BIG Match This Weekend Live On Metro Sports
Not only will the Wizards will be returning to action this weekend after a
two week break, they will also be returning to Metro Sports when the Kansas
City sports television station airs this Saturday's match at the New England
Revolution live at 6:30 p.m. CST. Saturday's broadcast of the game will be
preceded by a half-hour Wizards pre-game show from the Metro Sports studio
beginning at 6:00 p.m. CST. Saturday's match between Kansas City and New
England will have huge playoff implications as both teams currently sit just
two points, or less than one win, apart in the Eastern Conference standings
with just four weeks remaining in the regular season. The Revs occupy the
third spot while the Wizards sit in fourth, one point ahead of the New York
Red Bulls. NE and NY each hold one game in-hand on KC but all three will
enter this weekend's contests with just four games remaining as the two East
Coast squads meet up in a mid-week match this Wednesday in New York.
Depending on Wednesday's result at the Meadowlands, a win on Saturday would
either vault Kansas City into the third place spot or give it the upper hand
for the fourth and final playoff spot in the East heading into the final
three games of the season.
The East Is Going Down To The Wire
D.C. United clinched home field advantage throughout the conference playoffs
with a 1-1 tie vs. New England last Wednesday, but the final three spots in
the East are still completely up in the air for anyone's taking. Chicago
currently holds down the number two spot with 41 points and four games
remaining on their regular season schedule, including three against Eastern
Conference opponents (DC, NY & CLB). The Revolution, KC's opponent this
weekend, are currently in third with 35 points heading into their match this
Wednesday against New York which will "cancel out" its game-in-hand on the
Wizards. Of their final four games after Wednesday, three come against
competition from the East (DC, KC & CLB). Kansas City occupies the fourth
place position and the final playoff slot with 33 points and four games
remaining, including two against its direct competition for the MLS Cup
Playoff positions, New England and New York, its other two are against teams
from the Western Conference. New York, currently in fifth with 32 points,
is just like New England in the sense that it has one game-in-hand on KC but
will have it "cancelled out" when the two meet in the middle of this week.
The Red Bulls are also the Wizards' final game of the regular season on
October 14th in the Meadowlands, three of NY's final four games are against
Eastern Conference teams (DC, CHI & KC). Columbus sits in last in the East
and would need a lot of help to make the postseason as it is seven points
behind KC for the final spot with just four games remaining.
Potential Playoff Match-Ups
With the current standings in the Eastern Conference where they are at, D.C.
in first, Chicago in second, New England in third, and Kansas City in
fourth, the 2006 MLS Cup Playoff schedule would pit United vs. the Wizards
and the Fire vs. the Revolution in the conference semifinals on the
weekend's of October 21/22 and October 28/29. The following are the
possible scenarios for Kansas City and the implications they would have on
the playoff schedule. In order to finish second in the East, the Wizards
would need to finish the season with three more wins than the Fire in their
final four games and ahead of New England and New York in the standings. If
they finish second they would host the three seed on Saturday, the 28th at
7:30 p.m. CST at Arrowhead in the second leg of the home-and-away series.
In order the finish third, Kansas City will have to gain either two, three,
or five points on New England, depending on what happens with the Revs match
against the Red Bulls this week, and stay ahead of New York. And lastly, in
order to hold onto to fourth place position, Kansas City needs to maintain
its lead on the Red Bulls. If they are either the three or four seed, the
Wizards will host the one or two seed on Saturday, October 21st at 7:30 p.m.
CST in the first leg of the series. Should Kansas City advance out of the
conference semifinals and be seeded higher than their opponent for the
Eastern Conference Championship game, they will play the match on either
Friday, November 3rd at 7:30 p.m. CST or Sunday, November 5th at 3:00 CST in
Arrowhead.
Wizards' Official Budweiser Watch Party Network
With Kansas City returning to the airwaves this weekend when it takes on the
New England Revolution, so does the Wizards' Official Watch Party Network
sponsored by Budweiser. Fans can gather with each other and dawn their blue
and white to root on their team at one of the Wizards' Official Watch Party
Network sites. Aces & 8's in Shawnee, the 810 Zone in Leawood, a pair of
Paddy O'Quigley's in Lee's Summit, Buffalo Wild Wings in Raytown, the Brass
Rail in the northland and the new Coach's in Overland Park on Metcalf. (Due
to prior reservations, the game will not be shown on any of the big screens
at the 810 Zone this weekend.)
Meet Mr. Sealy
Kansas City fans will get a great chance to meet the Wizards' leading
goal-scorer next Wednesday, September 27th, at Soccer Express in Overland
Park. Wizards' Generation adidas player Scott Sealy will be on hand from
6:30 to 8:00 p.m. to sign autographs and greet fans at Soccer Express
located inside the All-American Indoor facility at 14353 Metcalf in Overland
Park.
Rewards Abound For RSL Match On Sept. 30th
Over 15,000 students from over 750 classrooms in the Kansas City area
participated in the Wizards' Training & Nutrition Week this past week.
Sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield and The National Kidney Foundation, the
focus of the program is to give young children an introduction to healthy
behaviors that they can incorporate in their everyday lives. Each classroom
was given a newsletter that outlines nutrition, training, and take-home tasks
for every day of the week that are designed to promote healthy behaviors.
For their participation in the program every student was awarded two
complimentary tickets to the Wizards' match against ReAL Salt Lake next
Saturday, September 30th. As a special gift for the first 5,000 youth 15 &
under through the gate next weekend, the National Kidney Foundation will be
handing out a special poster featuring Wizards' All-Star defender Jimmy
Conrad. Additionally, the Wizards will also be handing out "Thunderstix" to
the first 3,000 fans of all ages that walk through the gates.
Wizards Recognize US Youth Soccer Month
For the third consecutive year the Kansas City Wizards are recognizing the
month of September as US Youth Soccer Month and they are closing it out at
their September 30th match against Real Salt Lake where there will be a
special halftime kick contest for one lucky contestant who will get a chance
to win $10,000. Now in its fourth installment, Youth Soccer Month -
Celebrating Soccer in America, is a celebration for all of those who
participate in soccer and it highlights the various programs available to
children interested in participating in soccer, including the inner-city,
special needs, recreational and elite soccer programs that have facilitated
the growth of the sport at all levels. Each week throughout Youth Soccer
Month a series of messages and themes will be communicated to illustrate the
essence of youth soccer. Week one highlighted the health and fitness
(physical, psychological and social) benefits of playing soccer. Week two
focused on the fun aspects of playing soccer and, whether recreational or
competitive in nature, involvement in soccer is easy, affordable and
rewarding. Week three highlighted the family and how playing soccer ties
families together as schedules, vacations and family time are coordinated.
Youth Soccer Month concludes next week by focusing on friendship and the
relationships generated through playing soccer extend beyond the field.
The Future Looks Bright
With three games remaining on the season for the Kansas City Wizards'
reserve team, they once again control their own destiny heading into this
weekend's match against the Revolution reserves. Thanks to a loss this past
weekend by the Colorado Rapids who are currently in first with 21 points
(7-3-0), the Wizards are in a position to overtake Colorado as they have one
game-in-hand and sit just two points shy of the top spot with a 6-2-1 record
at 19 points. Led by second-year player Ryan Pore who is second in the
division with six goals in seven matches, the Wizards' reserves are
scheduled to battle the Revolution reserves this Sunday, September 24th at
10:00 a.m. EST in Foxborough.
This Week's Training Schedule
Thursday 9/21: Training 9:00 a.m. to approx. 11:00 a.m.
Friday 9/22: Training 9:00 a.m. to approx. 11:00 a.m., Depart for KCI 12:30
p.m.
Saturday 9/23: Wizards at New England Revolution - 6:30 p.m. Kickoff at
Gillette Stadium
Sunday 9/24: Wizards Reserves at New England Revolution Reserves - 9:00 a.m.
Kickoff at Gillette Stadium Practice Facility
Monday 9/25: OFF
*all training sessions are open to the media and take place at the Arrowhead Training Facility unless otherwise noted.
