The Kansas City Wizards qualified for the 2007 Western Conference Championship last Saturday with a 0-0 draw over Chivas USA. Kansas City won the two-game, aggregate goal series 1-0 on Davy Arnaud's long-range free kick goal in game one and stellar play from goalkeeper Kevin Hartman and the Wizards defense. Hartman and the defense currently have a 336-minute shutout streak, dating back to the regular season. He set the record for most career postseason shutouts with his 14th career clean sheet Saturday at Chivas.
The Wizards now face 2006 MLS Cup champion Houston Dynamo Saturday, November 10 at 7:30 p.m. CT on Fox Soccer Channel and HDNet. Dynamo defeated FC Dallas 4-1 in extra time last Saturday to erase a one-goal FCD lead from leg 1. Kansas City is 1-2-1 all-time against Houston, including a 1-0-1 record at Robertson Stadium.
Kansas City Wizards Training Schedule:
Monday, November 5: OFF
Tuesday, November 6: Training 10 a.m.
Wednesday, November 7: Training 10 a.m.
Thursday, November 8: Depart for Houston 7:45 a.m. / Train in Houston
Friday, November 9: Training 10 a.m. in Houston
Saturday, November 10: Kansas City Wizards at Houston Dynamo, 7:30 p.m. CT on Fox Soccer Channel and HDNet
*All training sessions in Kansas City are held at the new Swope Park training center off of 63rd and Lewis. Practice times are subject to change. Please call Sarah Hardy at 816-665-8442 to confirm.
Miklos Molnar to Train With Wizards Tuesday
Former Wizards forward Miklos Molnar, an instrumental player on Kansas City's 2000 MLS Cup championship squad, is in Kansas City and will train with the Wizards Tuesday. Molnar had three game-winning goals in the 2000 MLS Cup Playoffs. Molnar saw the Wizards 1-0 victory over Chivas USA live on October 27.
Forward Eddie Johnson Named MLS Comeback Player of the Year
Major League Soccer announced Monday that Kansas City Wizards forward Eddie Johnson has been named 2007 MLS Comeback Player of the Year. Johnson recorded a team and career-high 15 goals in 2007 while also contributing a career high six assists. Johnson also set career-highs in shots (75), shots on goal (43) and fouls suffered (57). Johnson posted career second-best numbers in games played (24), games started (24) and minutes played (2,149). Johnson led an improved Wizards attack that propelled Kansas City into the playoffs for the first time since 2004.
Johnson becomes the fourth Wizards player to win Comeback Player of the Year since the award was first presented in 2000. Goalkeeper Tony Meola captured the first-ever award and midfielder Chris Klein won the award twice (2002 and 2005). Johnson beat out finalists Pat Noonan of New England and Frankie Hejduk of Columbus for the award.
MLS Comeback Player of the Year Winners
2007: Eddie Johnson - Kansas City Wizards
2006: Richard Mulrooney - FC Dallas
2005: Chris Klein - Kansas City Wizards
2004: Brian Ching - San Jose Earthquakes
2003: Chris Armas - Chicago Fire
2002: Chris Klein - Kansas City Wizards
2001: Troy Dayak - San Jose Earthquakes
2000: Tony Meola - Kansas City Wizards
Johnson's Season Rankings
• Named 2007 Team MVP and Golden Boot Winner.
• Finished 1st on team and 1st in MLS with 6 game-winning goals.
• Finished 1st on team and 1st in MLS with 2 hat tricks.
• Finished 1st on team and 4th in MLS with career-high 15 goals.
• Finished 1st on team and t-3rd in MLS with 3 multi-goal games.
• Finished 1st on team and 7th in MLS with career-high 75 shots.
• Finished 1st on team and 5th in MLS with career-high 43 shots on goal.
• Finished 2nd on team and 7th in MLS with career-high 57 fouls suffered.
• Finished 3rd on team with career-high 6 assists.
Zavagnin in Final 10 for Sierra Mist Goal of the Year
The top 10 finalists for 2007 Sierra Mist Goal of the Year have been determined, and fans may continue to vote online at MLSnet.com to determine the most remarkable goal of the 2007 regular season. Voting started with fans able to select from 34 regular-season goals, which included the 29 winners of the Sierra Mist Goal of the Week and five additional nominees.
Nov. 1 - Nov. 7 - Voting to select top five goals
Nov. 8 - Nov. 14 - Voting to select the 2007 Sierra Mist Goal of the Year from the top five goals
The Sierra Mist Goal of the Year will be announced on Nov. 16, 2007.
Click here to watch and vote for the 10 nominees:
Top 10 Sierra Mist Goal of the Year Candidates:
Herculez Gomez, Colorado Rapids (Week 2 vs. Chicago Fire)
The play begins with a long outlet pass from goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul to Nicolas Hernandez. Gomez collects a through pass from Hernandez and fires a right-footed shot into the right side netting from a tough angle.
Danny Dichio, Toronto FC (Week 6 vs. Chicago Fire)
Dichio scores the first goal in Toronto FC history, as he shoots in a close range effort off a cross from Edson Buddle. The crowd goes wild as Toronto FC gets their first goal and first MLS win.
Jim Brennan, Toronto FC (Week 8 vs. Columbus Crew)
Brennan fires a left-footed rocket into the upper right corner of the goal from more than 35 yards out.
Joseph Ngwenya, Houston Dynamo (Week 15 vs. Chicago Fire)
In one of the most remarkable individual efforts of the season, Ngwenya collects a pass and touches it around a Fire defender. He rounds the defender, then dribbles past the goalkeeper and shoots into the net from a tight angle.
Kerry Zavagnin, Kansas City Wizards (Week 17 vs. Chivas USA)
The Wizards midfielder lines up a shot from 30 yards out and sends a left-footed rocket into the upper right corner of the goal past a helpless Brad Guzan.
Cuauhtémoc Blanco (Week 20 vs. Real Salt Lake)
The mercurial Mexican forward collects a pass 25 yards out from goal on the left wing and strikes a left-footed volley that dips over Nick Rimando and into the upper left corner of the goal.
Chris Rolfe, Chicago Fire (Week 25 vs. FC Dallas)
In a late season clash, Rolfe keeps the Fire's playoff hopes alive with a right-footed laser from more than 30 yards out that curls past and outstretched Dario Sala.
Cuauhtémoc Blanco, Chicago Fire (Week 26 vs. Chivas USA)
Blanco takes the show on the road and finishes in superb style with a long-range free kick that curls over the wall and into the top right corner of the goal.
Danny Dichio, Toronto FC (Week 29 vs. New England Revolution)
In Toronto FC's final game of the regular season, Dichio sends the home crowd home happy with a well-placed volley over Matt Reis. Dichio pounces on a loose ball, spins and volleys the ball into in net in stoppage time of the second half to level the score 2-2.
Michael Parkhurst, New England Revolution (Week 29 vs. Toronto FC)
The Revolution defender, who had never attempted a shot in his three MLS seasons, stole the ball in his own defensive end and launched a shot more than 60 yards over the head of Kenny Stamatopoulos to give the Revolution a lead in first-half stoppage time.
Goal of the Year Winners
2006: Brian Ching - Houston Dynamo vs. D.C. United - September 30.
2005: Dwayne De Rosario - San Jose Earthquakes at Los Angeles Galaxy - October 15.
2004: Dwayne De Rosario - San Jose Earthquakes vs. D.C. United - August 2.
2003: Damani Ralph - Chicago Fire at Columbus Crew - August 13.
2002: Carlos Ruiz - Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Columbus Crew - July 27.
2001: Clint Mathis - MetroStars vs. Dallas Burn - April 28.
2000: Marcelo Balboa - Colorado Rapids at Columbus Crew - April 22.
1999: Marco Etcheverry - D.C. United at Miami Fusion - May 22.
1998: Brian McBride - Columbus Crew vs. Chicago Fire - July 9.
1997: Marco Etcheverry - D.C. United vs. New England Revolution - August 27.
1996: Eric Wynalda - San Jose Clash vs. D.C. United - April 6.
The Jimmy Conrad Show on the Air for MLS Western Conference Championship Edition
Wizards all-star defender and captain Jimmy Conrad and voice of the Wizards Sean Wheelock will be back on the air Wednesday, November 7. The pair will discuss the Wizards victory over Chivas USA in the 2007 Western Conference Semifinal Series and the one-game Western Conference Championship this Saturday in Houston.
The show will be broadcast live from 7 - 8 p.m. on ESPN Radio 97.3 and taped at the 810 Zone in Leawood's Town Center Plaza.
Wizards Present Garth Brooks With Personalized Jerseys
The Kansas City Wizards presented honorary jerseys to country music superstar Garth Brooks and his family. Brooks, wife Trisha Yearwood and Brooks' three daughters each received personalized Wizards uniforms from OnGoal member Greg Maday. Brooks will play nine shows in Kansas City's new Sprint Center over the next 10 days.
