MLS 2007 WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINAL SERIES*
Kansas City Wizards at Chivas USA
Saturday, November 3 - Carson, California
The Home Depot Center - 9:30 p.m. CT
English TV: Metro Sports (TWC 30) Español TV: TWC 5
Radio: La Gran D 1340 AM
Broadcast Details: Metro Sports
VYVX # 2417234
*By finishing in 5th place in the East, the Wizards qualified for the playoffs as the 8th overall seed and switched brackets to play in the Western Conference draw.
Full game preview information including a Kansas City Wizards postseason media guide is available at www.kcwizards.com.
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The Kansas City Wizards travel to Chivas USA Saturday with a one-goal advantage in the two-game aggregate-goal series. Kansas City earned a 1-0 victory last Saturday in the series opener at Arrowhead Stadium through a beautiful free-kick goal from midfielder Davy Arnaud and solid play from goalkeeper Kevin Hartman.
Arnaud converted a 35-yard free kick from the center of the field after forward Eddie Johnson drew a foul. Arnaud's shot hit a member of the Chivas wall before skipping inside the six-yard area and bouncing over the outstretched arms of 2007 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Brad Guzan for the lone goal. Hartman made four saves en route to his 13th-career postseason shutout, tying Zach Thornton for the all-time lead in playoff shutouts. Hartman now ranks 1st or 2nd in 10 postseason statistical categories.
Chivas USA was without three starters for game 1 and will be without at least one for Saturday's match. Defender Lawson Vaughn missed due to a red card received in the final regular-season match. Forwards Ante Razov and Maykel Galindo were out due to injury. Head Coach Preki has told media this week that Razov will miss game 2, but it has not been said whether or not Galindo will be available. Kansas City was without attacking midfielder Carlos Marinelli for game 1. He is listed as out for game 2 as well.
If the Wizards win or tie Saturday, they will advance to the 2007 Western Conference Final. If Chivas USA is leading by one goal (thus leveling the two-game series) at the end of 90 minutes, a 30-minute extra time session will be played. If the teams are still tied after the extra time period, penalty kicks will decide the winner.
The winner of the Kansas City-Chivas USA series will face the winner of the other conference semifinal between Houston Dynamo and FC Dallas. FCD won the first leg 1-0 but will travel to Houston for the series finale. If Chivas wins, they will host the one-game conference final. If Kansas City advances, they will travel to face the winner of Houston and Dallas.
Last Saturday was the first playoff experience for both head coaches, as Wizards Head Coach Curt Onalfo secured his first postseason. Both won MLS Cup championships as players. Onalfo won in 1999 with D.C. United. Preki was part of the Wizards 2000 MLS Cup team with current Wizards Nick Garcia and Kerry Zavagnin, Kansas City Technical Director Peter Vermes and Wizards Assistant Coach Chris Henderson. Wizards assistant Kris Kelderman has two MLS Cup trophies on his resume. He won as a player with D.C. United in 1996 and 1997.
