2104 Disney Pro Soccer Classic Kicks Off With Wins For Columbus, Sporting KC & Montreal
The 2014 Disney Pro Soccer Classic kicked off yesterday with four games at ESPN Wide World of Sports at Walt Disney World. In the first game of the series Columbus Crew defeated Toronto FC 3-1 in an entertaining game that saw some good football and some excellent goals.
Toronto featured new signing and US international Michael Bradley (pictured above right) but he was powerless to prevent the Crew playmaker Federico Higuaín (pictured above left) from curling a free kick past the Reds’ wall and newly acquired goalkeeper Julio Cesar in the 10th minutes. Two minutes later the lead was doubled as Josh Williams sweetly drilled home from the corner of the 18-yard box.
Toronto then came more into the game and managed to get one back in the 14th minute as an attempt on goal deflected off Crew defender Tyson Wahl and past goalkeeper Matt Lampson. The Crew sealed the game in the 61st minute when unsigned draft pick Adam Bedell slotted the ball home from Agustín Viana’s service.
The second game of the day was between New York Red Bulls and Sporting Kansas City. A dull affair saw only one goal as Jacob Peterson (pictured above) seized on a defensive error to slot the ball into the net in the 65th minute. Red Bulls, with Thierry Henry (pictured below) and Tim Cahill watching on from the sidelines, gave a disappointing performance rarely threatening the goal while MLS Cup Champions Sporting Kansas were hardly much better. A total of 11 shots were recorded all game with only two saves being required by either keeper.
The third game saw local favorites Orlando City Lions take on Philadelphia Union. The Lions gave their usual wholehearted performance and created several chances before Corey Hertzog (pictured below) found the net with a delightful lob over Union goalkeeper Zac MacMath in the 31st minute. The Union’s closest chance of the opening 45 minutes came from new signing Maurice Edu, who brought a fine save from Orlando goalkeeper Miguel Gallardo as he tipped away an effort headed into the top right corner of the net.
Orlando continued to be the more dangerous side after the half time break as they looked to exploit the pace of forward Dennis Chin and should have scored a second goal in the 55th minute as Chin saw his goal bound shot just tipped away by MacMath.
The Union were then rewarded for some good possession in the 73rd minute as Leo Fernandes, Fred and Pedro Ribeiro combined with several quick, one-touch passes just outside the box to create space just outside the 18 yard box. Fernandes latched on to the ball at the top of the box and fired it home past Carl Wosczcynski, who had replaced Gallardo at half time, to level the score and finish the tight work from the trio of Brazilians.
Orlando continued to push and a game winner looked to have arrived in the 77th minute as Chin, on the break, rounded the Union keeper only to see his angled shot hit the post. The game finished in a familiar 1-1 draw between these two sides. The third year in a row that that has happened.
The final game of the evening was between Montreal Impact and Brazilian side Fluminense who fielded their under 23 squad. It was a tight game settled by just one goal as Sanna Nyassi of the Impact scored in the 18th minute. The game’s only goal came when defender Hassoun Camara found the ball just inside the box, to the right side of goal. His left-footed shot towards the opposite post was pushed away by the goalkeeper Rufino, but fell kindly to Nyassi, the Gambian midfielder who made no mistake from close in.
The next round of games are on Saturday 22nd February and feature a 1pm kick off for Philadelphia Union against Columbus Crew. At 3pm Fluminense take on Sporting Kansas before the 6pm kick off when Montreal Impact face NY Red Bulls. The final game of the evening is at 8pm and sees Orlando City against Toronto FC. Should be a great day’s soccer!
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