Kansas City Wizards Down Mexican Partner Club Atlas AC 2-1 in Dramatic Finale Friday
Published on July 11, 2008 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release
(July 11, 2008) - The Kansas City Wizards put on a strong showing Friday night, earning a dramatic win for the second straight night. Kansas City fielded a team made up of mostly reserve players and defeated Mexican partner club Atlas AC 2-1 on goals from former open tryout participant Nelson Pizarro and second-year midfielder Michael Kraus. Kraus' goal came in the first minute of second-half stoppage time to give the Wizards a victory in their first-ever game against Atlas.
Kansas City opened the scoring in the 37th minute when rookie midfielder Jonathan Leathers found Pizarro inside the penalty area. Forward Ryan Pore had put Leathers behind the defense, and he cut quickly inside as a defender ran past him. Leathers then slid the ball square for Pizarro, who turned with the ball around a defender and slotted the ball past goalkeeper Jorge Bava to give Kansas City a 1-0 lead.
Atlas countered in the last minute of the first half after midfielder Jorge Hernandez served a corner kick into the area. The ball was popped high into the air, and forward Ulises Mendivil rose above a crowd to head the ball toward goal. Wizards defender Tyson Wahl slid to clear the ball away from the goal line, but the referees judged that the ball had already crossed the goal line, and the teams went to half tied 1-1.
The teams played an even second half as Atlas began making substitutions to get more players game action. Kansas City then struck in the first minute of second-half stoppage time through an alert play from substitute Michael Kraus.
Atlas was called for a handball near the half line, but their players did not know what was called initially. Seeing an opportunity to attack quickly, Kraus looked up and spotted Nelson Pizarro on the right flank. Kraus immediately played a ball into space for the speedy Pizarro who was free to goal. With defenders closing fast, Pizarro fired a low shot toward goal from close range. Substitute goalkeeper Pedro Hernandez blocked the first shot, but the ball squeezed between his legs and rolled across the face of goal. Kraus had immediately broke toward goal after playing the quick restart and slid the ball into the far-side netting from a tough angle to give Kansas City a dramatic 2-1 win.
The Wizards travel to Columbus next Thursday for an MLS Primetime match-up against the Columbus Crew at 7 p.m. CT on ESPN 2. Kansas City is 0-2-0 so far this season against the Crew, and next Thursday's game wraps up the season series between the clubs. The following Thursday, at least one Wizards player will take part in the 2008 Pepsi MLS All-Star game at BMO Field in Toronto. Team captain Jimmy Conrad was named to the MLS All-Star First XI Thursday in a vote of fans, players, coaches and general managers and the media.
Kansas City Wizards Line-Up: Eric Kronberg (Boris Pardo 46), Chance Myers, Rauwshan McKenzie, Tyson Wahl, Matt Marquess, Jonathan Leathers (Michael Kraus 73), Kerry Zavagnin (Ryan McMahen 46), Roger Espinoza, Lance Watson (Geoff Miles 89), Nelson Pizarro, Ryan Pore
Substitutes not used: Jed Hohlbein, Kurt Morsink
Atlas AC Line-Up: Jorge Bava (Pedro Hernandez 46), Diego Colotto, Jorge Torres (Oscar Vera 69), Hugo Ayala (Ricardo Jimenez 65), Nestor Vidrio (Omar Flores 58), Luis Robles (Edgar Pacheco 60), Jorge Hernandez (Gerardo Flores 46), Christian Valdez (Ganzalo Vargas 46), Eduardo Rergis, Mauricio Romero (Dario Bottinelli 46), Ulises Mendivil (Alfredo Sanchez 61)
Substitutes not used: Carlos Armas, Darvin Chavez, Luis Ramos
Major League Soccer Stories from July 11, 2008
- Kansas City Wizards Down Mexican Partner Club Atlas AC 2-1 in Dramatic Finale Friday - Sporting Kansas City
- Earthquakes Set to Return Home Saturday, July 12 Against Colorado - San Jose Earthquakes
- Real Salt Lake Wins Second Annual SUM U-17 Cup - Real Salt Lake
- Chivas enters SuperLiga on four-game unbeaten run - LA Galaxy
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