Wizards Defeat Chicago Fire 3-2 Wednesday in Preseason Match
Published on February 4, 2009 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release
The Kansas City Wizards defeated the Chicago Fire 3-2 Wednesday morning in a preseason match in Bradenton, Fla. Chicago took the lead with two first-half goals before the Wizards answered with three goals after the break. Kansas City is now 2-0-0 in exhibition games.
In the 38th minute, Chicago defender Roland Paul Bebey Kingue carried the ball into the right corner and centered for second-year forward Patrick Nyarko. Nyarko made no mistake, heading the ball home from 8 yards out. Just two minutes later, Nyarko collected a loose ball in midfield and carried toward goal. He was able to hold off two defenders and slot ball past Wizards goalkeeper Kevin Hartman from top of the 18 for a 2-0 Chicago lead.
Left back Michael Harrington started the Wizards first scoring play in the 49th minute with an authoritative run up the left flank that earned a corner kick. Midfielder Kevin Souter played the ensuing corner, and Aaron Hohlbein headed the ball home to cut the deficit in half.
In the 53rd minute, midfielder Davy Arnaud and Graham Zusi worked into the penalty area on a 2v2 break. Arnaud laid the ball off the Zusi, who was hauled down for a penalty kick. Arnaud took the spot kick and buried it into the left corner of the goal as the Chicago goalkeeper guessed incorrectly, tying the match at 2-2.
Rookie Zusi also played part in the game-winning goal in the 70th minute, as he spun a corner kick into the area for second-year defender Rauwshan McKenzie. McKenzie hit a strong header just under the crossbar for a 3-2 Kansas City lead. The game was not yet decided, however, as Chicago midfielder Idrissa Kone got free behind the defense in the 84th minute. Kone was clear to goal, but Kansas City goalkeeper Boris Pardo stopped 1v1 to seal a 3-2 victory for the Wizards.
The Wizards began their preseason campaign with a 7-0 victory last Saturday against the United States Under-17 National Team. Kansas City next plays the New York Red Bulls Saturday at 9 a.m. CT in another preseason match in Bradenton.
Kansas City Wizards: Kevin Hartman (Boris Pardo 46); Jonathan Leathers (Chance Myers 60), Jimmy Conrad (Rauwshan McKenzie 46), Aaron Hohlbein, Michael Harrington (Matt Besler 60); Ferenc Beres, Kevin Souter (Lance Watson 60), Davy Arnaud (Kurt Morsink 60), Claudio Lopez (Graham Zusi 46); Abe Thompson (Nelson Pizarro 60), Josh Wolff (Michael Kraus 46)
Chicago Fire: Nick Noble (Andrew Dykstra 45, Tyler Kettering 60); Brandon Prideaux (Roland Paul Bebey Kingue 45, Marco Calic 70), Bakary Soumare (Ramos Dyoub 45), Dasan Robinson (CJ Brown 45, Igor Lozo 70), Gonzalo Segares (Tim Ward 45); Marco Pappa (Austin Washington 45), Logan Pause (Anton Peterlin 45), Baggio Husidic (Peter Lowry 45, Idrissa Kone 70), Justin Mapp (Michel Mongue 45, Alfonso Rippa 70); Patrick Nyarko (Richard Jata 45), Brian McBride (Stefan Dimitrov 45)
Major League Soccer Stories from February 4, 2009
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- Wizards Defeat Chicago Fire 3-2 Wednesday in Preseason Match - Sporting Kansas City
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