Wizards Return to Preseason with Two Draws

The Wizards returned to preseason play out in Arizona today with 2-60 minute games against Chivas USA. The first team was made up more of the Wizards likely first team as the Wizards fielded; Louis Crayton, Chance Myers, Pablo Escobar, Jimmy Conrad, Roger Espinoza, Birahim Diop, Stephane Auvray, Davy Arnaud, Ryan Smith, Josh Wolff, Kei Kamara. The Wizards fell behind on a goal by Mariano Trujillo late in the first half of the first game. At half time, Escobar made way for Iranian trialist Shahriar Dastan. KC found the equalizer half way through the second half, as Smith appeared to be the catalist, as he intercepted a pass, fed Kamara, who in turn fed Wolff who finished to tie the game at one. Based on the tweets by Robb Heineman during the game, Smith and Espinoza both has solid games in their 60 minute shifts.

In the second game, the team KC put out featured a lot more Wizards from last year, with Boris Pardo, Jonathan Leathers, Aaron Hohlbein, Matt Besler, Michael Harrington, Santiago Hirsig, Graham Zusi, Korede Aiyegbusi, Alexei Casian, Michael Kraus, and Zoltan Hercegfalvi. Eric Kronberg and Lance Watson made their first appearances of the preseason coming on for Pardo and Aiyegbusi at half time as well as Mauro Fuzetti coming on for Hirsig. Both team had chances in the second game, but neither one was able to find net as the second game ended 0-0 between the two teams.

Not appearing for KC today in the game were goalkeeper, Jimmy Nielsen, who has yet to join the team in preseason, first round pick Teal Bunbury, and rumored Moldovan signing Igor Kostrov. KC will play again on Friday against the other LA team, the Galaxy.