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MLS Chicago Fire FC

Fire falls 4-0 to Kansas City Wizards in final Florida test

February 21, 2007 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Chicago Fire FC News Release


BRADENTON, FL (Wednesday, February 21, 2007) - The Chicago Fire witnessed its second loss of the 2007 preseason Wednesday morning, dropping a 4-0 decision to fellow Eastern Conference side Kansas City Wizards over two 45-minute halves and an additional 30-minute session in the squad's final preseason tune-up at the IMG Academies in Bradenton, Fla. The "Men in Red" fell behind 2-0 at halftime courtesy of strikes from forwards Yura Movsisyan and Eddie Johnson, with a late goal by Scott Sealy in the 80th minute putting the game out of reach. Sealy struck once again with four minutes left in the final 30-minute period to hand the Fire its heaviest loss of the 2007 preseason.

Though the weather in Bradenton brought sunshine and a light breeze, both Chicago and Kansas City looked less than sunny in the early moments, as each combined for disjointed, physical play. Fire midfielder Diego Gutierrez was booked in the 16th minute for a tackle from behind on Wizards midfielder Kurt Morsink - the first of four cautions on the day. Chicago had a major defensive lapse just a minute later as a Morsink pass freed Movsisyan behind the Fire backline, allowing the striker to slot a low ball inside the left post past Chicago goalkeeper Matt Pickens for a 1-0 lead.

After parrying away attempts on goal in the 21st and 29th minutes, Chicago found its own offensive form later in the half as play opened. Midfielder Justin Mapp's right-sided corner kick in the 34th minute found the feet of two separate Fire players, but each shot on goal was cleared from the box. In the 42nd minute, Fire midfielder Mike Banner sent in a cross that met the head of midfielder Logan Pause, but his redirect attempt sailed high over the frame. With just a minute left in the half, a pass out of the back from Morsink found Johnson, who outran two Fire defenders on a 30-yard to beat Pickens with a shot into the left netting for a 2-0 lead going into halftime.

Both teams turned up the intensity in the second stanza and each squad made heavy substitutions in the 61st minute to give each bench experience. Just minutes after entering the match Fire 'keeper Nick Noble made an impressive kick-save to deflect a sure goal in the 63rd minute, while forward Calen Carr nearly converted a one-one-one situation versus the Wizards netminder in the 70th minute. After an uncertain offside call, Fire forward Chad Barrett made his presence known in the 74th minute as he picked up a yellow card caution for dissent. In the 80th minute Wizards forward Scott Sealy found himself at the top of the Fire box and unleashed a screamer into the upper left corner past Noble to give Kansas City a three goal cushion until the end of the 90-minute period.

The final 30 minutes saw youth take over as both sides opted to sit weary-legged veterans, with Chicago playing much of the duration in its own half. The Fire saw its best chance of the period come in the 102nd minute when a left-sided cross from midfielder Floyd Franks connected with forward Asmir Pervan, whose close-ranged strike curled just over the Wizards crossbar. Four minutes later Kansas City's Michael Krause would be booked for head-butting, and Bakary Soumare would earn the game's fourth and final caution for his tackle from behind in the 108th minute. With just four minutes to play Sealy doubled his pleasure with an easy tap-in from three yards out to settle the final outcome.

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