The Sunil Chhetri update

On the night of May 15, 2010 the Wizards took on the Chicago Fire in what was to become a game full of ups and downs for the Wizards. The night started off and continued to be wet as the rain came pouring down on the field; along with the rain the Chicago Fire faithful made the 9 hour trip to watch their boys take on the Wizards.

As the game got started it would appear that this night would be a night of history repeating itself as the Wizards were forced to play defense most of the night, as well as not being able to find the back of the net for most of the game. The scariest moment of the night would remind Wizards fans of the “miss of the century” when Kei Kamara would slip and fall missing a wide open night against the LA Galaxy, however as history would repeat itself and Kei found himself in front of a wide open goal on a wet, cold evening Kei would make sure that this time history would not repeat itself and he was able to put the ball in the back of the net to tie the game 2-2. The Fire improved to 2-3-3 on 9 points. Kansas City are now 2-3-2 on 8 points and winless in their last five games.

Unlike the Wizards three previous home opponents, Chicago seemed to be able to find the time and space to pass the ball on the ground which would eventually pay off. Official Michael Kennedy waived off Collins John’s penalty appeal in the 12th minute before Chicago would take the lead two minutes later. Logan Pause and Marco Pappa worked together for a quick one-two on the left side to open up the line, and KCWizards’ defender Pablo Escobar kept Pappa onside as he burst into the area and found Julio Martinez at the back post for a simple finish. It was the first home goal the Wizards have allowed this year. The goal would give the traveling Fire fans something to sing about, but it also reenergized the Wizards. Fighting to keep their undefeated home record intact, the Wizards pushed forward in search of a goal as Kamara’s shot would hit the side netting.

Then an unbelievable scrum in front of Chicago’s net in the 25th minute resulted in five shots but no goals. Chicago goalkeeper Andrew Dysktra dropped a corner kick from Ryan Smith and the ball eventually found its way to Escobar, who sent a shot that Pappa saved off the line. Escobar then took another chance at it, but his shot was deflected to teammate Jimmy Conrad, whose shot was blocked as well. The rebound came to another Wizard Jack Jewsbury, who had his first attempt blocked before Dykstra pawed his follow up attempt out of harm's way.

After all that action, Kansas City came away empty handed before Davy Arnaud—listed as questionable with a knee strain this week saw his spectacular equalizer from 30-yards called back because Chicago’s Wilman Conde was down in the penalty area. This call of course sent the Wizards’ fans into a fury as this decision by the official was less than questionable. The Wizards had eight shots to Chicago’s two in the first half, but they were undone by the third defensive misstep in two games by Escobar. Manager Peter Vermes did nothing to improve the Wizards at half making no changes to his lineup at halftime while Chicago’s Carlos de los Cobos inserted veteran forward Brian McBride for Collins John and Mike Banner for Martinez.

McBride made an immediate impact, slipping into an open space in the Kansas City box to make the lead 2-0 in the 48th minute. Patrick Nyarko threaded the ball past the outstretched leg of Escobar and McBride applied a perfect, one-timed finish inside the near post.

After feeding Kamara for his goal, Ryan Smith took it on himself to try and inspire a Wizards comeback, taking on multiple defenders on separate occasions and forcing a diving save out of Dykstra.

That seemed to wake the Fire up and the visitors began pushing back, coming close through Nyarko before a curling, right-footed effort from Smith forced another spectacular save in the 67th minute. Dykstra thwarted Smith’s second attempt a few minutes later when Smith broke behind the defense but could not finish past the Fire goalkeeper.

Chicago had a chance to put the game away in the 85th minute, but Nyarko couldn’t quite stretch to meet a low cross at the back post with the goalmouth gapping. Kamara followed that with his opportunistic goal—the Sierre Leone native’s fifth of the season—and both sides settled for a point.

Scoring: CHI - Julio Martinez 1 (Marco Pappa 3, Logan Pause 1) 14'
CHI - Brian McBride 3 (Patrick Nyarko 5) 48'
KC - Kei Kamara 4 (unassisted) 50'
KC - Kei Kamara 5 (unassisted) 89'

Discipline: KC - Jack Jewsbury (caution; Reckless Tackle) 32'
CHI - Dasan Robinson (caution; Delaying a Restart) 45'
KC - Roger Espinoza (caution; Unsporting Behavior) 45'
CHI - Krzysztof Krol (caution; Reckless Tackle) 63'
KC - Pablo Escobar (caution; Reckless Tackle) 64'
KC - Jimmy Conrad (caution; Reckless Foul) 70'

Sunil Chhetri scores twice for the reserves

Image not recoveredElsewhere, Indian striker Sunil Chhetri who is yet to make a first team appearance for the Wizards after the US Open Cup defeat is trying hard to make his way into the first team. On Wednesday, he took the field against the Kansas City Brass at the Swope Park.

Sunil started upfront with Teal Bunbury in a match which the KCWizards won comfortably. Sunil who had a few opportunities on goal managed to finish two of them into the back of the net.

"He has started to make runs, and do the things that are necessary to find space in the compressed and physical North American version of football. His passing has improved substantially and despite his size he posses a considerable threat in the air. Sure he can jump but what impresses me is his positioning and ability to be in the place at the right time," the KCWfans.com praises the Indian International.

Apart from scoring the brace, Chhetri also rattled the bar in an occasion with a header and another header flew inches past the goal. His first goal came from a curling shot from outside the penalty area while the next was a textbook finish.

Sunil is definitely improving and lets hope that he makes the Wizards first team sooner rather than later.

Kory Buys writes  for FootballKerala.com

From the archive. First published on footballkerala.com on Monday 17 May 2010, restored from the site's 2012 database. Text as originally published.