Colorado Rapids Reserves 2-1 Kansas City Wizards Reserves Monday
July 23, 2007 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release
(July 23, 2007) - Two squads tied near the top of the MLS Reserve Division standings played a skillful, intense match Monday morning at the Wizards new Swope Park Training Facility in Kansas City. Colorado came away with three road points after a stoppage-time rebound goal by substitute forward Conor Casey gave the visitors a 2-1 win.
Colorado opened the scoring in the 25th minute after a free kick taken near the end line and just outside the Wizards penalty area. Colorado played the ball across and it deflected off two players before hitting a Wizards defender in the back and ricocheting into the side netting inside the far post for a 1-0 Colorado advantage.
The Rapids nearly doubled their lead in the 31st minute when left midfielder Colin Clark cut inside around two defenders and lofted a right-footed chip toward the Wizards goal past onrushing goalkeeper Eric Kronberg. The shot, however, struck the right post and deflected wide.
In the 47th minute, Kansas City nearly leveled the match through forward Ryan Pore. The third-year player found himself open after a well timed through ball behind the Colorado defense. Pore carried the ball to the top of the penalty area and shot high, but Rapids goalkeeper Zach Thornton stayed high and palmed the well-struck ball over the bar.
The Wizards Reserves tied the match in the 62nd minute through nice movement up the left flank and a deft finish by rookie right back Michael Kraus. Left back Ryan Raybould began the play, running at a defender before laying the ball off near the left touchline for winger Lance Watson. Watson carried the ball then sent a low, hard cross through the box that connected with Kraus at the back post. Kraus settled the ball with the first touch and sent it back across the face of the goal with the second touch to tie the game 1-1.
Colorado found the game-winner in second-half stoppage time through a quick counter-attack and subsequent rebound. Jacob Peterson brought down a long ball with his chest for strike partner Omar Cummings who fired a left-footed shot from the top of the penalty area toward the back post. Kronberg laid out to make the save, but substitute Casey was there to clean up the rebound and give the Rapids Reserves a 2-1 victory.
The KCW Reserves (3-3-1, 10 pts) next play Monday, July 30 at 10 a.m. CT against Chivas USA's Reserve squad again at Swope Park. Colorado's (4-0-1, 12 pts) next Reserve Division match comes Sunday, August 5 away to FC Dallas.
COL Reserves Line-Up: Thornton, Kimura, Wilmes, Keel, Harvey, Colaluca (Casey-72), LaBrocca, Clark, DiRaimando, Cummings, Peterson
Substitutes not used: Hughes, Thompson, Higo, Koshi
KCW Reserves Line-Up: Kronberg, Kraus, Hohlbein, Wahl, Raybould, Godbolt, Morsink (Lowery-64), John, Watson, Guadarrama (Elcock-50), Pore
Substitutes not used: Konopka, Nekuda
Misconduct:
KC - Wahl (caution; Persistent Infringement) 27'
COL - Harvey (caution; Reckless Foul) 44'
KC - Hohlbein (caution; Professional Foul) 86'
COL - Clark (caution; Reckless Foul) 86'
Referee: Brad Clem
Referee's Assistants: Corey Kramer, Shar Dilmaghani
Quotes:
KANSAS CITY WIZARDS RESERVE COACH KRIS KELDERMAN
On the game
"To give up a last minute goal like that is extremely disappointing. We really got after them on the left side after halftime and fought back to tie the game. To give up a goal like that in the final minute hurts, but they're an extremely good team. They work hard; they work for each other. It was a well-played game. We just have to learn from the experience."
KANSAS CITY WIZARDS DEFENDER MICHAEL KRAUS
On his goal
"At halftime coach talked about Ryan (Raybould) and I getting more involved in the attack. Ryan did a great job of pushing up the left flank and playing the ball to Lance (Watson). I just made a run to the back post and was able to control it on the first touch and put it away with the second. It was a great ball by Lance."
Kansas City Wizards Training and Game Schedule:
Tuesday, July 24
DAY OFF
Wednesday, July 25
Training 10 a.m.
Thursday, July 26
Training 10 a.m.
Friday, July 27
Training 10 a.m.
Sunday, July 29
Kansas City Wizards vs. Chivas USA, 6 p.m. CT at Arrowhead Stadium
Monday, July 30
KCW Reserves vs. Chivas USA Reserves, 10 a.m. CT at Swope Park
*All training sessions are held at the new Swope Park training facility off of 63rd and Lewis. Practice times are subject to change. Please call Sarah Hardy at 816-665-8442 to confirm.
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