The Kansas City Wizards no longer have to stay up nights pondering those confusing playoff scenarios. Their mission is now clear. A win or a tie at New York next week sends Kansas City to the playoffs.
Better to be in a must-tie situation going on the road than a must-win situation. The Wizards got to that juncture on Saturday night when they closed down their Arrowhead Stadium regular-season tenure with a 2-1 victory against Chivas USA while the New York Red Bulls and Colorado Rapids played to a 1-1 tie.
Just don't lose. That's Kansas City's mantra heading for Giants Stadium. Based on the way his club has been performing recently, Wizards interim head coach Brian Bliss is confident his team can go off on a business trip next weekend and return with a playoff berth.
"I think we have played well since I've been in charge here," Bliss said. "I can't recall one game where we walked off the field and said 'geez, we got it handed to us today.'"
The Wizards, who endured an ugly slump earlier this season before Bliss took over the head coaching reins from Bob Gansler, climbed to the brink of a postseason invitation by holding off Chivas on the strength of a penalty kick goal by Jose Burciaga Jr. that snapped a 1-1 tie in the 74th minute.
Chivas goalkeeper Brad Guzan got a hand on Burciaga's powerful low drive, but too late.
"With my kind of power on the ball, it benefits me," Burciaga said. "By the time he hit it, it was already in the back of the net."
Burciaga's goal was his eighth of the season. That's the second highest total on the team and ranks first among all MLS defenders.
Burciaga also contributed an assist as Dave van den Bergh opened the scoring with a header in the 50th minute. The Wizards had put considerable pressure on Guzan to that point, but hadn't been able to break through until the Burciaga-van den Bergh play following a yellow card.
"It was kind of like a decoy play," Burciaga said. "Dave did a great job of creating some space for himself."
Burciaga expressed confidence the Wizards can go to New York and get a win or tie to keep their season going.
"We know what we have to do," Burciaga said. "We put ourselves in a hole, but everybody can see the talent. Hands down, we've underachieved. Guys are serious about that and we feel that if we can get into the postseason, we're going to make a run at it."
The Wizards saw their 1-0 lead disappear in the 71st minute when Claudio Suarez's penalty kick got past goalkeeper Bo Oshoniyi. But Oshoniyi stopped everything else and had some key saves in the second half. Three minutes after Suarez's penalty kick, Burciaga came through with his own penalty kick to put Kansas City on top for good.
"Chivas looked like they are playing for a tie in the first half," Oshoniyi said. "Then we got one in the second and it forced them to come out of their shell a little bit. They tried to press the game and I was able to come up with some saves and cut out a few crosses.
"All in all, I think it was a great team effort and something we can build on going into New York. We definitely have to get a result, whether it's a tie or a win."
The Kansas City defense was solid even as the Wizards tried to press the issue offensively. "We were sharp tonight," Oshoniyi said. "We were on the ball real quick."
A crowd of 15,878 turned out for the last regular-season game at Arrowhead. Chivas had an ample contingent of fans, adding to the atmosphere.
"The last two home games have been well attended," Bliss said. "They are behind our guys and we feel there's almost a 12th man type of thing. Give Chivas credit, too. They travel well. Wherever they go on the road, they draw some fans just because of the Chivas name."
Although the Wizards dominated the attack in the first half, they went into the break with the game still scoreless.
"I told the guys we were knocking on the door and we'd get one," Bliss said. "We needed to be patient, but yet urgent. We didn't want to run seven, eight or nine guys into the attack and get a counter."
Forward Eddie Johnson was not on the bench Saturday night and Bliss said he wouldn't comment publicly on Johnson's absence.
"That's something between Eddie and myself and Eddie and the club," Bliss said.
For those who took the field on Saturday, the hard work paid off and now the Wizards have a decent shot at joining the playoff party.
A draw will do in New York. But that's easier said than done.
Robert Falkoff is a contributor for MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
