TAMPA, Fla. - Mike Magee scored his third and fourth goals of the 2006 preseason and helped lead the Metros to a 3-1 victory over the Kansas City Wizards Saturday night at the University of South Florida in Tampa. The club wrapped up the Bradenton, Fla., leg of spring training with a 3-1-1 record.
"It was a very good exercise," said MetroStars head coach Mo Johnston. "We played under the lights instead of in the sun and you could tell we moved a lot quicker.
"It was a job well done. Everyone fought hard from the top down. Our movement was strong and we did an excellent job of finishing."
The MetroStars struck first in the 23rd minute, with midfielder Chris Henderson providing the service from the left flank. Magee out-leapt Shavar Thomas at the six and headed the ball past Will Hesmer, beating him to his right side.
Kansas City equalized just six minutes later however, when Ryan Pore got past the Metros defense after taking a feed from Davy Arnaud at the right side of the 18. Pore took three touches and hit a right-footed shot that beat a diving Tony Meola.
The Wizards nearly went up 2-1 in the 36th when defender Matt Groenwald played a long through ball from the backline up top to a streaking Pore. Pore attempted to slip a pass into the center of the penalty area to Arnaud, but a hustling Adrian Serioux raced back and cleanly tackled Arnaud from behind just as the midfielder gathered the ball.
The Metros needed just 13 seconds in the second half before staking a 2-1 lead. On the kickoff, the ball was played wide to Eddie Gaven who then swung it to Henderson on the left side. enderson one-timed a cross to the middle of the six where Magee was standing unmarked, and the 21-year-old forward knocked it into the back of the net.
"Magee has had a very good training camp," Johnston said. "He has worked on his fitness and it shows. His finishing this entire camp has been in a different class."
Wizards midfielder Ryan Raybould undercut Taylor Graham in the box on a MetroStars corner, resulting in a penalty kick for the "Red and Black." Amado Guevara stepped to the spot and beat Oshonyi to the right side in the 54th minute.
Kansas City's best chance in the second half came in the 74th minute. A freekick from 20 yards out was blocked by the MetroStars wall, but trickled to Wizards midfielder Ryan Raybould. Raybould blistered a shot from 22-yards away that dinged the upper 90, but was then promptly cleared from danger by Jeff Parke.
The Metros return home to East Rutherford, N.J. on Monday, February 20 and will train at Giants Stadium before leaving for Los Angeles on March 1.
"It was a good 14 days down here," Johnston said. "Everyone worked very hard; that is all you can ask of them."
NOTES:
- Rookie David Arvizu made his Metros debut and played 15 minutes.
- Goalkeeper Jon Conway has not allowed a goal this preseason and extended his shutout streak to 270 minutes.
- Mike Magee has now scored four goals in just five preseason games (241 total minutes).
MetroStars: Tony Meola (Jon Conway 46'), Carlos Mendes (Tim Regan 62'), Taylor Graham (Jeff Parke 62'), Peter Canero (Marvell Wynne 62'), Chris Henderson (Seth Stammler 62'), Mark Lisi (Blake Camp 62'), Adrian Serioux (Elie Ikangu 75'), Amado Guevara (Jordan Cila 75'), Eddie Gaven (David Arvizu 75'), Mike Magee (Jozy Altidore 62'), Youri Djorkaeff (Thiago Martins 62')
Subs Not Used: Jerrod Laventure
KC Starters: Will Hesner (Bo Oshonyi 46'), Nick Garcia, Shavar Thomas (Anthony Noriega 58'), Jose Burciaga Jr., Matt Groenwald, Alex Zotinca (Will John 58'), Sasha Victorine (Ryan Raybould 46'), Yura Movsisyan (Jack Jewsbury 46'), Davy Arnaud, Scott Sealy, Ryan Pore
Discipline Summary:
KC: Arnaud, Caution, 13'
KC: Burciaga, Caution, 43'
MET: Stammler, Caution, 66'
MET: Regan, Caution, 72'
Scoring Summary:
MET: Magee (Henderson) 23'
KC: Pore (Arnaud) 29'
MET: Magee (Henderson, Gaven) 46'
MET: Guevara (penalty kick) 54'
Officials: Colin Tait, Adam Wienckowski, Robert Fereday
Weather: 71 degrees, sunny
