Fire, Wizards fight to draw
Published on April 3, 2004 under Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release
KANSAS CITY, MO - Try as they might, neither the Kansas City Wizards or the Chicago Fire could find their way to a goal on Saturday night, the 2004 Major League Soccer opener for both teams ending in a scoreless draw at Arrowhead Stadium.
Dogged defending was the order of the day for much of the match as the teams combined for 36 fouls, the closest either team coming to hitting the back of the net coming in the 73rd minute when Kansas City's Diego Gutierrez saw his shot from outside the area deflect off the outside of the post with Fire goalkeeper Henry Ring beaten.
The Wizards owned much of the play throughout the first hour of the contest, and certainly owned the best chances of the first half. Josh Wolff blazed a shot over the top from close range after just eight minutes, then brought out a fine diving save from Ring on 38 minutes. Kerry Zavagnin then tested the young Chicago 'keeper just before the halftime break with a long-range effort that was tipped over the bar.
Wolff and Zavagnin were effective after the break as well, Chicago often forced onto the back foot in defending in depth, though Ring wasn't greatly troubled until Gutierrez found the base of the post from 22 yards out.
The game then burst to life. After a fracas on the touchline around a throw-in, Kansas City's Chris Klein and Chicago's C.J. Brown were both sent off, leaving each team a man down. Minutes later, Francisco Gomez was left unmarked at the spot, but hammered his shot well over the crossbar.
But with the introduction of Ante Razov into the game, the Fire attack started to have more bite. Damani Ralph was slipped in behind the Wizards back four and cut back inside a retreating Alex Zotinca, but his looping shot sailed outside the far post.
Razov then found himself behind the Wizards rearguard but, before he could off his shot in the six-yard box, was tackled from behind by Shavar Thomas with 'keeper Tony Meola advanced off his line. Razov made a half-hearted appeal for a penalty, but referee Erich Simmons wasn't moved and the game dwindled to a draw.
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