Wizards Tie Fire 0-0 in 2004 Season Opener
Published on April 3, 2004 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release
KANSAS CITY, MO (Saturday, April 3, 2004) - The Kansas City Wizards opened the 2004 MLS season with a scoreless draw against the Chicago Fire at Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday night. Despite the scoreless tie, the match was not without drama as each side exchanged a number of near-misses in the match. The tie marked the MLS-record 49th career clean sheet for goalkeeper Tony Meola as a vocal 20,229 fans looked on.
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 Fire 'keeper Henry Ring in the 38th minute. 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, pressing the Kansas City attack into the Chicago end and forcing the Fire defense to react quickly on a number of occasions. The closest either team come to hitting the back of the net came in the 73rd minute when Wizards midfielder Diego Gutierrez saw his shot from outside the area deflect off the outside of the post after beating Fire goalkeeper Henry Ring.
A minute later, the game began to turn for both sides. 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 near the penalty 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 just over the crossbar.
Razov then found himself behind the Wizards defense but, before he could get a shot off inside the six-yard box he was tackled from behind by Shavar Thomas with 'keeper Tony Meola advancing off his line. Razov made a half-hearted appeal for a penalty, but referee Erich Simmons wasn't inspired and the game dwindled to a draw.
The Wizards will play two exhibition matches in the next week before returning to MLS action on Saturday April 17th. Kansas City will travel to Tulsa, Oklahoma on Sunday for an exhibition against the University of Tulsa as part of the Wizards 2nd Annual Mid-America Barnstorming Exhibition Tour. Next Saturday, April 10th Kansas City will play an exhibition match against the Dallas Burn in Edmond, Oklahoma.
Kansas City returns to MLS regular season play when they host the Columbus Crew at Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday, April 17th. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CT.
Major League Soccer Stories from April 3, 2004
- Wizards Tie Fire 0-0 in 2004 Season Opener - Sporting Kansas City
- Burn and Rapids draw in season opener - MLS
- Fire and Wizards Fight to Scoreless Draw in MLS Opener - Chicago Fire FC
- Fire, Wizards fight to draw - MLS
- MetroStars roar back to down Crew - MLS
- Moreno Makes Triumphant Return to RFK - D.C. United
- Moreno leads United to win in opener - MLS
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