KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Wide receiver Chad Ochocinco has caught a break.

His budding soccer career, which even he admits is a long shot, has been extended to include a practice game with a Major League Soccer team.

Sporting Kansas City has asked the six-time Pro Bowl wide receiver to play in their reserve team’s game on Monday against a local squad.

Ochocinco, who says he actually preferred soccer until he was persuaded to focus entirely on football after the 10th grade, began a four-day trial with the MLS team on Wednesday in part as a way to stay fit and keep busy during the NFL lockout. The Cincinnati Bengals star admitted he was rusty after so many years away from the game.

He seemed nervous and a bit out of shape on his first day but a Sporting KC spokesman said he appeared much more comfortable during his second practice.