KANSAS CITY WIZARDS v D.C. UNITED
ARROWHEAD STADIUM, Kansas City, Mo.
7 p.m. CT (MetroSports; CSN-DC)
Oct. 5, 2007 (WEEK 27) / MLS Game #177
For the last two seasons, the Kansas City Wizards have failed to reach the MLS Cup Playoffs. That could change this weekend, as they will clinch a place in the top eight with a victory against D.C. United and the failure of both Columbus and Los Angeles to win. But they will have to overcome a recent run of form that has seen just one win in the last six games. For D.C. United, it's back to the league wars and the chase for the Supporters' Shield after losing on away goals to Chivas de Guadalajara in the Copa Sudamericana at midweek; they lead the MLS overall standings by four points ahead of the New England Revolution as they aim to repeat as the league's regular season champion.
REFEREE: Jair Marrufo. SAR (bench): C.J. Morgante; JAR (opposite): Steven Taylor; 4th: Jozef Batko
MLS Career: 64 games; FC/gm: 28.9; Y/gm: 3.5; R: 15; pens: 25
Games involving Wizards: P4 W2 L1 T1; FC/gm: 28.8; Y/gm: 3.3; R: 1; pens: 0
Games involving United: P15 W9 L3 T3; FC/gm: 30.0; Y/gm: 4.2; R: 4; pens: 7
INJURY REPORT: KANSAS CITY WIZARDS - OUT: MF Ryan McMahen (torn ACL); QUESTIONABLE: MF A.J. Godbolt (patellar tendonitis); MF Sasha Victorine (hip flexor strain); PROBABLE: FW Scott Sealy (quadricep strain) ... D.C. UNITED - OUT: FW Jamil Walker (Achilles rupture); GK Shawn Crowe (meniscus tear); QUESTIONABLE: MF Fred (groin strain); FW Jaime Moreno (ankle)
SUSPENDED: KC: Davy Arnaud (through Oct. 7); Jimmy Conrad (through Oct. 7)
WARNINGS:
SUSPENDED NEXT YELLOW CARD: KC: Jimmy Conrad, Jack Jewsbury ... DC: Bobby Boswell, Bryan Namoff, Greg Vanney
SUSPENDED AFTER TWO YELLOW CARDS: KC: Nick Garcia, Eddie Johnson, Carlos Marinelli, Kerry Zavagnin ... DC: Brian Carroll, Josh Gros, Devon McTavish, Jaime Moreno, Ben Olsen
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: none
HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (33 meetings): Wizards 12 wins (0 shootout), 54 goals ... United 15 wins (1 shootout), 51 goals ... Draws 6
AT ARROWHEAD STADIUM (16 meetings): Wizards 8 wins (0 shootout), 32 goals ... United 6 wins (1 shootout), 23 goals ... Draws 2
• This is the third of three league meetings between the clubs this season, the second of two at the Harry S Truman Sports Complex. The teams have split the series thus far, each winning on the other's home ground.
• A year ago, D.C. United swept the season series, winning all four meetings between the clubs, two at RFK Stadium and two at Arrowhead Stadium. It was the fourth time United had swept the season series in the all-time matchup between the teams - the previous occasions coming when the clubs met just twice (1998, 1999, 2001). In 1996, Kansas City won all three meetings in the league's inaugural campaign.
• Kansas City last won the season series in 2003, winning one match with the other two played to draws. The teams split the season set in 2004 and 2005, though United won 3-2 in MLS Cup 2004.
• When the Wizards won on their trip to the nation's capital on July 9, 2005, it was their first victory at RFK Stadium since Aug. 4, 1996 - a span of 11 meetings in Washington without a victory. They have now won two of their last four trips to D.C.
• Coaches record: Curt Onalfo v DC: P2 W1 L1 D0 ... Tom Soehn vs. KC: P2 W1 L1 D0
2007 (MLS):
5/13: DC 2, KC 4 (Emilio 11; Gomez 34 - Harrington 3; Victorine 8; Johnson 45; Sealy 54)
7/4: KC 0, DC 1 (Emilio 44)
• The Kansas City Wizards opened their 2007 season with a rousing start, going to RFK Stadium and coming away with a 4-2 victory against D.C. United on April 14.
• The Wizards had a two-goal lead after just eight minutes in a wild opening half that saw five goals scored, as Michael Harrington scored in his professional debut (3) and Sasha Victorine doubled the lead in the eighth minute. For Harrington, it was the earliest goal in league history scored by a player making his MLS debut.
• Yet United pulled back a goal within three minutes through Luciano Emilio, then Christian Gomez scored on a free kick to draw United level in the 34th minute.
• But just before the half, Kansas City again nosed in front through Eddie Johnson, and after the break, the Wizards put the game away when Scott Sealy came racing in to put the rebound home, sealing a victory for head coach Curt Onalfo in his first match in charge in the stadium he used to call home.
• On July 4 at Arrowhead Stadium, the game's lone goal came in the 44th minute. Clyde Simms battled for a header and knocked it forward to Fred, who slipped a square pass to Luciano Emilio inside the area. Emilio took a step to his left before cutting a shot back across his body, inside the near post.
• The Wizards outshot United 21-11, but Troy Perkins made eight saves on the day for the clean sheet. United were also helped by the woodwork twice, as Perkins pushed a Jack Jewsbury freekick onto the post early in the first half, and Kurt Morsink saw a close-range effort come off the post early in the second.
• Here's Onalfo's team (4-1-3-2): Kevin Hartman - Jack Jewsbury, Tyson Wahl, Nick Garcia, Michael Harrington - Kerry Zavagnin - Davy Arnaud, Kurt Morsink (Carlos Marinelli 57), Sasha Victorine - Ryan Pore (Yura Movsisyan 46), Scott Sealy (Will John 82). Substitutes Not Used: Jose Burciaga Jr., Eric Kronberg, Ryan Raybould, Lance Watson
• Here's Soehn's team (4-3-1-2): Troy Perkins - Clyde Simms, Devon McTavish, Greg Vanney, Joshua Gros - Justin Moose (Domenic Mediate 46), Brian Carroll, Fred (Stephen deRoux 86) - Christian Gomez - Nicholas Addlery (Rod Dyachenko 77), Luciano Emilio. Substitutes Not Used: Marc Burch, Jeff Carroll, Jay Nolly, Brad North
KANSAS CITY WIZARDS
The Kansas City Wizards return to action 10 days following a second disheartening loss in as many games, falling 2-1 to the Los Angeles Galaxy on Sept. 27 at Arrowhead Stadium. The Wizards still have 36 points with three matches still to play, and are still three points ahead of the Chicago Fire in seventh place overall in the MLS standings with a possibility of clinching a playoff spot this weekend.
LAST MATCH
• The Galaxy were coming into the match off just their second victory since the early part of July, a 2-1 win against FC Dallas, while the Wizards had just one win in their last five matches following a late 2-1 loss to Chivas USA at The Home Depot Center.
• The opening 45 minutes were controlled by the Wizards. Eddie Johnson was particularly dangerous, finding himself in great positions on three occasions, and while he hit the post once, he was not able to find the back of the net. Galaxy defender Troy Roberts also twice caused some anxious moments, one clearance hitting the post while Cannon saved a second with a terrific back-pedaling tip over the bar.
• Eloy Colombano provided another let-off for the Galaxy early in the second half when he rounded Cannon, but couldn't put his shot into a wide open goal. Then the game turned around in the 57th minute when Jimmy Conrad was shown a straight red card by referee Baldomero Toledo after a harsh tackle on Peter Vagenas in midfield.
• The Galaxy broke through in the 80th minute. Mike Randolph held the ball up outside the left corner of the area before picking out Gavin Glinton running across the face of goal, and he sent a glancing header inside the back post for the game-winner. The Wizards finished the game two men down when Davy Arnaud was sent off in the 82nd minute after he clattered into Vagenas in midfield.
• Wizards head coach Curt Onalfo made one change to the team that lost 2-1 to Chivas USA the Saturday before in Carson. Eloy Colombano replaced the injured Ryan Pore in attack, though there was also a positional switch for Michael Harrington and Jose Burciaga Jr.
• Here's Onalfo's team (4-3-1-2): Kevin Hartman - Jack Jewsbury, Jimmy Conrad, Nick Garcia, Michael Harrington - Davy Arnaud, Kerry Zavagnin (Will John 89), Jose Burciaga Jr. (Lance Watson 85) - Carlos Marinelli - Eddie Johnson, Eloy Colombano (Sasha Victorine 65). Substitutes Not Used: Aaron Hohlbein, Eric Kronberg, Ryan Raybould, Tyson Wahl
TEAM NEWS
• The switch of Harrington and Burciaga on the left flank was designed to inject more life into the Wizards attack. And while the goals didn't come, it had its desired effect.
• "We were very, very good defensively, and we possessed the ball during stretches of the game very, very well," Onalfo said. "Through that possession and playing early balls forward in transition, we're very dangerous throughout the game. It's just frustrating. We missed some very easy chances. Unfortunately, in this game, when you miss chances in this game, it often comes back to bite you."
• Going a man down, the Wizards still had their opportunities. But then Arnaud's sending off deprived the Wizards of a chance to use their late-game heroics again - 12 goals have come in the last 15 minutes of matches this season.
• I thought that tonight's first half was the best performance we have put together all season. Even after the first red card I still believed that we would win. After the second one though, you want to pull your hair out," Onalfo said. "No one said it would be easy. This group of guys won't ever give up. We still have many positive things to focus on as we push towards the playoffs."
• Since the start of August, the Wizards have lost six of nine matches, and scored nine goals over that stretch. But more troubling has been the four shutouts against in that run.
• "Forwards, we get paid to score goals. We're getting chances; we're not finishing the ball," Eddie Johnson said. "We worked too hard to be in that position today. If we finish our chances, none of this would have happened; it would have been a different ballgame. It hurts."
• The loss also saw things tighten up again behind the Wizards in the MLS Cup Playoffs chase. The Wizards could clinch a postseason berth for the first time since 2004 if they defeat D.C. United, and both the Columbus Crew and Los Angeles Galaxy fail to win.
• "Nobody said it would be easy. This group of guys won't give up and we're going to keep plugging away," Onalfo said. "We're going to lick our wounds, and we have two key players out in our next game against D.C. United, who everybody says is the best team in the league. ... Our goal is to make the playoffs and that's our intention."
D.C. UNITED
D.C. United extended their lengthy unbeaten streak to two full months, storming back from a halftime deficit for a 4-1 victory against Toronto FC on Saturday night at RFK Stadium. United still have the best record in Major League Soccer with 53 points from 27 matches, four points ahead of the New England Revolution both for the MLS Supporters' Shield and the Eastern Conference lead.
LAST MATCH
• D.C. United were riding a 10-game unbeaten streak in league play while also coming off a huge victory against Chivas de Guadalajara in Copa Sudamericana. Toronto FC had finally put an end to their MLS-record scoreless streak, but still had gone 11 games without a win.
• Yet after going nine games without a goal, it didn't take the Reds long to score another, as they stunned the overall leaders in the 14th minute. From a freekick just outside the restraining arc, Carl Robinson hooked his effort around the wall and into the upper left corner.
• But United turned things around after the break, and stormed to victory with a four-goal outburst in less than 20 minutes. The first two came from long-range stunners. In the 52nd minute, Fred sent a little backheel from the left corner of the area to Marc Burch, and the young left back ripped a blistering shot that was still rising when it hit the back of the net for his first professional goal.
• Then five minutes later Fred did his part. Collecting a pass on the left, he cut cross-field outside the top of the area and curled a dipping drive inside the far post for his seventh goal on the campaign.
• The league's all-time scoring leader doubled the lead in the 66th minute. A slide-rule through ball from Clyde Simms split open the TFC defense, and Jaime Moreno raced in all alone into the right side of the area before slotting home a cool finish under Toronto 'keeper Kenny Stamatopoulos.
• A thunderbolt finished off the scoring. Christian Gomez sent a wicked freekick over the wall from 25 yards, only to see it come back off the bar and back down the middle of the area. But Luciano Emilio caught the ball with a stunning side-volley, swiveling his left leg to rip home the rebound for his league-leading 20th goal on the season.
• United head coach Tom Soehn made four changes to the team that came back for a 1-1 draw with the Chicago Fire the weekend before. Bryan Namoff was injured and Domenic Mediate, Brian Carroll and Jaime Moreno all went to the substitutes' bench, and in came Fred, Clyde Simms, Christian Gomez and Guy-Roland Kpene.
• Here's Soehn's team (4-3-1-2): Troy Perkins - Devon McTavish, Bobby Boswell, Greg Vanney, Marc Burch - Fred, Clyde Simms, Joshua Gros (Ben Olsen 46) - Christian Gomez (Brian Carroll 71) - Luciano Emilio, Guy-Roland Kpene (Jaime Moreno 46). Substitutes Not Used: Stephen deRoux, Rod Dyachenko, Domenic Mediate, Jay Nolly
TEAM NEWS
• Over the course of the season, Soehn has used a rotation system to ensure his players get rest. Against Toronto, the game bookended by Copa Sudamericana games against Chivas of Mexico, Soehn gave Ben Olsen and Jaime Moreno the first half off. But after falling behind by a goal, he brought them both on to start the second half - and changed the game.
• "You know, it's a fine line playing so many games, resting guys and finding which pieces are going to work together and some days it works and some days it doesn't. Thankfully today we were able to inject some key guys and change the flow of the game," Soehn said. "Having said that, the guys we took out after addressing some things at halftime, they want to come out and spark us as well, because we talked about a lot of things.
• Emilio became the first player in MLS since 2002 to reach the 20-goal plateau, when Carlos Ruiz hit 24 and Taylor Twellman 23, and he's now just three goals behind the club record of 23 set by Raul Diaz Arce in the league's inaugural season.
• "He is opportunistic and [when] he gets an opportunity and he buries a ball like a lot of guys wouldn't. He is the beneficiary of having a lot of good players around him," Soehn said. "But we brought him in for one reason - to score goals and I knew he would do it and he's that kind of guy who's got the qualities to do it."
• Said Emilio: "Obviously, I'm happy, but the best part of scoring is helping the team out. Records are made to be broken, and if I'm at 20 [goals] now, hopefully I can score a few more in the next few games and set another record for someone else to break."
• With Bryan Namoff out to a thigh injury suffered in the first leg of the Chivas match, Devon McTavish was moved to right back. He's had regular time during the season in a three-man rotation in central defense with Bobby Boswell and Greg Vanney.
• "You know Devon is maturing along with some other guys who have had significant minutes. And his distribution is getting better; he is getting caught in situations less where - he is the kind of guy where you give him too much time he going to hold the ball a little bit longer," Soehn said. "But, defensively, he is hard to beat. His balls in the air are getting better and he has matured in so many ways. And he is going to continue to do that and I think there is still a big upside for him."
• On Tuesday, United once again saw their continental dreams dashed in a 1-0 loss to Chivas in the second leg of their Copa Sudamericana round-of-16 series. The loss left the teams level 2-2 on aggregate, but Chivas advanced on away goals, after United played the second half of their home match a man down before hanging on for a 2-1 win.
• Ramon Morales scored the game's only goal, latching onto a turnover outside the area and lashed home a rasping drive. Christian Gomez forced a fine save from Chivas goalkeeper Luis Ernesto Michel in the first half, and United piled on the pressure over the final 15 minutes as Emilio and Ben Olsen both went close, but Chivas held out to advance to the quarterfinals where they will play Argentina's Arsenal de Sarandi.
