Kansas City Wizards Eliminated From Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
Published on July 7, 2009 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release
(July 7, 2009) - The Kansas City Wizards were eliminated from the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Tuesday night after a 1-0 loss to Seattle Sounders FC at Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, Wash. The game's lone goal came on an 89th minute penalty kick that former USL Sounder Sebastien Le Toux converted for the late game-winner. The Wizards played their 6th game in the past 17 days, including road trips to Boston, Minneapolis, Minn., and Seattle.
Both teams generated dangerous opportunities in the opening half, with Kansas City's best coming in the 22nd minute. Striker Josh Wolff played a back-heel pass to left back Matt Besler on the wing. Besler swung in a perfectly placed cross for striker Abe Thompson making a run through the center of the area. Thompson snapped a header toward goal, but the shot went just inches wide of the right post and out of play.
In the 33rd minute, Seattle looked to counter through Colombian striker Fredy Montero. Winger Sanna Nyassi found Montero with a long cross from right to left as Montero raced toward goal from midfield. Montero was closely marked, cut twice with the ball then fired on goal from the top of the 18-yard area. Goalkeeper Kevin Hartman was equal to the task, however, and held the shot to keep the game scoreless.
Both teams went back and forth in the second half, with Montero shooting wide in the 53rd minute then Zakuani shooting high in the 54th minute. Wizards midfielder Herculez Gomez forced a good save from Keller in the 69th minute with a long-range blast that Keller batted down then held. Montero then went wide left again in the 87th minute before his involvement in the game-deciding play just a few moments later.
After getting in behind the Kansas City defense, Montero was alone with Hartman in the penalty area and went down after Hartman rushed off his line to break up the play. A penalty kick was immediately awarded and substitute midfielder Sebastien Le Toux buried the ensuing PK into the lower-right corner of the goal for a 1-0 victory.
Kansas City returns to MLS play Saturday with a road match against the New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium. The match starts at 3 p.m. CT and is part of a tripleheader with a pair of CONCACAF Gold Cup games. The U.S. National Team will face Haiti in their final group-stage match of Gold Cup at 6 p.m. CT, with Honduras facing Grenada at 8 p.m. CT. Should Davy Arnaud or Jimmy Conrad play for the U.S. and Roger Espinoza play for Honduras, at least one Wizards player will take part in all three games of the tripleheader.
Major League Soccer Stories from July 7, 2009
- Kansas City Wizards Eliminated From Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup - Sporting Kansas City
- FC Dallas Posts 2-0 Friendly Victory Over West Texas United Sockers (PDL) In Midland - FC Dallas
- D.C. United to host Rochester in U.S. Open Cup - D.C. United
- Chivas USA Defender Shavar Thomas Added to Jamaican National Team's Gold Cup Squad - Club Deportivo Chivas USA
- Kansas City Wizards Weekly Update - Sporting Kansas City
- Real Salt Lake Weekly Update - Real Salt Lake
- Chivas USA opens additional seating for Saturday's game vs. LA Galaxy - Club Deportivo Chivas USA
- Kansas City Wizards Continue Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Play Tuesday Night in Seattle - Sporting Kansas City
- Comcast to feature D.C. United International Week with encore presentations of memorable matches - D.C. United
- RapidFire: Rapids Host FC Dallas Saturday! - Colorado Rapids
- Crew Heads to Chicago Saturday for Important Eastern Conference Showdown - Columbus Crew SC
- Robert Kraft Joins Team to Bring World Cup to United States - New England Revolution
- Dynamo face USL1 leader Charleston tonight in Open Cup quarterfinals - Houston Dynamo FC
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