Peter Kenyon, Chief Executive of Chelsea FC, booked another ticket for Tuesday's plane ride to the United States after Shaun Wright-Phillips committed to a five-year contract with the club Monday.
Wright-Phillips will be available to play against AC Milan in Boston next Sunday during the 2005 World Series of Football. Playing both the forward and outside midfield positions for his previous team, Manchester City, Wright-Phillips is considered a definite threat for any opponent. He has four caps for England and scored his first international goal in the team's August 2004 matchup against Ukraine.
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho told soccernet.com, "He is one of the best players in England. He has the qualities that everybody is looking for in modern football - he's quick, he's intelligent, he's creative."
D.C. United will face Chelsea FC in the Clash of Champions July 28 at 8 p.m. at FedEx Field.
Click here to get your tickets NOW!
Reserve team back in action
After a long break from competition, the United Reserves will take on the Kansas City Wizards Reserves on Thursday morning. Following a 4-1 win over the Columbus Crew Reserves on July 3, the Black-and-Red are in sole possession of first place in the single-table division. The team has amassed an impressive record of 5-2 (15 pts.) and currently sits one point ahead of San Jose, who has a record of 4-2-2 (14 pts.).
Trialists join United Reserves for Thursday
When the United Reserves take the field on Thursday in K.C., two non-rostered players will be a part of the team: Ryan Futagaki and Allen Handy.
Futagaki was most recently with the Chicago Storm of the Major Indoor Soccer League. He also saw time in MLS with the Chicago Fire in 2003, when he appeared in six games (two starts) and registered an assist during 218 minutes of play. A UCLA standout, Futagaki was a finalist for the 2002 M.A.C. Hermann Trophy as senior and was a First-Team All-Pac-10 selection in 2001.
Allen Handy joins the Black-and-Red after a stellar career at Florida International University, where he was a teammate of central defender Bobby Boswell. In four years with the Golden Panthers, Handy started 74 of the 76 games he saw time in and scored nine goals and added eight assists.
