KANSAS CITY WIZARDS v NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION
ARROWHEAD STADIUM, Kansas City, Mo.
7 p.m. ET (MetroSports; TV38)
Aug. 19, 2007 (WEEK 20) / MLS Game #129
A massive game in the Eastern Conference is ahead on Sunday evening as the Kansas City Wizards play host to the New England Revolution, the teams separated by seven points in the division. For the Wizards, it's the back end of a home-and-home series against the Revolution; they haven't played since the 2-0 New England win at Gillette Stadium, though the Revs have had three games in between. The game will also set up some real crunch games ahead: Next week, the Wizards face a home-and-home series with the Chicago Fire, while the Revs have conference battles with New York and D.C. United - who are tied for second place - over the next two weekends.
REFEREE:
Jair Marrufo. SAR (bench): C.J. Morgante; JAR (opposite): Jose Corro; 4th: Hilario Grajeda
MLS Career: 61 games; FC/gm: 28.9; Y/gm: 3.5; R: 15; pens: 25
Games involving Wizards: P3 W2 L0 T1; FC/gm: 28.7; Y/gm: 3.3; R: 1; pens: 0
Games involving Revolution: P10 W2 L4 T4; FC/gm: 26.1; Y/gm: 2.4; R: 1; pens: 3
INJURY REPORT:
KANSAS CITY WIZARDS - OUT: MF Ryan McMahen (torn ACL); PROBABLE: MF A.J. Godbolt (knee tendonitis) ... NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION - OUT: MF Joe Franchino (R peroneal tendon surgery); QUESTIONABLE: MF Steve Ralston (flu/L knee sprain); FW Pat Noonan (R groin strain); PROBABLE: DF Michael Parkhurst (R knee sprain); FW Adam Cristman (L turf toe); DF Marshall Leonard (L Achilles tendonitis)
SUSPENDED:
none
WARNINGS:
SUSPENDED NEXT YELLOW CARD: KC: Davy Arnaud, Jose Burciaga Jr., Jack Jewsbury, Carlos Marinelli ... NE: Jay Heaps, Avery John, Shalrie Joseph, Jeff Larentowicz
SUSPENDED AFTER TWO YELLOW CARDS: KC: Nick Garcia, Eddie Johnson, Kerry Zavagnin ... NE: Andy Dorman, James Riley, Khano Smith, Wells Thompson
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: none
HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (31 meetings): Wizards 15 wins (1 shootout), 48 goals ... Revolution 9 wins (1 shootout), 40 goals ... Ties 7
AT KANSAS CITY (14 meetings): Wizards 7 wins (1 shootout), 19 goals ... Revolution 4 wins (0 shootout), 16 goals ... Ties 3
• This is the third and final league meeting scheduled between the teams this season, the lone encounter at Arrowhead Stadium. The teams split their first two meetings of the year, both at Gillette Stadium, the Wizards winning 4-3 on May 26, while the Revolution won 2-0 on Aug. 2 in the last game for the Wizards - though New England has had three games in between.
• The Revolution victory at Gillette Stadium was their first victory in eight meetings, since a 2-0 win on June 11, 2005. The teams played to draws in four of the seven games in between, with the Wizards winning the other three.
• It was also the Revolution's first home win against Kansas City since Sept. 7, 1999. In the seven-plus seasons since, the Wizards had won seven of the meetings, with four draws. It was New England's first win against Kansas City at Gillette Stadium/cmgi Field. All four previous New England wins in the series came at the old Foxboro Stadium.
• A year ago, the teams played to draws in three of their four meetings, including both games in Foxborough. The Wizards took the season series in the first meeting of the season in Kansas City. No team scored more than a single goal in any of the four meetings.
• Coaches record: Steve Nicol v KC: P17 W3 L7 D7 ... Curt Onalfo vs. NE: P2 W1 L1 D0
2007 (MLS):
5/26: NE 3, KC 4 (Ralston 11; Twellman 23; Joseph 69 - Arnaud 25; Johnson 26, 38, 82)
8/2: NE 2, KC 0 (Noonan 55; Cristman 91+)
• A hat trick from Eddie Johnson - his first in back-to-back games, an MLS record, gave the Wizards a 4-3 win on May 26 at Gillette Stadium in the first meeting between the teams this season. Steve Ralston gave the Revolution an early lead (11), but within a three-minute span the game was 2-2 as Taylor Twellman doubled the lead, then Davy Arnaud and Eddie Johnson answered for Kansas City.
• Johnson's second gave the Wizards the lead before the half was out, but Sharlie Joseph converted from the penalty spot to level terms again. Johnson completed his hat trick though eight minutes from time for the winner.
• The three goals in three minutes was a minute shy of the MLS record, set in 2000 when the Miami Fusion and MetroStars contrived to score three goals in a two-minute span, and in 2003 when D.C. United scored three goals in two minutes of stoppage time against the Revolution at Gillette Stadium. It was the 10th time in MLS history three goals were scored in a three-minute gap.
• On Aug. 2, the Revolution defeated the Wizards 2-0 in a top-of-the-table clash at Gillette Stadium. The Revolution took the lead in the 55th minute through birthday boy Pat Noonan. Khano Smith swung in a cross from the left flank and Taylor Twellman rose up at the far post to head it back across the goalmouth. Noonan came in at the back side to bundle it in, his third consecutive game with a goal.
• New England sealed the match in stoppage time. Reis found Adam Cristman in the center circle with a quick outlet throw, and he knocked it first time to Steve Ralston on the right. Ralston carries forward before sliding a centering pass back into the path of Cristman who and turned and gone, and the rookie settled before slotting home his fourth goal on the campaign.
• Here's Nicol's team (3-4-1-2): Matt Reis - Jay Heaps, Michael Parkhurst, Avery John - Steve Ralston, Shalrie Joseph, Jeff Larentowicz, Khano Smith - Andy Dorman (Wells Thompson 79) - Taylor Twellman, Pat Noonan (Adam Cristman 85). Substitutes Not Used: Bryan Byrne, Gary Flood, Brad Knighton, Marshall Leonard, James Riley
• Here's Onalfo's team (4-3-1-2): Kevin Hartman - Jack Jewsbury (Ryan Raybould 70), Jimmy Conrad, Nick Garcia, Jose Burciaga Jr. - Sasha Victorine (Yura Movsisyan 64), Kerry Zavagnin, Michael Harrington (Kurt Morsink 80) - Carlos Marinelli - Davy Arnaud, Eddie Johnson. Substitutes Not Used: Eric Kronberg, Ryan Pore, Tyson Wahl, Lance Watson
KANSAS CITY WIZARDS
The Kansas City Wizards return to action to complete the back end of their home-and-home series with the Revolution - though the Revs have played three games in between. The Wizards sit in fourth place in the Eastern Conference with 29 points from 19 matches, a point behind the second-place between D.C. United and the New York Red Bulls and seven behind the Revolution.
TEAM NEWS
• Wizards head coach Curt Onalfo made one change to the team that came back for a late 3-2 win at home against Chivas USA the previous weekend. Jose Burciaga Jr. returned from suspension to come in at right back, for Ryan Raybould.
• "It was a very tight game. Both teams had chances to put the ball in the back of the net. They happened to get their chance in the first half, and we pushed the game at the end to try to get a goal and got denied several times," Onalfo said. "It's certainly a tough one. We felt like we had a pretty good performance. Quite frankly, I think the Revolution was a little bit better tonight, and that's basically what it boils down to."
• In the Revolution, the Wizards met a team that was much like themselves in the effort they put into the game.
• "I thought today that we played pretty well. Unfortunately, I don't think we've threatened as much as we could have. They have a great team; the guys won't quit working. I think a lot of players after scoring the first goal would quit. It shows how hardworking they were. They got a ton of shots, and they did a lot better with their shots than we did," said Kevin Hartman. Said Onalfo: "We're a team that tries to push the game on the road. We don't sit back. We put a lot of effort into the game, and then when you get scored upon on the road it's pretty exhausting."
• After Sunday's game at Arrowhead Stadium, the Wizards will turn right around and play host to the Chicago Fire on Wednesday. But that's the first of another home-and-home series for the Wizards - the teams will face each other again four nights later at Toyota Park, the first of three successive games on the road for K.C.
• "We seem to make a habit of falling behind in every game this season whether we're on the road or at home," Jimmy Conrad said. "It's not something we're uncomfortable with, but at the same time New England has a lot of experience led by Matt Reis and Shalrie (Joseph), and they do a good job of making sure to keep everybody tight and limited our chances tonight. They did a good job not making us as dangerous as we usually are."
• While the Wizards will begin a stretch of five games in 14 days with the Revolution match, they were pleased with the mini-vacation of nearly three weeks without a competitive match.
• "I think (the long break) is pretty good. It's a time to kind of reflect, and kind of see what we can do a little bit better," Conrad said. "At the same time, get our legs some rest, and get us focused for the stretch run, which we all know is the most important part of the season for Major League Soccer."
• Still, for some teams it could be tough to turn things back on again after a long break. Not for the Wizards, said Jack Jewsbury to the Kansas City Star. "It's tough, but the group of guys we have ...," he said. "We're pushing each other day-in, day-out. It feels almost like a game-day environment out here every day which should certainly help when we have to go out and play."
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION
The New England Revolution suffered a second loss in their last three games - both by 3-0 scorelines - as the Colorado Rapids defeated a conference leader for the second successive week on Thursday evening at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. The Revolution still lead the East, with 36 points from 21 games, six points ahead of both D.C. United and the New York Red Bulls coming into the weekend and still tied with FC Dallas for the best record in the league.
LAST MATCH
• The Rapids had put an end to their 10-game winless streak in their last game, a 1-0 victory against then-Western Conference leader Houston Dynamo, while the Revolution got back to their winning ways with a 1-0 victory against the Los Angeles Galaxy.
• Colorado picked up right where they had left off, getting the opening goal in the 10th minute. A Terry Cooke cross was headed back across goal by Colin Clark, and while Revs 'keeper Matt Reis smothered the resulting close-range from Conor Casey, Jovan Kirovski came sliding in to bang home the rebound.
• Clark was again at the heart of the second Rapids goal. After skipping past one defender on the left, he cut into the area where he was tripped up by Jay Heaps, and referee Jorge Gonzalez pointed to the spot. Kirovski hammered his shot into the right side of the goal as Reis went the other way for his fifth goal on the season, third from the penalty spot.
• Clark had been dangerous all night and finally had a point to show when he set up the Rapids' third in the 76th minute. His long ball over the top found Omar Cummings racing in alone on goal, and the Jamaica native lashed home a sharp finish from the top of the box for his first MLS goal.
• Clark had two more great chances over the final stretch, including one where Reis made a fine reaction save, but a goal just wasn't going to come for him on the night.
• Revolution head coach Steve Nicol made one change to the team that defeated the Galaxy the Sunday before. Flu-like symptoms kept Steve Ralston out of the available player pool, so Wells Thompson came in at a wide midfield role.
• Here's Nicol's team (3-4-1-2): Matt Reis, Jay Heaps, Michael Parkhurst, Avery John - Wells Thompson (James Riley 46), Jeff Larentowicz (Gary Flood 87), Shalrie Joseph, Khano Smith - Andy Dorman - Pat Noonan (Adam Cristman 26), Taylor Twellman. Substitutes Not Used: Kyle Helton, Marshall Leonard, Doug Warren
• "We really didn't come to play today. When you come in at halftime two-nil down, and you are playing away from home, you're climbing a mountain," Nicol said.
TEAM NEWS
• Nicol was forced into another change early in the first half as Pat Noonan was forced to leave in the 28th minute with a groin strain. Adam Cristman came on for Noonan, who is listed as questionable for the Wizards match, though the injury did not appear to be related to previous sports hernia surgeries.
• In an effort to quell the dangerous advances by Clark and Cooke wide on the flanks for the Rapids - on the widest field in the league at Dick's Sporting Goods Park - Nicol went to a 4-4-2 scheme to start the second half, bringing on James Riley into the back four for Thompson.
• The Revolution managed just one shot on goal on the night, that from Taylor Twellman with about 20 minutes remaining. The Revs' first shot didn't come until nearly the end of the first half; the best chance on the night came when Twellman got above Bouna Coundoul for a free kick swung into the box as the Rapids 'keeper came racing off his line, but his looping header bounded just wide of the empty goal.
• "When things are going well, maybe you think you can just turn up, and every now and then you get a kick on the backside," said Nicol. Today we didn't turn up ready to win the fight at the start."
• It was just the third loss for the Revolution since the start of June. But while they have righted the ship since that loss - the 4-3 home defeat by the Wizards - they've also now allowed three goals in three of their 12 games over that time.
• "We came out slow, the Rapids jumped on us at home. We were not fully prepared mentally to counteract them at home," said Jeff Larentowicz. "Uncharacteristically, over the last couple games, we have had a couple mental lapses, and the Rapids jumped on their opportunities."
