EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Two players were treated for heat exhaustion and taken off the field on stretchers Wednesday as the Kansas City Wizards and MetroStars played to a 0-0 tie.
Wizards defender Jimmy Conrad was treated for dehydration and arrhythmia in the locker room. MetroStars defender Edgar Bartholomeu also needed assistance as temperatures reached 118 degrees on the field at humid Giants Stadium.
Conrad, 26, felt his heart begin to race after the first overtime. He took a knee and asked for help.
"My heart sometimes races and I can't control it," Conrad said. "I got a little scared and thought it could be worse. I attribute it to the heat more than anything."
Conrad received fluids intravenously and said he felt better.
"I talked them out of going to the hospital," Conrad said. "I could have walked off. I had one IV bag and I was back to normal. It wasn't my intention to give everyone a scare, but I was scared myself."
Bartholomeu was sitting up in the trainer's room in the MetroStars' locker room.
Several players questioned the idea of playing an afternoon match in August.
Only 10,737 people attended the game that featured little action and few scoring opportunities. Kansas City outshot the MetroStars 10-4.
"It probably wasn't the best thing to do," said MetroStars midfielder Mark Lisi, who played the entire game. "It was tough out there. It was tough to breathe. Hopefully, we won't have to play another game like that again."
MetroStars reserve forward John Wolyniec entered in the 53rd minute and felt the effects of the conditions.
"I lost my breath and was fighting for air and I didn't even play the whole game," he said. "I wasn't too concerned before the game, but once you stepped on the field, you could feel it. It was pretty hot on that field."
The tie left the MetroStars with an 8-5-6 record. Kansas City is 7-5-7.
Igor Simutenkov, the Wizards' second-leading scorer, pulled a hamstring in the 32nd minute and had to leave the game.
Tony Meola had two good saves on Wolyniec in the second half to keep the game scoreless.
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