The Crew opened its 2011 preseason exhibition schedule on Saturday at the Reach 11 Sports Complex in Phoeniz, where it played Sporting Kansas City to a 2-2 draw. The Black & Gold twice came back from one-goal deficits behind goals from Brazilian trialist Alex Fraga and Robbie Rogers from the penalty spot.
K.C. midfielder Jack Jewsbury opened the scoring inside of 10 minutes in the first of three 30-minute periods and former Crew forward Kei Kamara tallied in the second.
Fraga, a center back, powered a header off an Eddie Gaven corner kick past K.C.'s 2010 MLS All-Star goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen. The Crew's second goal came after referee Alex Prus awarded a penalty kick when Bernardo Anor was taken down in the box. Rogers stepped up to the spot to put his shot past goalkeeper Jon Kempin, K.C.'s first Homegrown Player, in the 83rd minute.
K.C. rookie Konrad Warzycha, the son of Crew head coach Robert, played the second period, while teammate and fellow former Ohio State Buckeye Roger Espinoza played the first.
The Crew returns to action on Tuesday (Feb. 8), when it will square off against the expansion Vancouver Whitecaps.
Goal Summary:
KC -- Jack Jewsbury -- 1st session
CLB -- Alex Fraga (Eddie Gaven) -- 1st session (21')
KC -- Kei Kamara (Teal Bunbury) -- 2nd session
CLB -- Robbie Rogers (penalty kick) -- 3rd session (83')
Columbus Lineups:
First 45 minutes: Caleb Patterson-Sewell, Sebastian Miranda, Alex Fraga, Chad Marshall, Shaun Francis, Eddie Gaven, Rusmir, Emmanuel Ekpo, Dilly Duka, Jeff Cunningham, Justin Meram
Second 45 minutes: Ray Burse, Rich Balchan, Kwaku Nyamekye, Andy Iro, Josh Gardner, Leandre Griffit, Kevin Burns, Santiago Prim, (Cole Grossman 71'), Robbie Rogers, Emilio Renteria, Bernardo Anor
VIEW FULL PRESEASON ROSTER
Kansas City Lineups:
First Session: Jimmy Nielsen, Chance Myers, Trialist 1, Trialist 2, Roger Espinoza, Sheldon Bateau, Jack Jewsbury, Craig Rocastle, Trialist 3, Adda Djeziri, Birhahim Diop
Second Session: Eric Kronberg, Michael Harrington, Daneil Cyrus, Matt Besler, Trialist 4, Konrad Warzycha, Graham Zusi, Korede Aiyegbusi, Kei Kamara, Omar Bravo, Teal Bunbury
Third Session: Jon Kempin, Kevin Ellis, Trialist 5, Mike Jones, J.T. Murray, Stephane Auvray, Davy Arnaud, Trialist 6, Sam Scales, Franklin Salas, C.J. Sapong
