Kansas City, the only MLS club not beginning its regular season schedule Saturday, took care of business in its last preseason match, beating the Seattle Sounders of the USL first division 3-2 at the Blue Valley District Activities complex.
Though the temperature was a chilly 38 at kickoff, the Wizards started off hot, dominating possession and forcing Seattle to play out of rhythm throughout the first half. The Sounders continually played long balls over the top, with Kansas City's solid backline maintaining control of the game.
Midfielder Sasha Victorine gave the Sounders defense fits early, making several runs well-timed into the penalty area in the game's first quarter hour and causing Seattle to scramble to keep the game level.
National team forward Eddie Johnson got Kansas City on the board in the 18th minute after a well-timed pass from midfielder Davy Arnaud. The Sounders attempted an offside trap, but Arnaud played the ball at exactly the right moment, allowing Johnson to split the defense and slot the ball past a helpless goalkeeper Chris Eylander after a one on one to put Kansas City ahead 1-0.
Arnaud again found a Wizards national team member in the 36th, when his restart from 40 yards out found the head of defender Jimmy Conrad at the penalty spot. Conrad flicked the ball into the empty goal as Eylander had charged and unsuccessfully attempted to punch the ball clear.
Kansas City kept up the attack, scoring again and going up 3-0 eight minutes later after great combination play from strikers Johnson and Scott Sealy. Johnson slipped a pass in between the Seattle central defenders just outside the area, putting Sealy alone in space. Sealy dribbled around Eylander and placed the ball into the open net to give Kansas City a lead it would not relinquish.
Seattle picked up its level of play considerably in the second half, retaining more possession and keeping the ball on the floor more often.
The Sounders nearly opened second-half scoring in the 51st minute when Kansas City goalkeeper Kevin Hartman made a great save. Seattle forward Sebastion LeToux found himself behind the Wizards defense at the penalty spot, taking a pass and putting a one-time shot on goal. Hartman was up to the task, however, parrying the point-blank shot up and over the bar.
A Davy Arnaud run almost resulted in a fourth Wizards goal in the 72nd minute after he was pulled down in the area. Sealy stepped up to the penalty spot, but his right-footed effort was denied by a diving Eylander.
Seattle appeared energized by the play, scoring twice in the next seven minutes. The Sounders cracked the score sheet in the 75th off a well-taken corner kick from Leighton O'Brien. Defender Jake Besagno slipped behind his marker just outside the six-yard area and dove to head the ball on goal. Hartman got his hand to the shot, but could not keep it from rolling across the goal line.
O'Brien collected his second assist in the 79th when his through ball eluded the Kansas City defense and was slammed home inside the near post by second-half substitute Nathan Knox.
Kansas City, who finished preseason with a 6-4-4 record, is set to begin MLS play next Saturday, April 14th at D.C. United. United come into the match 0-1-0 after losing 2-1 at the Colorado Rapids Saturday in the first-ever game at Dick's Sporting Goods Park.
The game kicks off at 6:30 CT at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. and will air live on Fox Soccer Channel and Fox Sports en Espanol.
Kansas City opens the season with two consecutive away MLS matches before starting off the home schedule Wednesday, April 25 against expansion side Toronto FC in the GET CLOSE Home Opener.
Scoring Summary:
KC--Eddie Johnson (Davy Arnaud) 18
KC--Jimmy Conrad (Davy Arnaud) 36
KC--Scott Sealy9 (Eddie Johsnson) 44
SEA-Besagno (O'Brien) 75
SEA-Knox (O'Brien) 79
Kansas City Wizards Line-Up: Hartman, Jewsbury, Hohlbein (John 30), Conrad, Burciaga, Jr.(Lowery 46), Arnaud, Zavagnin, Victorine (Morsink 70), Harrington, Johnson, Sealy
Substitutes: Movsisyan, Pore, John, Morsink, Raybould, Garcia, Kronberg
Seattle Sounders Line-Up: Eyelander, Merl, Jackson, Besagno, West, Cuellar (Staadt 64), Sakuda, O'Brien, Rivera (Boyden 64), LeToux, Schmid (Tomlinson 84)
Substitutes: Dravagon, Morris, Rigby, Staadt, Knox, Boyden, Tomlinson
Misconduct:
SEA - O'Brien (caution, reckless foul) 45
KC - Morsink (caution, reckless foul) 90
SEA - O'Brien (caution, dissent) 90
KC SEA
Shots 10 6
Shots on Goal 9 5
Saves 3 6
Corner Kicks 2 5
Weather: 38 degrees and windy (30 degree wind chill)
Attendance: 890
Wizards Player/Coach Quotes:
Wizards Forward Eddie Johnson: "I think we played fairly well today. We took our chances early, which is something we talked about doing all preseason; being dangerous and taking advantage of opportunities. I think we did that well. Kevin (Hartman) was sharp in the goal, and the back was solid as well. It took us awhile to get in the rhythm, but we played aggressive and created scoring opportunities."
Wizards Goalkeeper Kevin Hartman: "The cold weather conditions were not the most conducive for soccer, but I think our team did a good job of jumping to a 3-0 lead. Because we had the lead, it was more of a mental exercise and in the second half, I was a bit disappointed that we gave up the second goal so quickly. But to Seattle's credit, it couldn't have been an easy trip for them to travel here, and they played well. Now, we're just looking forward to our season opener in D.C., and beginning the 2007 regular season."
Wizards Head Coach Curt Onalfo: "I think we did a lot of good things offensively. For the most part, we played solid soccer and I was pleased with the scoring opportunities we created. We focused on keeping the ball and moving it and I think we were solid in that area throughout portions of the game. Overall, it was a great opportunity for us to prepare for the season and the most important thing was we walked away with a win and confidence heading into our opener."
Wizards Game Notes
In the second game of the doubleheader, the Wizards reserves scored two unanswered goals to tie the University of Evansville 2-2. Midfielder Ryan Raybould, assisted by Ryan Pore, and forward Willy Guadaramma scored goals for the reserves. The Wizards nearly won the game in the final minutes after a flurry of point blank shots, but Evansville goalkeeper Cory Southers made many acrobatic saves to preserve the draw.
KC UE
Shots 14 4
Shots on Goal 14 2
Saves 0 12
Corner Kicks 9 2
Off-side 2 6
Overall in preseason, the Wizards finished with a 6-4-5 record, including trips to Florida and Argentina.
