Wizards reserves fall to Fire reserves
June 19, 2005 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release
CHICAGO, IL - The Kansas City Wizards Reserves (0-3-3, 3 pts.) fell to the Chicago Fire Reserves (3-2-2, 11 pts.) 2-0 Saturday night at the Lemont High School Soccer Complex, in Lemont, IL. Two Fire penalty kicks, one in each half, proved too much for the Wizards reserves to overcome and left them still searching for their first win in Reserve Division play.
Both teams would struggle in the final third of play early on, as it seemed both were content to use long-ball, over-the-top tactics to break through their opponent's defense. Staunch defensive work also kept each other's forwards at bay, forcing their opponent to strike primarily from long distance, as Wizards forward Khari Stephenson did in the second minute of play when his 18-yard shot deflected off the left post.
The deadlock would be broken in the 13th minute as Fire forward Hemir Niebles made a strong dribbling move into the box, but was fouled by Wizards defender Dustin Branan, promting the referee to award a penalty kick. Fire forward Andy Herron stepped up to take the ensuing penalty kick and froze William Hesmer with a shot to his left inside the post.
In the 21st minute, Wizards midfielder Alex Zotinca played a quick pass into the box for forward Ryan Pore, who laid a soft pass backwards for his striker partner, Scott Sealy. Sealy's shot from 10 yards out was easily collected. One minute later, a Fire freekick from 23 yards out was struck hard by Fire defender Samuel Caballero. His rocket veered high and left, no problem for Wizards keeper William Hesmer.
The second half would start out similarly to the first, with both sides deadlocked in terms of possession and neither team creating many serious chances on goal. That would change ten minutes into the half, as each team began pressuring for a goal. In the 55th minute Wizards defender Brian Roberts would try his luck from 30 yards out, missing just outside the left post.
Despite pressuring more and more in the Fire Reserves' half of field between the 60 and 75 minute mark, the Wizards conceded another goal. Fire midfielder Jared Montz sent a long through ball to Hemir Niebles in the 69th minute, who was taken down again inside the box, this time by defender Ryan Raybould. Samuel Caballero converted the spot kick with a shot inside the left post.
Scoring Summary: CHI- Andy Herron (Penalty Kick) 13' CHI- Samuel Caballero (Penalty Kick) 69'
Chicago Fire Reserves (4-4-2): David Mahoney-GK, Jack Stewart, Samuel Caballero, C.J. Brown, Fred DeGand (Adam Jones-79'), Jared Montz, Scott Buete, Kenneth Robinson, Leonard Griffin, Hemir Niebles (Sinan Selmani-75'), Andy Herron (Andy Rosenband-63').
Kansas City Reserves (4-4-2): William Hesmer-GK, John Minagawa-Webster, Brian Roberts, Dustin Branan, Ryan Raybould, Justin Detter (Daniel Dobson-70'), Jack Jewsbury (Doug Lascody-70'), Alex Zotinca, Khari Stephenson; Ryan Pore, Scott Sealy (Patrick McGinnis-65').
Misconduct Summary: none
Attendance: 223; Weather: Clear Skies, 62 degrees
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Major League Soccer Stories from June 19, 2005
- Wizards reserves fall to Fire reserves - Sporting Kansas City
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