KANSAS CITY WIZARDS 1, CHICAGO FIRE 1
KANSAS CITY WIZARDS HEAD COACH BOB GANSLER
On the game:
"I thought it certainly was an exciting game for the fans and it just goes to show you that our game can be cruel. The better side did not win. We know we were the better side, they know we were the better side, but you've got to convert your chances, and we worked enough of them out and we showed dominance out there. Our thing is always, 'Hey, let's be in charge, let's be in charge.' I thought it was beyond that. I thought we were in charge plus. You know, they battled, Zach Thornton came up big, no pun intended and I'm sure they are very happy with a point and we're saying there was more there for us and we left it on the table. I can't flog my guys; the effort was there and that little centimeter here was necessary to get it around Zach or to skid off the post and go in. Sasha [Victorine] had that one in the first half, so we will take it. That is the way it is."
KANSAS CITY WIZARDS DEFENDER JIMMY CONRAD
On playing in front of the home crowd for the last time before the World Cup:
"It was a nice experience; it was a great night. The crowd was really into it. We got a lot of chances tonight; it was just unfortunate we couldn't put more in the back of the net. I think we could have won 5-1 tonight. That is just the way it goes. I thought we had a lot of good sport tonight and it was fun to get honored by the fans get some recognition before I leave for the World Cup. It was nice. It would have been nice to leave with three points before we take off, but you know the boys will be all right. We've got some good players that are ready to play and I am excited to see how they do in our absence."
CHICAGO FIRE HEAD COACH DAVE SARACHAN
On getting a point on the road:
"Considering we didn't have our best soccer night compared to the weeks prior, we had a few stretches earlier in the game where we were pretty good and compact and we scored a good goal. On the night, you would say that we were fortunate to come away with a point but sometimes games will go that way, but we will take it and move on."
On the play of Zach Thornton:
"Zach was very good tonight, very sharp. He was a one-man wall for us and saved us on a number of occasions tonight. For me he was our man of the match."
On the Fire's lack of possession:
"That was the problem and I can't tell you why it was the problem. I think clearly that Kansas City being at home put more pressure on us but I think that our ability to pass and to pass out of pressure and keep the ball was a challenge for us tonight and you credit their pressure a little bit, but clearly tonight wasn't an easy night for us in that department."
CHICAGO FIRE GOALKEEPER ZACH THORNTON
On stopping the penalty kick:
"The staff just tipped me off and I trust the staff, so I went to my left. My goalkeeper coach Daryl Shore told me to go to my left, so I dove to my left."
On his play:
"It feels nice sometimes, but sometimes when you are not clicking as a team and putting passes together you hope that your goalkeeper can make some saves for you. Those guys have bailed me out so many times so I was happy to bail them out tonight."
