Sporting Kansas City completed its first two-week stay in Phoenix, Arizona with a pre-season doubleheader on Tuesday. Sporting faced the Houston Dynamo and U.S. Under-18 National Team at the Reach 11 Sports Complex prior to returning to Kansas City on Tuesday night.
Houston, who will join Sporting in the Eastern Conference this season, prevailed 3-1 in a match that lasted approximately 80 minutes and was broken into three separate periods. The first session saw Kansas City’s attacking trio of Omar Bravo, Teal Bunbury and Kei Kamara create several chances, but it was Houston who got on the scoreboard first on an own goal with less than five minutes remaining. Sporting trialist Daneil Cyrus, a 20-year-old defender from Trinidad and Tobago, was credited with the own goal following a miscommunication with goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen.
Things got worse for Kansas City in the second session, beginning with an early penalty kick awarded to Houston after defender Shavar Thomas was whistled for bringing down Dynamo striker Will Bruin inside the box. Jason Garey successfully converted the penalty to give Houston a 2-0 lead in the 37th minute. Sporting was then reduced to ten men midway through the second period following a red card to defender Roger Espinoza for a reckless tackle on Houston trialist Richard Edwards.
The second period then came to an abrupt end at the 20-minute mark due to an injury suffered by Sporting Kansas City striker Teal Bunbury on a collision with Houston defender Andrew Hainault. Bunbury, a recent addition to the U.S. Men’s National Team, was taken to a local hospital and tests confirmed a dislocated elbow on his right arm. He is expected to return in two to four weeks.
SEE MORE: Photo slideshow from the scrimmage
Kansas City conceded for a third time as Hainault tapped in a free kick late in the third session, but Sporting pulled one back in the game’s final moments on a cross from trialist Scott Lorenz. Forward Chance Myers was well positioned at the backpost to finish the chance and end an otherwise disappointing defeat on a positive note. It marked the first goal scored on Houston in three pre-season matches, after the Dynamo had defeated FC Dallas 4-0 and Houston Baptist University 2-0 in previous pre-season outings.
READ MORE: Houston’s take on Tuesday’s pre-season game
Sporting then used a mixed squad for a second scrimmage against the U.S. Under-18 Men’s National Team, currently in training camp in Arizona. U-18’s midfielder Khiry Shelton scored the game’s lone goal in the 14th minute as U.S. youth team held on to the 1-0 lead for the remaining 45 minutes despite an offensive onslaught from KC.
Sporting will enjoy five days in Kansas City this week before heading back to Phoenix on Monday, February 21st for the second two-week stint in the Arizona capital to prepare for the upcoming 2011 season. Click here for the full 2011 pre-season schedule leading up to First Kick on March 19th at Chivas USA.
Sporting Kansas City vs. Houston Dynamo
February 15, 2011 -- Reach 11 Sports Complex, Phoenix AZ
Preseason scrimmage
Scoring Summary:
HOU -- Own goal (Daneil Cyrus) 27
HOU -- Jason Garey (penalty kick) 37
HOU -- Andrew Hainault (unassisted) 84
SKC -- Chance Myers (Scott Lorenz) 85
Sporting Kansas City -- Jimmy Nielsen (Eric Kronberg 45), Michael Harrington (Luke Sassano 60), Daneil Cyrus (Omar Colley 30), Shavar Thomas (Sheldon Bateau 60), Roger Espinoza (Scott Lorenz 50), Michael Mravec (Craig Rocastle 60), Stephane Auvray (Davy Arnaud 60), Milos Stojcev (Jack Jewsbury 60), Omar Bravo (Adda Djeziri 45), Teal Bunbury (Birahim Diop 50), Kei Kamara (Chance Myers 60).
Houston Dynamo -- Tally Hall (Tyler Deric 46), Hunter Freeman (Kofi Sarkodie 46), Bobby Boswell (Eddie Robinson 46), Jermaine Taylor (Andrew Hainault 46), Mike Chabala (Jordan Graye 46), Danny Cruz (Alex Dixon 46), Richard Edwards (Lovel Palmer 46), Geoff Cameron (JeVaughn Watson 46), Corey Ashe (Brad Davis 46), Will Bruin (Cam Weaver 46), Jason Garey (Brian Ching 46).
Sporting Kansas City vs. United States Under-18 National Team
February 15, 2011 -- Reach 11 Sports Complex, Phoenix AZ
Preseason scrimmage
Sporting Kansas City – Jimmy Nielsen (Eric Kronberg); Scott Lorenz, Matt Besler (Mike Jones 30), Sheldon Bateau, Luke Sassano (Kevin Ellis 30); Jack Jewsbury (Korede Aiyegbusi 30), Craig Rocastle (Konrad Warzycha 30), Davy Arnaud (Chance Myers 30); Adda Djeziri (Graham Zusi 30), Birahim Diop (C.J. Sapong 30), Chance Myers (Travis Bowen 30)
Scoring Summary:
U.S. -- Khyri Shelton (unassisted) 27
