The Kansas City Wizards look to remain unbeaten for the 2008 season at home tonight at 7 p.m. CT at CommunityAmerica Ballpark in Kansas City, Kan. Kansas City (2-0-0) plays host to the banged-up New England Revolution (1-1-0), who come in with a decisive 3-0 victory over Houston Dynamo and a 4-0 loss to Chicago Fire under their belts. The game will be broadcast live on television and radio in both English (Metro Sports; 1480 AM) and Spanish (Time Warner Cable Channel 5; 1340 AM).
Kansas City is returning to health while New England will be without multiple key players. Wizards midfielder Davy Arnaud has improved to doubtful for the first time this season after off-season surgery and rookie first-round selections Chance Myers and Roger Espinoza will be available for selection for the second-straight week after suffering injuries late in pre-season training.
New England will be without usual starters Taylor Twellman (torn meniscus), Steve Ralston (dislocated shoulder) and Jeff Larentowicz (red card suspension). Defender Chris Albright is listed as questionable with a bruised bone and midfielder Wells Thompson is probable with a bone spur. Larentowicz was ejected early in last Thursday's 4-0 loss to Chicago for a hard challenge on former Wizards defender Brandon Prideaux.
The Wizards have delighted fans thus far at cozy CommunityAmerica Ballpark with a 2-0 victory over rival D.C. United to open the season in front of a sold-out crowd and a thrilling 3-2 win last Saturday afternoon against Colorado Rapids. Newly signed forwards Claudio Lopez and Ivan Trujllo scored in the win over United to begin their MLS careers in style. Defender and captain Jimmy Conrad tallied his first-career two-goal performance off Carlos Marinelli set pieces last Saturday before substitute forward Scott Sealy earned victory for the Wizards with a strike in the 87th minute. After Conrad's second goal and Sealy's winner, players jumped over the field boards to celebrate with Cauldron members.
Kansas City has maintained its attack-first mentality through the first two matches and is currently second in MLS with five goals scored. Head Coach Curt Onalfo has continued to display his will to win in any situation, substituting a forward for a defender in the 83rd minute last Saturday's victory. Onalfo's decision paid off, as the game-winner came four minutes later.
