Wizards beat FCD in Saturn Challenge Cup
By Robert Whitman (MLSnet.com Staff)Scott Sealy made the Kansas City Wizards' final preseason match a successful one Saturday night in a 1-0 victory over FC Dallas in the inaugural Saturn Challenge Cup at Moore High School Stadium.
Jack Jewsbury found Sealy with a diagonal ball from the middle of the field and Sealy did the rest, losing one defender before putting a shot from the top of the area low past FC Dallas goalkeeper Ray Burse just inside the left post in the 32nd minute.
The game was the final dress rehearsal for the Wizards, who open the season April 1 at home against Columbus. Both teams played reduced strength sides. Wizards defender Jimmy Conrad, forwards Eddie Johnson and Josh Wolff, and midfielder Kerry Zavagnin all played Wednesday for the United States against Germany. Meanwhile, FC Dallas played without forward Carlos Ruiz, defender Greg Vanney and midfielder Simo Valakari, all of whom played Wednesday in 4-1 victory over Mexican club Atlas in Frisco, Texas.
The Wizards had more and better scoring chances from the start, including four corners in the first 13 minutes. One of those corners was headed just wide of the right post by Ryan Pore.
FC Dallas played mostly long balls from near the halfway line to try and generate offense in the first half. The final pass was lacking, though, and FC Dallas had no shots on goal in the first 45 minutes. Wizards goalie Bo Oshoniyi punched away one high cross for a corner kick at the right post from the left wing that looked like it would have gone into the net.
Both teams made numerous substitutions in the second half, but the quick pace of the game never seemed to slow on the night where temperatures dropped into the lower 50s during the game.
Davy Arnaud almost put the Wizards ahead by two goals in the 50th minute, trickling a shot toward the left post that FC Dallas defender Justin Moore cleared off the line for a corner kick.
FC Dallas substitute Dominic Oduro had a clear shot at goal from the top of the area in the 57th minute, but shot high over the goal.
Arnaud nearly provided Sealy's second goal in the 67th minute. Arnaud whipped a cross in from the right wing, but Sealy's header went three feet above the crossbar.
Scott Sealy scored the only goal in Saturday's preseason match against FC Dallas. (Eric Schlueter/WireImage.com)
