WEEKLY SCHEDULE:
The Kansas City Wizards play their second straight road match Saturday, traveling to face Chivas USA at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif at 9:30 p.m. CT. Kansas City fought back from a 1-0 deficit to tie the Houston Dynamo 1-1 Sunday in Houston, but the Wizards needed three points to move closer to the pack in the race for the MLS Cup Playoffs. The Wizards, 3-1-2 in their last six games, are currently six points back of the final playoff team (New England Revolution) with three games to play.
Kansas City Wizards could be eliminated from the MLS Cup Playoff race IF:
• KC loses to Chivas USA and New England defeats or ties Columbus OR IF
• KC ties Chivas USA and NE defeats Columbus
If the season were to end today, five teams out of the Western Conference would qualify for the playoffs,. But the season does not end today, and the current rankings cannot account for the uneven amount of games played. Each club has between two and three games left to secure one of eight spots before the MLS Cup Playoffs begin Oct. 29.
Eight teams qualify for the playoffs. Playoff berths will be determined by points in the standings upon the completion of the regular season. All 15 teams will have played 30 games. The top two teams in each conference qualify and are seeded 1 & 2 in their respective four-team playoff conference brackets. The four MLS teams with the next most points, regardless of conference, receive "wildcard" berths:
• The four wildcard teams will be seeded according to conference first.
• If more than four teams qualify from one conference, the team(s) finishing lower than fourth in its conference will shift over to the other conference bracket.
• A team switching conference brackets will be seeded below all other teams in its new conference playoff bracket.
As of today, the top two teams in each conference and four wild card teams that would qualify for the playoffs (bold print), the order in which they would be seeded, and their total Points (in parentheses), and Games Remaining [in brackets] is as follows:
- As the fifth qualifier from the West, Colorado would move over to the Eastern Conference bracket for the playoffs.
ZOLTAN SCORES FIRST GOAL, EARNS GOAL OF THE WEEK NOMINATION:
Striker Zoltan scored his first goal in a Kansas City uniform over the weekend, banging home a first-time volley after a pass over the top of the defense from Claudio Lopez. Zoltan now has one goal and one assist in his last three games. His goal has been nominated for the MLS Goal of the Week award. Fans can vote for the honor at http://web.mlsnet.com/sights/goal_of_the_week/.
WOLFF SURPASSES 200-GAMES MARK, CONTINUES STELLAR SEASON:
Wizards striker Josh Wolff passed the 200-games plateau with his appearance Sunday. Wolff became the 3rd player on the Wizards roster to surpass the mark, joining MLS veterans Jimmy Conrad and Kevin Hartman. Wolff became the 58th player in League history to surpass the 200-games plateau. Currently, 31 active players have surpassed 200 career games.
Wolff started his career with the Chicago Fire in 1998, playing there until 2002. Wolff then joined the Wizards and has played in 116 games for the club. Wolff has 72 career goals, 14th best in Major League Soccer history. His 40 goals in a Wizards uniform rank 2nd on the team's all-time list behind only Preki. Wolff, currently tied for 7th in MLS, has tied a career high with 10 goals this season.
CONRAD NAMED TO U.S. NATIONAL TEAM ROSTER FOR WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS:
Kansas City Wizards defender Jimmy Conrad has joined the United States National Team for training in advance of two upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers. The U.S. will play at Honduras this Saturday before hosting Costa Rica October 14 at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. Conrad, 32, is looking to make the USA roster for the second consecutive FIFA World Cup should the Americans clinch qualification in their final two qualifiers. Conrad played in two matches during the 2006 FIFA World Cup. He is one of eight players on the roster for the upcoming qualifiers to take part in the 2006 competition.
Conrad played in two matches for the U.S. during the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup, suffering a concussion during the first half of a quarterfinal tilt against Panama that forced him to miss the semifinals and final. Conrad has appeared 26 times for the U.S. National Team since 2005 and scored one goal. Conrad's lone international goal was a game-winning header in a 2-0 victory over archrival Mexico Feb. 7, 2007. Conrad will join the National Team after Sunday's Wizards contest in Houston and return following the USA-Costa Rica match October 14.
The U.S. currently sits in first place in the final round hexagonal, collecting 16 points and a 5-2-1 record through eight games. Only four points separate the top four teams with two games remaining, as Mexico sits one point behind the U.S., Honduras has 13 points and Costa Rica lurks just behind with 12 points. The top three teams automatically advance to the 2010 FIFA World Cup, while the fourth place team will participate in a two-leg playoff against the fifth place team from South America.
U.S. ROSTER BY POSITION
GOALKEEPERS (2): Brad Guzan (Aston Villa: 5/3 SO), Tim Howard (Everton: 14/8 SO)
DEFENDERS (7): Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes: 24/3), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA, 4/0), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover: 19/0), Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City Wizards: 1/0), Clarence Goodson (IK Start: 1/0), Oguchi Onyewu (AC Milan: 18/1), Jonathan Spector (West Ham: 3/0)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Michael Bradley (Borussia Mönchengladbach: 13/4), Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo: 7/1), Clint Dempsey (Fulham: 20/5), Benny Feilhaber (AGF Aarhus: 4/0), Stuart Holden (Houston Dynamo: 3/0), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew: 0/0), José Francisco Torres (Pachuca: 6/0)
FORWARDS (6): Jozy Altidore (Hull City: 11/6), Conor Casey (Colorado Rapids: 5/0), Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo: 16/6), Kenny Cooper (1860 Munich: 1/1), Charlie Davies (FC Sochaux: 5/2), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy: 33/11)
*numbers indicate all-time World Cup Qualifying caps/goals
WIZARDS TO HOST WATCH PARTY SATURDAY FOR U.S. NATIONAL TEAM WORLD CUP QUALIFIER:
Saturday, the U.S. National Team takes on Honduras at 9 p.m. CT, with the Wizards playing at Chivas USA at 9:30 p.m. CT. The Wizards have worked with 810 Zone on the Plaza, who has reached an agreement with the closed circuit TV company distributing the important World Cup qualifier. The Wizards and Budweiser will host a watch party for National Team fans at the Plaza 810 Zone. Both the USA-Honduras game and the Wizards-Chivas USA game will be shown on TV screens, but the sound for the USA match will be played. Wizards captain Jimmy Conrad is currently in Miami with the U.S. National Team ahead of the match and could be a part of the game-day squad in Honduras.
JEWSBURY NAMED TO BILLIKEN HALF-CENTURY TEAM FOR CAREER AT SLU:
Wizards midfielder Jack Jewsbury has been honored by fans of Saint Louis University for his outstanding play for the school from 1999-2002. The Saint Louis University department of athletics unveiled last week the Billiken Half-Century Team, which was selected by the public via an online vote. Jewsbury, the most recent Billiken alumni selected to the Billiken Half-Century Team, was a two-time All-American (2000 and 2002). The 2000 Conference USA Player of the Year is 10th on the Billikens' all-time scoring list with 101 points (38G, 25A). Former Wizards Matt McKeon and Mike Sorber were also named to the list. For more info on the team, visit the SLU website.
BILLIKEN HALF-CENTURY TEAM
Coaches
Bob Guelker (1959-66)
Harry Keough (1967-82)
Goalkeepers
Kevin Johnston (1987-90)
Chuck Zorumski (1972-73)
Defense
Don Ceresia (1962-64)
Joe Clarke (1972-75)
Mark Demling (1970-73)
Bruce Hudson (1971-74)
Kevin Kalish (1997-98)
Bob Matteson (1970-73)
Bill McKeon (1979-82)
Denny Werner (1970-73)
Offense
Brad Davis (2000-01)
Dan Counce (1970-73)
Carl Gentile (1963-65)
John Hayes (1978-81)
Jack Jewsbury (1999-2002)
Ty Keough (1975-78)
Brian McBride (1990-93)
Pat McBride (1963-65)
Matt McKeon (1992-95)
Mike Seerey (1969-72)
Mike Sorber (1989-92)
Al Trost (1968-70)
ROBB HEINEMAN TO SERVE AS SPECIAL GUEST ON THE JIMMY CONRAD SHOW WEDNESDAY:
The Jimmy Conrad Show, presented by Budweiser, will be without its namesake this Wednesday from 8-9 p.m. CT, as Conrad travels with the U.S. National Team. Dave Borchardt will host the show while Conrad is away, and Wizards President Robb Heineman will be the special guest this week. Fans are encouraged to call in at 913-3-810-810 to ask Heineman questions about the Wizards and ownership group OnGoal's vision. The show will be broadcast live from Fox and Hound in Overland Park, Kan. again during the month of October. The show is broadcast live locally over the air on Sports Radio 810 WHB and streamed live at www.kcwizards.com. Fans can download archives of The Jimmy Conrad Show from the podcast page at kcwizards.com.
Fox and Hound - Overland Park
10428 Metcalf Ave
Overland Park, KS 66212
(913) 649-1700
Google Maps Link
WIZARDS HOST SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC OCTOBER 17 ON LADIES NIGHT:
The Kansas City Wizards return to CommunityAmerica Ballpark Saturday, October 17 as Seattle Sounders FC comes to town for a 7:30 p.m. CT kickoff. The Ladies Night ticket package includes two (2) bleacher tickets, two (2) glasses of wine, one (1) fruit and cheese plate and one (1) pink soccer ball for only $49. A portion of the proceeds for each package sold will be donated to Susan G. Komen for the Cure - Greater Kansas City Affiliate. The Girl Scouts will also participate in a fun-filled night of activities followed by a sleepover on the field at CommunityAmerica Ballpark, which will end at 8:00 a.m. the following morning. Each Girl Scout will each receive a commemorative patch for attending.
The Wizards have also partnered with KC Beerfest taking place that day at The Legends. The Soccer & Suds ticket package includes one (1) ticket to Beerfest (beer sampling from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at The Legends), one (1) Beerfest pretzel necklace, one (1) ticket to the Wizards game, one (1) Starting 11 Girls Calendar, and one (1) voucher for a beer and a bag of peanuts at the Wizards game for only $40.
For more information or to purchase either of these ticket packages, call the Wizards at (913) 387-3400. To purchase single-game tickets outside of these ticket packages, visit www.Ticketmaster.com/kcwizards.
KANSAS CITY, ARROWHEAD STADIUM MAKE SHORT LIST FOR USA BID:
The USA Bid Committee Inc. announced August 20 that Kansas City and Arrowhead Stadium are one of 27 cities and 32 venues, down from 70 initial stadia in 52 cities, on the short list to be included in the United States' bid to host the FIFA World Cup™ in either 2018 or 2022. The USA Bid Committee will submit their bid to world soccer's governing body, Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), in May of 2010. FIFA will select host countries for the 2018 and 2022 events in December of 2010. The Kansas City / USA Host City Bid Committee is Co-Chaired by Kansas City Chiefs Chairman of the Board Clark Hunt and Cerner Corporation's Chairman and CEO and Kansas City Wizards co-owner Neal Patterson. Fans are encouraged to show their support for the bid by visiting www.goUSAbid.com and signing the petition to bring the FIFA World Cup™ to the United States.
The 2006 FIFA World Cup™ in Germany announced a total economic impact of approximately $6.2 billion and the creation of 50,000 new jobs, while recording that two million tourists spent approximately $766 million. The USA Bid Committee is currently undertaking an economic impact study for an event in the United States in 2018 or 2022.
Kansas City's bid committee also includes Kansas City Wizards Technical Director/Interim Head Coach Peter Vermes, a former FIFA World Cup™ participant who represented the United States 67 times at the international level. Vermes helped lead a young squad to an improbable qualification in the 1990 World Cup in Italy, the first trip for the United States in 40 years. The United States has qualified for each of the next four FIFA World Cup™ tournaments, one of the longest active streaks in the world.
"Appearing in the FIFA World Cup™ was the highlight of my playing career, and helping to bring the event to my adopted hometown of Kansas City would be a highlight of my post-playing career," Vermes said. "The FIFA World Cup™ is truly a once-in-a-lifetime event, and I hope everyone here in the Heart of the Continent will experience the energy in either 2018 or 2022."
The Kansas City / USA Host City Bid Committee features members and expertise from a wide range of Kansas City metropolitan area public and private entities from both sides of the state line, including: The Kansas City Chiefs; Kansas City Wizards' ownership group OnGoal, LLC; the Kansas City Sports Commission and Foundation; the Kansas City Convention and Visitors Association; the City of Kansas City, Missouri; the Unified Government of Wyandotte County, Kansas City, Kansas; and POPULOUS, formerly HOK Sport Venue Event.
ZONA WIZARDS AIRS THURSDAY ON 1480 AM:
Wizards Interim Head Coach Peter Vermes will join Enrique Morales each Thursday at a new time from 1-2 p.m. CT for the weekly Spanish-language coach's show Zona Wizards on Ke Buena 1480 AM. This week, Spanish-speaking fans are encouraged to listen for a recap of last week's tie against the Houston Dynamo and look ahead to Chivas USA.
