The Kansas City Wizards 3 days after beating the Colorado Rapids 1-0 faced them again in the opening round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup (similar to the English F.A. Cup) with hopes of repeating the same outcome. The game was played on the University of Missouri-Kansas City campus to a packed house all opening to see the men in blue make the right steps towards bringing home another U.S. Open cup.
Image not recovered: Chhetri US kc wizards vs man utdThe game looked to be in good shape for the Wizards as early on Teal Bunbury was able to place the ball in the back of the net with only four minutes into the game. However, after that, the production on both sides would be minimal at best as both teams fought hard to put themselves in positions for quality shots. Despite the Wizards fielding few of their regular starters (U.S. Open cup rules only allow 5 foreign players) coach Peter Vermes wanted his players to put the pressure on the Rapids by attacking the ball and forcing the Rapids to respond to the pressure. However, the Rapids’ Wells Thompson was able to shot and score right before half time sending both teams into the locker room with a 1-1 score.
The second half would prove to be just as physical as the game on Saturday night was as both teams began to filter in more familiar faces into the game and secure the victory. Despite a tough battle on both sides the Rapids’ Wells Thompson was able to score his second goal of the night made possible by a sharp pass from former Kansas City Wizard Claudio Lopez giving the Rapids a 2-1 lead. The rest of the game would be back and forth with neither side really being able to make anymore big impacts; despite some late shots on goal, and corner kicks the Kansas City Wizards would come up short to the Rapids 2-1.
Image not recovered: Sunil ChhetriDespite losing there was plenty of excitement else where to be found as India super star striker Sunil Chhetri made the starting lineup. Chhetri would play a solid first half setting up passes to put his teammates in good positions, however he was unable to pick up a goal or a quality shot in his first appearance for the Wizards, but he was able to get a yellow card around the 20th minute for reckless tackling. Despite Sunil Chhetri not doing to much to “wow” the crowd, he did manage to put together a solid first half giving every Wizard fan a glimpse of future greatness that is coming. Chhetri would be replaced by Kei Kamara at the start of the second half.
Colorado will have to wait and see whom they play next as the remaining eight MLS teams play for two at-large spots in the tournament. New England Revolution will play the winner of a matchup between New York Red Bull and Philadelphia Union, and the Colorado Rapids will then play the winner of that matchup between the Revolution and the Red Bulls/Union.
Scoring Summary:
KC – Teal Bunbury (Unassisted) 4'
COL – Wells Thompson (Jamie Smith 1) 24'
COL – Wells Thompson (Claudio Lopez) 81'
Discipline Summary:
KC – Sunil Chhetri (Caution, Reckless Tackle) 20'
COL – Wells Thompson (Caution, Tactical Foul) 32'
KC – Jimmy Conrad (Caution, Reckless Tackle) 60'
Kory Buys writes for footballkerala.com
Photos by Jimmy Moore
From the archive. First published on footballkerala.com on Wednesday 14 April 2010, restored from the site's 2012 database. Text as originally published.
Comments · 3
all the best chettriiii.make india proud. be a beckham....migrate to italy or spain
At last someone from India playing soccer at the international level. I hope that this trend continues in the future. More exposure means more experience and more experience means more skills learned. The situation of Indian football is so pathetic that the BCCI( the board of control for cricket in India) had to help the AIFF with essential funding. The reason why India is still considered a 3rd world country is because the people have very little inspiration. One of the only few things that inspire Indians is cricket, and look how much attention and funding and glamor it gets. So i believe that football can do the same if considerable amount of work, time and money is put into it. Football is cost effective too cause one essentially only needs a ball and a pair of boots to play the game unlike cricket. And they should get rid of English coaches cause English football is not the most technically gifted. we need coaches who know what they're doing, honest, courageous and motivated to train our side. And instead of trying to fill quotas for players from different states in India to show equal representation, the AIFF should invest in quality than quantity. Our football is not underfunded, but finances are wasted in initiatives which get football in India nowhere. WE BADLY NEED INSPIRATION not just in football, but in everything we do as an individual and as a nation.
Best of luck Sunil.....