution, Unsporting Behavior) 24
Referee: Cory Kramer
Referee's Assistants: Luiz Ortiz, Jordan Shaw
Fourth Official: Brad Klemm
