The Kansas City Wizards played their first preseason exhibition game of 2007, looking to evaluate their players and to get into game shape. New York, who beat the U-17 National Team 4-0 on Saturday, ran what appeared to be their starting lineup out on the field to start the game. The Wizards countered with a balance of veterans, reserve players, and rookies. Kansas City was also without eight key players due to injury or travel, which gave younger players more time on the field.
New York controlled the pace and ball possession early, as Wizards goalkeeper Kevin Hartman was forced to make a couple of saves on Claudio Reyna shots, and parry a dangerous cross away all within the first 10 minutes. Kansas City 3rd round SuperDraft pick Edson Elcock provided the first offensive opportunity with a shot over the crossbar in the 15th minute. One minute later, however, Marvel Wynne found himself open down the right flank and served a ball on the ground to Dave van den Bergh who had time to take a touch and score from nine yards out. Kansas City almost evened the score in the 34th minute when Elcock sent a long throw in to midfielder Sasha Victorine, who flicked a one-timer toward goal, which was saved at point blank range.
The pace slowed a bit in the second half, but Kansas City came out with urgency, pressing the issue. Two minutes in, Wizards rookie forward Willy Guadarrama poked a through ball to Sergei Raad who shot from 12 yards out, which was saved by Red Bulls keeper Nick Rimando. In the 50th minute, Jose Burciaga struck a left-footed rocket from 25 yards out which sailed inches wide. After continuing to put on pressure, KC's hard work paid off in the 64th minute, when Guadarrama made a long run with the ball and was taken down in the box for a penalty kick. Jack Jewsbury buried the PK into the lower right corner evening the score at 1-1.
Less than one minute later, however, New York regained the lead when left midfielder Dane Richards chipped a shot from the corner of the 18-yard box over oncoming goalkeeper Eric Kronberg. Kansas City again tried to counter as Guadarrama and Burciaga both had good looks at goal, but were denied in the 56th and 60th minutes respectively. The Red Bulls got an insurance penalty kick goal in the 71st minute to make the score 3-1. The last 10 minutes saw Kansas City with four scoring chances, one being a Lance Watson shot that was cleared off the goal line by a New York defender, but time ran out ending the game.
The Wizards have four more exhibition games in Florida, the next being versus the Columbus Crew on Friday at 4pm (ET).
1 2 F
Kansas City Wizards 0 1 1
New York Red Bulls 1 2 3
Goals:
NY: van den Bergh - 16th (Wynne)
KC: Jewsbury (PK) - 53rd
NY: Richards - 54th
NY: Kuykendall (PK) - 71st
Unofficial Stats:
KC NY
Shots 7 8
Saves 3 4
Corner Kicks 2 3
Date: Tuesday, February 13, 2007, 10am (ET)
Weather: 68 and sunny to start the game, 62 and rainy at the end
Place: IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida
KCW:
1st half) Hartman, Godbolt, Holbein, Garcia, Elcock, Morsink, Zavagnin (Jewsbury - 36), Victorine, Tsiskaridze, Pore, Anderson
2md half) Kronberg (Pardo-68), Raybould, Wahl, Burciaga, Kraus, McMahen, Jewsbury, Raad, Watson, Guadarrama, Todd
OUT: Arnaud (Ankle), Conrad (Travel), Harrington (U-23), E. Johnson (Travel), W. John (U-23), Movsisyan (Ankle), Sealy (Travel), Thomas (Travel)
QUOTES:
"We saw some good things today and we saw some things we need to work on, which is the purpose of playing exhibition games. We have a lot of tactical work to do, but all the guys are willing to put in the work."
- Head Coach Curt Onalfo
