Kansas City Brass News Release
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- While it is not unusual for the USL Premier Development League’s Kansas City Brass to play training matches against the Major League Soccer’s Sporting Kansas City, Monday’s match attracted greater attention when NFL player Chad Ochocinco played for Sporting as part of his trial with the club.
Ochocinco played more than 50 minutes in the match, which was divided into three 30-minute periods. Ochocinco entered the match in the second 30-minute period and played until the end of the final 30-minute period.
The Brass finished on top in the scrimmage, leading 3-2. Ochocinco had a scoring opportunity in the final 30-period when a mistake by the Brass defense left Ochocinco with an opening to shoot in the Brass penalty area, but a Brass defender quickly moved in to disrupt the scoring opportunity without a shot being taken.
“He (Ochocinco) is someone who loves the game and he’s got ability," Brass coach Lincoln Roblee said. "He is trying to pick up a game that he has been away from. Just like any other athlete in any sport, it’s difficult to complete at the level you want to be at when you have been away for so long."
Midfielder Justin Beck, who scored the Brass’ third goal, had a chance to chat with Ochocinco while the Sporting Kansas City trainer was called on to the field to attend to an injured player.
“I told him he was invited over for dinner because my mama wanted to come over for family dinner,” Beck said. “He said he wanted to come, but he said if he liked it he wasn’t going to leave.”
Just as Ochocinco was on trial with Sporting, every player on the field was evaluated, including Brass players. The Brass play about six training matches a season against Sporting.
“All of the players, first and foremost, they want to make an impression on Sporting KC because we have a bunch of ambitious players that are hoping to go to the next level,” Roblee said. “This game was something for Ochocinco to give himself an opportunity, but also for everyone on the Brass to show themselves well.”
Ochocinco is available for the trial because the NFL owners locked out the league’s players in a collective bargaining dispute. Sporting then invited the six-time Pro Bowl selection to try out with the club. Ochocinco, 33, last played in a competitive soccer match while he was in high school.
Sporting recently signed defender Kevin Ellis, who played with the Brass for two seasons. Former Brass players Ryan Raybould and Will John also played for Sporting (when they were known as the Kansas City Wizards). Matt Besler, current Sporting defender, and Jack Jewsbury, a midfielder who played eight seasons for Sporting before a recent trade to the Portland Timbers, also have Brass experience.
Ellis scored one of the two Sporting goals.
The first 30 minutes saw Sporting field a team of players who did not play against the Chicago Fire on Saturday.
Garrett Webb put the Brass ahead about 10 minutes into the match after winning a scramble for the ball in the Sporting penalty area. Ellis put his head on a loose ball on the doorstep of the Brass goal about five minutes later to equalize for Sporting. Webb scored his second before the end of the first 30-minute period when he won a battle for the ball in the area against Sporting goalkeeper Eric Kronberg.
There was no scoring in the second 30 minutes. Sporting inserted a few players from its academy team to mix in with the professional reserves.
Sporting had a nearly all academy line-up plus Ochocinco for the final 30 minutes.
Derek Schrick, who plays for the Under-16 academy side and Rockhurst (Kansas City, Mo.) High School, made a high-quality finish of a long ball played into the penalty area to score Sporting’s second goal.
Beck then polished off a quick attack for the third Brass’ goal, finishing a well-placed pass from inside the Sporting area by former Manchester United trainee Tom Black.
“Everyone I thought represented themselves very well,” Roblee said. “Anytime you get on the field with Sporting KC (and) MLS competition, you have to be at your best. And I thought today, an awful lot of players were at their best.”