Kansas City 2, Atlas 1
By Robert Whitman
July 11, 2008
KANSAS CITY, Kan. - Michael Kraus scored in second-half stoppage time Friday to lift the Wizards to a 2-1 victory over Atlas, from Mexico's top division.
Kraus knocked in the rebound of Nelson Pizzaro's shot to lift the Wizards to victory in an international exhibition at Community America Ballpark.
The play was set up by a quick free kick taken by Kraus in the Atlas end after a handball committed by Atlas.
Pizzaro, discovered at an open tryout in February, put the Wizards ahead in the 37th minute with the game's first goal. Pizzaro took a pass with his back to goal in the penalty area from Jonathan Leathers, turned and shot with his left foot past Atlas goalie Jorge Bava.
Ulises Mendivil tied the game just before halftime for Atlas, a quarterfinalist in this year's Copa Libertadores. His floating header in the penalty area with Wizards goalie Eric Kronberg off his line crossed the line before a Kansas City defender cleared it.
Atlas made numerous substitutions in the second half, and added to the substitutions the Wizards made, the game lacked a smooth flow.
Kansas City 2, New York 1
By Robert Whitman
July 10, 2008
KANSAS CITY, Kan. - Jimmy Conrad and Davy Arnaud scored on either side of halftime Thursday to lift the Wizards to a 2-1 victory over New York.
The Wizards had to cling to the lead in the second half when Juan Pablo Angel scored in the 71st minute to cut Kansas City's lead in half.
The Wizards climbed out of the basement in the Eastern Conference of Major League Soccer, even with New York on points but ahead on the head-to-head tie-breaker.