The Kansas City Wizards and Columbus Crew reserve squads played to a 1-0 Columbus victory Saturday afternoon on the Sprint Campus in Overland Park. A second-half goal by substitute Ryan Martin lifted the Crew Reserves on a blustery afternoon.
Both teams seemed to have trouble adjusting to the windy conditions in the first half as many attempted passes reached the opposing teams' goalkeeper without incident.
The game was up and down through the opening frame, with each side generating chances but unable to score. Two cautions were issued in the opening 45 minutes as the game mirrored the MLS match held earlier Saturday in which six yellows were shown.
Quality of play improved in the second half as teams adjusted to the conditions better and settled in to their respective styles of play.
Kansas City's best early second-half chance came four minutes in when midfielder Will John flicked a ball on for a streaking Ryan Pore. Pore was behind the defense, but his right-footed shot was collected by goalkeeper Kenny Shoeni.
Columbus had a breakaway chance of their own in the 57th minute when forward Brad Evans received a through ball behind the Wizards back line. Goalkeeper Eric Kronberg came out, forcing an early shot from the penalty spot that floated high and just over the cross bar.
The Crew took the lead in the 70th minute when second-half substitute Ryan Miller collected a loose ball in the penalty area and slid it past a diving Kronberg for the game's lone goal. Columbus had possessed the ball through midfield and attempted a shot previously that was deflected to Miller.
Kansas City had two quality chances from distance in the game's final 20 minutes but could not capitalize. First in the 75th minute, forward Yura Movsisyan hit a strike from 25 yards that beat Shoeni only to deflect off the crossbar. Then in the 80th minute, defender Ryan Raybould unleashed a shot from 25 yards that also beat Shoeni only to deflect off the bar and out for a goal kick.
The Kansas City Wizards reserve squad next plays Sunday, May 13 at 10 a.m. at the Sprint Campus in Overland Park. The Wizards reserve squad is now 0-1-1.
Kansas City Wizards Reserves vs Columbus Crew Reserves
Saturday, May 5, 2007 - 4 p.m. (CT)
Sprint World Headquarters - Overland Park, Kansas
Scoring Summary:
CLB-Martin 1 (unassisted) 70
KCW Reserves Line-Up: Kronberg, Raybould, Hohlbein, Wahl, Watson, Kraus (Godbolt 46), Morsink, John, Elcock (Lowery 57), Pore (Movsisyan 61), Guadarrama
CLB Reserves Line-Up: Shoeni, Moss, Miglioranzi, Junge, Ward, Herron (Chandler 38), Szetela, Oughton, Rogers (Martin 66), Garey (Krause 46), Evans
Misconduct:
CLB - Oughton (Caution, Reckless Foul) 28
KC - Kraus (Caution, Reckless Foul) 36
CLB - Chandler (Caution, Reckless Foul) 57
KC - Lowery (Caution, Reckless Foul) 59
Referee: Mark Geiger
Referee's Assistants: Adam Dolezal, Doug Wolff
Fourth Official: Cory Kramer
Weather: 73 degrees and clear
