The Kansas City Wizards (0-0-1, 1 pt) tied Mexican partner club FC Atlas (0-0-1, 1 pt) 0-0 Sunday in stifling heat at Robert R. Hermann Stadium on the campus of St. Louis University in both teams' SuperLiga opener. The match was played at Hermann Stadium because Kansas City's home field at CommunityAmerica Ballpark was unavailable. Kansas City outshot Atlas 12-9 with a 5-2 edge in shots on goal. Wizards goalkeeper Kevin Hartman made two saves, including an outstanding diving effort to deny a Dario Bottinelli free kick in the 1st half.
Kansas City pushed the game early, forcing Atlas goalkeeper Jose Francisco Canales to make a pair of saves in the 4th and 13th minutes. First, Claudio Lopez took a free kick that was deflected back to him. He took a touch then fired a shot on goal that Canales held. Then in the 13th minute, Gomez turned toward goal after a feed from striker Josh Wolff and shot from the top of the 18. Canales made a diving save, however, to deny the Kansas City midfield. Gomez proved dangerous again in the 21st minute, firing a shot just wide of the back post from 20 yards out.
In the 31st minute, Hartman made a highlight reel save to keep the match level at 0-0. Atlas attacking midfielder Dario Bottinelli drew a foul on Wizards left back Matt Besler 20 yards from goal near the right side of the penalty area. Bottinelli took the ensuing corner kick, bending the ball down over the wall toward the back post. The shot was headed for goal, but Hartman extended fully to tip the shot wide.
Though shots were even in the 2nd half, Kansas City was the more dangerous team. Midfielder and St. Louis University alum Jack Jewsbury hit a shot just over the crossbar in the 52nd minute. Striker Josh Wolff then beat two players with nifty footwork before firing a left-footed shot on goal in the 72nd minute that Canales smothered.
In the 81st minute, Kansas City nearly converted to take a lead when midfielder Roger Espinoza completed a long string of combination passes by slipping substitute forward Abe Thompson through between a pair of Atlas defenders. Thompson was closed down quickly, however, and his shot toward goal flew just wide of the back post.
Atlas nearly responded in the 82nd minute with a goal. After a cross from the left flank, Edgar Pacheco lofted a shot toward the back post from the top of the 18-yard area. His chip attempt sailed just high and wide of the top-left corner, however, and the match ended at 0-0.
The Wizards now travel to play New England in their 2nd SuperLiga match this Wednesday, June 24 at Gillette Stadium. Kansas City will then host Mexican club Santos Laguna Sunday, June 28 at 5:30 p.m. CT at CommunityAmerica Ballpark in Kansas City.
Following the conclusion of SuperLiga group play, Kansas City will play a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match Tuesday, June 30 at the Minnesota Thunder at 7:35 p.m. CT. The Wizards then return to MLS League play Saturday, July 4 against the red-hot Houston Dynamo at CommunityAmerica Ballpark at 8 p.m. CT. Fans are encouraged to stay for a fireworks spectacular after the game.
Kansas City Wizards Line-Up: Kevin Hartman; Lance Watson, Jimmy Conrad, Aaron Hohlbein, Matt Besler (Abe Thompson 76); Jack Jewsbury, Santiago Hirsig, Davy Arnaud (Michael Harrington 63), Herculez Gomez (Roger Espinoza 38); Josh Wolff, Claudio Lopez (Jonathan Leathers 89)
Substitutes not used: Boris Pardo (GK), Rauwshan McKenzie, Kurt Morsink
FC Atlas Line-Up: Jose Francisco Canales; Nestor Vidrio, Jorge Torres (Diego Campos 46), Hugo Ayala, Ricardo Jimenez; Edgar Pacheco, Gerardo Espinoza (Saul Villalobos 74), Luis Robles, Dario Bottinelli, Darvin Chavez (Carlos Gutierrez 68); Flavio Santos (Alonso Zamora 46)
Substitutes not used: Jesus Gallardo (GK), Hebert Alferez, Jesus Paganoni
Misconduct:
KC - Jack Jewsbury (caution; Reckless Tackle) 37
FCA - Hugo Ayala (caution; Unsporting Behavior) 41
KC - Aaron Hohlbein (caution; Unsporting Behavior) 41
FCA - Ricardo Jimenez (caution; Reckless Tackle) 60
KC - Santiago Hirsig (caution; Reckless Foul) 82
KC - Roger Espinoza (ejection; Serious Foul Play) 94+
KC |
FCA |
|
|---|---|---|
<strong>Total Shots:</strong> |
12 |
9 |
<strong>Shots on Goal:</strong> |
5 |
2 |
<strong>Saves:</strong> |
2 |
5 |
<strong>Fouls Committed:</strong> |
12 |
11 |
<strong>Offside:</strong> |
2 |
6 |
<strong>Corner Kicks:</strong> |
2 |
6 |
Referee: Joel Aguilar
Assistants: William Torres, Juan Francisco Zumba
4th official: Andrew Chapin
Notables:
•Kansas City and Atlas are now both 0-0-1, 1 pt in Group B of SuperLiga 2009.
•The match marked the 1st SuperLiga appearance for both clubs.
•The New England Revolution host Santos Laguna later Sunday in the other Group B match.
•Kansas City now travels to face New England Wednesday before hosting Santos Laguna next Sunday at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.
•The Wizards are now 1-0-1 all-time against Atlas in sanctioned matches.
•The Wizards defeated Atlas 2-1 last July in a friendly at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.
•Seven Atlas players who played in the match last July played again Sunday: Jorge Torres, Hugo Ayala, Ricardo Jimenez, Nestor Vidrio, Luis Robles, Edgar Pacheco, Dario Botinelli.
•One player who started Sunday (Darvin Chavez) suited up last year but did not play.
•Three Wizards players that appeared in the match last July played Sunday: Jonathan Leathers, Roger Espinoza and Lance Watson.
•Kurt Morsink was an unused substitute in both games.
•Kansas City is 2-4-3 all-time against club teams from Mexico.
•The Wizards are 2-0-1 in international matches since OnGoal bought the team in 2006 and 1-0-1 in international matches on neutral soil.
•Goalkeeper Kevin Hartman now has five shutouts in all competitions.
•Kansas City midfielder Roger Espinoza was shown a red card in second-half stoppage time and will miss the New England match Wednesday.
•Midfielder Herculez Gomez left the match in the first half due to heat stress.
•Gomez's father grew up in Guadalajara, Mexico as an Atlas fan.
•Kansas City was without goalkeeper Eric Kronberg, defender Chance Myers, midfielder Kevin Souter and striker Adam Cristman due to injury.
•The Wizards will host a post-game clinic on the field at CAB next Sunday after the match against Santos Laguna. For details on participating in the clinic, contact the Wizards at (913) 568-2213.
•The United States Men's National Team advanced to the semifinals of the Confederations Cup in South Africa Sunday with a dramatic 3-0 win over Egypt with the help of Brazil's 3-0 win over Italy.
•The semifinals match up with 2008 European Champions Spain on Wednesday, broadcast live on ESPN and TeleFutura at 1:25 p.m. CT.
