Two first half goals boosted Real Salt Lake to a 2-1 victory Wednesday over the Kansas City Wizards in an exhibition at the IMG Academies in Bradenton, Fla.
The Wizards lost for the first time in three exhibitions and fell to 1-1-1. Real Salt Lake is now 4-1-0 in exhibitions.
Jeff Cunningham and Jeff Rowland scored for Real Salt Lake during a seven-minute span in the first half.
The Wizards also gave up their first goals of the exhibition season. In spite of that, Wizards coach Bob Gansler said the team's defense was as solid as in the previous two exhibitions. A bad back pass contributed to Cunningham's goal.
"We are doing well defensively," Gansler said. "They scored on a bad back pass and it was probably the second time they had crossed halfway line in the first 25 minutes. It's not like we are giving up a lot of chances. We are giving up fewer chances, but toady they were critical."
Both teams changed their entire 11-man lineup in the second half. Midfielder Ryan McMahen hit a right-footed shot from about 30 yards after midfielder Ryan Raybould fed him with a quick free kick from just inside the halfway line.
McMahen's goal came in the 82nd minute, leaving the Wizards with little time to tie the score.
After three exhibition games, Gansler would not single out any one player for outstanding play. But Gansler did say that Matt Groenwald, a third-round SuperDraft pick from St. John's, was playing well at right back. Groenwald has played in the first half of all three exhibitions with the more experienced players.
"The expected folks are doing well for the most part," Gansler said. "We've got some good players and we drafted some good players. They are doing OK."
After playing games on consecutive days along with a training session each day, Gansler said he would the players a day off on Thursday.
First half lineups:
Kansas City: Bo Oshoniyi, Matt Groenwald, Anthony Noriega, Nick Garcia, Jose Burciaga Jr., Sasha Victorine, Alex Zotinca, Jack Jewsbury, Jermaine Hue, Davy Arnaud, Scott Sealy.
Real Salt Lake: Jay Nolly, Chris Brown, Carey Talley, Nelson Akwari, Gustavo Cabrera, Seth Trembly, Douglas Sequeira, Andy Williams, Jeff Cunningham, Jeff Rowland.
Second half lineups:
Kansas City: Will Hesmer, Ben Hollingsworth, Shavar Thomas, Tyson Wahl, Stephen Shirley, Lance Watson, Ryan Raybould, Ryan McMahen, John Minagawa-Webster, Ryan Pore, Yura Movsisyan.
Real Salt Lake: Noah Palmer, Sergio Flores, Jake Besagno, Michael Lookingland, Kevin Novak, Luke Kreamalmeyer, Leslie Fitzpatrick, Diego Walsh, Robert Scarlett, Christian Jimenez, Melvin Tarley, Jamie Watson.
Robert Whitman is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
