WINSTON SALEM, N.C. — Kansas City played its second-to-last preseason match Saturday, earning a 0-0 draw with the Columbus Crew at Wake Forest University — the alma mater of starting Wizards forward Scott Sealy.
The game was an up and down affair until the end, seeing numerous quality scoring chances for each side. Both solid play from goalkeepers Kevin Hartman and Andy Gruenebaum and the inability of either side to finish led to the scoreless result.
Columbus generated more chances in the opening 45 minutes, with Hartman and the Kansas City defense stepping in numerous times to stop the attack at the last moment.
The Crew started quickly, causing defender Nick Garcia to step in and block a shot in the 3rd minute and missing an opportunity when midfielder Ned Grabavoy sent one over the bar in the 6th.
Kansas City got its first goal-scoring chance in the 9th minute when forward Yura Movsisyan got in behind the Columbus defense and played a cross in the direction of Midfielder Davy Arnaud that was collected by goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum.
Hartman made an outstanding play in the 29th when he came out 35 yards off his goal line to clear a Columbus through ball and avoid a breakaway opportunity. Crew midfielder Danny O'Rourke then hit a ball on the first touch wide of goal as Hartman was still out of position from his clearance.
Will John, starting in central midfield, narrowly missed putting Kansas City ahead 1-0 in the 33rd when he redirected an excellent Jack Jewsbury cross wide with his head.
The first half ended on a curious note when forward Yura Movsisyan appeared to have a breakaway opportunity only to have the whistle blown by the referee, signaling halftime.
Columbus had the first opportunity seconds into the second half, but Grabavoy's restart from just outside the area was saved by Hartman.
Kansas City took over from there, dominating possession for the next 20 minutes. Jewsbury had the first quality opportunity of the second half, driving a shot low and on goal in the 49th that was stopped with a nice play from Gruenebaum.
Two minutes later, Movsisyan almost put Kansas City ahead when he took a pass from strike partner Sealy and danced around the Columbus defense with a nifty first touch only to have the ball deflected and eventually stopped by a charging Gruenebaum.
The Wizards continued to make it tough for Columbus to play through the middle, with Garcia, rookie defender Aaron Hohlbein and stand-in captain Kerry Zavagnin playing solid in defensive roles.
Scoring opportunities were few and far between until the 88th minute when second-half substitute Ryan Raybould capitalized on a Columbus giveaway and cracked a ball from 25 yards out that forced a nice play from Gruenebaum.
A 90th minute corner kick was the Wizards last chance to score, but Columbus cleared the ball after a deflection and game ended in a scoreless draw.
Columbus Crew vs. Kansas City Wizards
March 31, 2006 — Wake Forest University, Spry Stadium
Columbus — Andy Gruenebaum, Marcos Gonzalez, Ezra Hendrickson, Rusty Pierce, Frankie Hejduk, Eddie Gaven (Robbie Rogers 74), Ned Grabavoy, Danny O'Rourke, Jacob Thomas (Joseph Ngwenya 46), Jason Garey, Andy Herron (Brad Evans 65)
Kansas City — Kevin Hartman, Jose Luis Burciaga Jr. (Ryan Raybould 70), Nick Garcia, Aaron Hohlbein, Jack Jewsbury, Michael Harrington, Kerry Zavagnin, Will John, Davy Arnaud, Yura Movsisyan (Kurt Morsink 68), Scott Sealy (Willy Guadarrama 82)
Misconduct Summary:
CLB — Ezra Hendrickson (caution, reckless foul) 27
KC — Davy Arnaud (caution, reckless foul) 34
CLB — Rusty Pierce (caution, professional foul) 67
