Preseason Game #2 - Fire vs. KC Wizards

Today the Chicago Fire took on the Kansas City Wizards in what would be their first true test after routing UCF 5-0 just a few days earlier. Instead of playing three 30-minute segments like they did in the first game, they played two 45-minute halves.

Richard Jata played the entire second half. He started at forward, but switched to right mid after the Fire gave up three unanswered goals. Jata had a good chance to score when he caught a ball sent over his head on his right foot and took it towards goal. Unfortunately, the Kansas City keeper guessed right and made a great save to deny Jata of his first preseason goal with the Fire.

This was the 1st half lineup for Chicago:

1st 45' - GK-Nick Noble, D-Brandon Prideaux(Roland Paul Bebey Kingue 33'), D-Bakary Soumare, D-Dasan Robinson, D-Gonzalo Segares, M-Marco Pappa, M-Baggio Husidic, M-Logan Pause, M-Justin Mapp, F-Patrick Nyarko, F-Brian McBride

The Fire dominated the first half and in the 38th minute their hard work finally paid off. Roland Paul Bebey Kingue served a cross from the right side to Patrick Nyarko, who headed it home for his first preseason goal. In the 40th minute Nyarko added another goal from 18 yards out to give the Fire a 2-0 lead going into halftime.

This was the 2nd half lineup for Chicago:

2nd 45' - GK-Andrew Dykstra(Tyler Kettering 60'), D-Roland Paul Bebey Kingue(Marco Calich 70'), D-Ramos Dyoub, D-CJ Brown(Igor Lozo 70'), D-Tim Ward, M-Austin Washington, M-Anton Peterlin, M-Peter Lowry(Idrissa Kone 70'), M-Michel Mongue(Alfonso Rippa 70'), F-Richard Jata, F-Stefan Dimitrov

In the 49th minute Kansas City finally got on the board when Aaron Hohlbein headed home a Kevin Souter corner kick. In the 53rd minute Graham Zusi was taken down in the box and awarded a PK. Davy Arnaud shoots left and the keeper guesses right, scoring with ease to tie the game up 2-2.

At the 60-minute mark, Fire GK Andrew Dykstra was subbed out for Tyler Kettering and just minutes later the Wizards scored again to grab the lead. Zusi played a corner kick into the box and Rauwshan McKenzie hits a well placed header just under the bar for the final goal of the game.

Idrissa Kone had an opportunity to tie the game in the closing minutes when he found himself one on one with the Wizards' goalkeeper, but was denied.

Even though Chicago lost 3-2, things aren't as bad as they might seem. They're still missing Jon Busch, Chris Rolfe and John Thorrington, all of whom are still training with the U.S. Men's National Team in California. The rest of the starters from last year only played the first 45 minutes and Cuauhtemoc Blanco and Mike Banner didn't play at all.

Kansas City Wizards 1st Half Lineup:

1st 45' - GK-Hartman, D-Leathers, D-Conrad, D-Hohlbein, D-Harrington, M-Souter, M-Beres, M-Lopez, M-Arnaud, F-Thompson, F-Wolff

Kansas City Wizards 2nd Half Lineup:

2nd 45' - GK-Pardo, D-Leathers(Myers 60'), D-McKenzie, D-Hohlbein, D-Harrington(Besler 60'), M-Beres, M-Souter(Watson 60'), Arnaud (Morsink 60'), M-Zusi, F-Thompson(Pizarro 60), F-Kraus

Scoring Summary

(38') CHI - Patrick Nyarko - assisted by Roland Paul Bebey Kingue
(40') CHI - Patrick Nyarko - unassisted
(49') KCW - Aaron Hohlbein - assisted by Kevin Souter
(53') KCW - Davy Arnoud - unassisted (PK)
(63') KCW - Rauwshan McKenzie - assisted by Graham Zusi