Kansas City Wizards head coach Curt Onalfo could be confirmed as the MLS All-Star coach as early as Wednesday when the Wizards visit the Columbus Crew.
Onalfo, whose team has two games remaining before the All-Star coach is selected on June 25, needs just two points to win the honor. A win in either of the Wizards' matches this week - the second comes on Sunday vs. Houston Dynamo - or ties in both would do the trick.
The MLS All-Stars will take on Scottish powerhouse Celtic FC on July 19 (9 p.m. ET, ESPN2) in the league's annual midsummer showcase. The coach at the helm of the team with the most points per game as of the completion of games on June 24 will lead the MLS All-Stars into battle.
A win either Wednesday or Sunday would mean the Wizards could have no less than 1.92 points per game at the end of the day Sunday. None of the other four contenders - the New England Revolution, D.C. United, Chivas USA and the New York Red Bulls - could reach that number. Two ties would leave the Wizards and Revs level at 1.83 points per game, but the Wizards hold the tiebreaker.
A host of permutations could lead to someone other than Onalfo taking charge of the MLS All-Stars.
Three of the four remaining contenders - the Revs' Steve Nicol, United's Tom Soehn and Chivas USA's Preki - must hope that the Wizards gain no more than one point from their next two matches.
In addition, Nicol needs a win against Toronto FC on Saturday, Soehn needs a win against Real Salt Lake on Saturday and a Revolution loss or tie, and Preki needs a win against Dynamo on Thursday and for the Revs and United both to lose or tie. United hold the tiebreaker ahead of Chivas USA.
The fourth contender, Bruce Arena of the New York Red Bulls, is idle this week with his team set at 1.75 points per game. For Arena to be the All-Star coach, the Wizards must lose both of their games this week, and the Revs, United and Chivas must all either tie or lose.
Jason Halpin is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
TEAM |
PPG |
MAX |
MIN |
GAMES LEFT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Kansas City |
2.0 |
2.17 |
1.67 |
2 - at CLB, vs. HOU |
New York |
1.75 |
1.75 |
1.75 |
none |
New England |
1.72 |
1.83 |
1.58 |
1 - vs. TOR |
D.C. United |
1.70 |
1.82 |
1.55 |
1 - at RSL |
Chivas USA |
1.70 |
1.82 |
1.55 |
1 - at HOU |
