The Kansas City Wizards swept the U.S. U-17 national team in a two-game series on Tuesday to complete their Florida preseason training camp. In two games played simultaneously, split squads from each team faced off at the IMG Academies in Bradenton, K.C. recording 3-1 and 3-0 victories.
Team A, led by Wizards assistant coach Chris Henderson, got off to a quick start, taking the lead on a Jack Jewsbury goal just five minutes after kickoff. But the lead didn't last long as the U-17s were able to tie the match. In the 25th minute, the U-17s again found the net, though this time it was their own and Kansas City carried a 2-1 lead into the break thanks to the own goal. A Scott Sealy strike in the 73rd minute solidified the result.
Team B was also able to come out on top. They also used an early strike to gain an advantage, with Willy Guadarrama hitting the target after 10 minutes. One goal would have been enough, as Eric Kronberg and Chris Konopka combined for the shutout, but newcomer Mamadu Ba added tallies in the 30th and 60th minutes to kill the game.
The Wizards will now head back to Kansas City to continue their preparations.
Real Salt Lake and FC Dallas have each arrived at their international training camps without incident. RSL kicked out the cobwebs by hitting the field at Real Madrid City, that club's sparkling new training facility in the Spanish capital. John Ellinger's side will take on Rayo Vallecano on Thursday. FC Dallas also got the ball rolling in a faraway land, opening their training camp in Brazil at the home of their partner, Club Atletico Paranaense.
Jonathan Nierman is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
