Kansas City Travel to Columbus Crew Saturday for 1st Place
Kansas City faces the first-place Columbus Crew Saturday at 6:30 p.m. CT on Fox Soccer Channel with a chance to overtake Columbus for the Eastern Conference lead. The Wizards (3-2-1, 10 pts) currently trail the Crew (4-1-0, 12 pts) by just two points for the top spot in the Conference. Kansas City will play the third game of a six-game road swing Saturday after a 1-0 victory at the Chicago Fire and a 2-0 loss at Toronto FC to begin the road stretch.
Columbus possesses Major League Soccer's best record and, much like Kansas City, a trio of Argentine players. The Wizards boast Designated Player Claudio Lopez, playmaker Carlos Marinelli and forward Eloy Colombano from Argentina. Columbus employs Argentine playmaker Guillermo Barros Schelotto, forward Nicolas Hernandez and defender Gino Padula.
Schelotto has been a leader for Columbus since making his debut against the Wizards May 5, 2007. He has six goals and 14 assists in 27 career matches for Columbus and instantly became a fan favorite. Lopez has been very influential for Kansas City since joining the squad prior to the season. In six games, he has one goal and one assist and plays an important role in the Wizards attack.
KCW Reserves Move Into 1st Place with Come-From-Behind Victory Saturday
After falling behind 2-0 early, Kansas City rallied for its second win of the Reserve Division schedule Saturday following the MLS match in Toronto. Midfielder Ryan McMahen, defender Matt Marquess and midfielder Jonathan Leathers converted consecutive goals to earn all three points for the Wizards. Kansas City now leads the MLS Reserve Division table with a 2-0-1 record.
McMahen hit a rocket of a free kick from 24 yards out late in the first half to pull back a goal, then the Wizards scored in the 71st and 77th minutes to defeat Toronto. Marquess scored from close range after an excellent pass from midfielder Nelson Pizarro and flick header from Leathers. Pizarro then freed Leathers on a breakaway six minutes later for the winner. The KCW Reserves next face Columbus Sunday at 10 a.m. following the MLS match Saturday evening.
Lineups:
Toronto FC Reserves (0-1-0) - Brian Edwards, Todd Dunivant (Joey Melo 78), Julius James, Olivier Tebily, Pat Phelan, Gabe Gala, Kevin Harmse, Tyler Rosenlund, Jarrod Smith, Andrea Lombardo, Jeff Cunningham (Nana Attakora-Gyan 46)
Subs Not Used: Kilian Elkinson
KCW Reserves (2-0-1) - Eric Kronberg, Jonathan Leathers, Rauwshan McKenzie, Aaron Hohlbein, Matt Marquess, Nelson Pizarro, Ryan McMahen, Carlos Marinelli (Michael Kraus 33), Sasha Victorine (Yomby William 46), Eloy Colombano, Scott Sealy
Subs Not Used: Boris Pardo, Geoff Miles, Josh Howard
Scoring Summary:
TFC: Jarrod Smith (Jeff Cunningham) 6'
TFC: Jeff Cunnningham (Andrea Lombardo) 26'
KC: Ryan McMahen 43'
KC: Matt Marquess (Jonathan Leathers, Nelson Pizarro) 71'
KC: Jonathan Leathers (Nelson Pizarro) 77'
Misconduct Summary:
Caution - KC - Scott Sealy 10'
Caution - TFC - Kevin Harmse 12'
Caution - KC - Michael Kraus 58'
Caution - KC - Ryan McMahen 90+'
Sections 100-103 at CommunityAmerica Ballpark now General Admission Seats
To meet the high demand for general admission tickets, sections 100-103 behind baseball's home plate will now be sold as first-come, first-served general admission seats. A general admission ticket costs $15 at walk-up rates and now gives fans access to the grass berm and seats in sections 100-103.
The Jimmy Conrad Show Live From McFadden's at 8 p.m. Wednesday
The Jimmy Conrad Show will air Wednesday this week from McFadden's downtown. Conrad and voice of the Wizards Sean Wheelock will host the show from 8-9 p.m. CT from McFadden's, with the show broadcast live on 810 WHB in Kansas City, kcwizards.com and MLSnet.com. The show will feature guests from the Wizards and Crew.
Archives of The Jimmy Conrad Show are also available online at the Wizards podcast page.
Upcoming times for The Jimmy Conrad Show Wednesday's at McFadden's:
April 30 8-9 p.m. CT
May 7 8-9 p.m. CT
Weekly Press Conference Held Thursday
For the duration of the 2008 season, the Kansas City Wizards will hold a weekly press conference each Thursday at the pavilion adjacent to the team's Swope Park Training Center. Head Coach Curt Onalfo and midfielder Kerry Zavagnin will be available this week beginning at 12 p.m. Planet Sub sandwiches and cookies will be provided to all media members who attend. Each Kansas City Wizards practice will still be open to media, and outlets are encouraged to take advantage of the Wizards media policy.
Zona Wizards Airs Live Thursday on La Playa 1480 AM, Time Warner Cable Channel 5
Zona Wizards, the weekly Spanish-language radio and TV show, will air live this Thursday at 2 p.m. on La Playa 1480 AM and Time Warner Cable Channel 5. Hosted by Enrique Morales and Raul Villegas, Zona Wizards will feature Head Coach Curt Onalfo and a player each week.
Wizards Weekly to Air Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Wizards Weekly, Kansas City's weekly magazine show covering the Wizards will feature Head Coach Curt Onalfo and a player this week. Metro Sports will air Wizards Weekly three times per week.
Wizards Weekly show times:
Thursday's 9:30 p.m. CT
Friday's 6:30 p.m. CT
Saturday's 11:30 a.m. CT
Wizards Hold Clinic Wednesday for Northeast United Soccer Club
Who: M-F Davy Arnaud, GK Boris Pardo, M Lance Watson
When: Wednesday, April 30; 5:00-6:30 p.m.
Where: 6699 Lamar Avenue, Mission, KS
What: The players will participate in a clinic with Northeast United Soccer Club on April 30. The players will organize the clinic and run drills and scrimmage for over an hour on the soccer fields. Following, the Wizards will hold an autograph session for participants.
Wizards Host Ability Camp Wednesday at Swope Park
Who: M Sasha Victorine, M Roger Espinoza, D Aaron Hohlbein, M Jack Jewsbury, Assistant Coach Kris Kelderman
When: Wednesday, April 30; 5:30-7:00 p.m.
Where: Kansas City Wizards Swope Training Facility, 6310 Lewis Road, Kansas City, MO
What: The Kansas City Wizards are partnering up with the National Sports Center for the Disabled to hold their annual Ability Camp for children in Kansas City. The children will have the opportunity for the to play on the team's new fields at Swope and will receive prizes from the players after the clinic.
Starting 11 Girls to Attend Watch Parties Saturday
Who: Starting 11 Girls
When: Saturday, May 3; 6:30-9:00 p.m.
Where: Barley's Brewhaus (in Shawnee) and O'Dowds (at Zona Rosa)
What: The Kansas City Wizards will be holding official Watch Parties at these two locations. In addition to airing the Kansas City Wizards away game vs. the Columbus Crew, Starting 11 Girls will be on hand, giving out prizes and raffling off signed items.
