* Wizards at New England for ESPN 2's MLS Primetime
* Garcia Credited with Assist On Final Goal Sunday
* Dynamo to Battle Sluggerr, KC Wolf
* McMahen, John to Appear at AMC Studio 30
* Kansas City Wizards Training Schedule
* Tidbits From Sunday's 3-2 Win Over Chivas USA
Wizards to Face New England Revolution for First Place in East Thursday on ESPN 2's MLS Primetime
Thursday, the Wizards (8-5-5, 29 pts) travel to New England to face the Revolution (8-3-6, 30 pts) in a battle for first place in the highly competitive Eastern Conference. It will be the first of two appearances for Kansas City on MLS Primetime this season, the second coming September 27 when David Beckham and the Los Angeles Galaxy visit Arrowhead Stadium.
The game pits the two best offenses in Major League Soccer against one another. Kansas City ranks first in goals (32) and New England ranks second (31). Thursday's match marks the second time the Wizards and Revs have faced off this year. May 26, Kansas City won a wild affair 4-3 behind a hat trick performance by Eddie Johnson despite falling behind by two goals in the early going.
Wizards forward Willy Guadarrama will attend Budweiser's Kansas City Watch Party at Coyote Blue Cantina in Kansas City, Kansas. Kickoff: 6 p.m. CT, ESPN 2
Who: F Willy Guadarrama
When: Thursday, August 2; 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Where: Coyote Blue Cantina, 2710 Strong Avenue, Kansas City, KS
What: Willy Guadarrama will be attending Budweiser's Kansas City Wizards Watch Party at Coyote Blue Cantina. Stop by to participate in the bubble soccer tournament and collect an autograph. The winner of the tournament will get to take on Guadarrama himself in the final round.
Defender Nick Garcia Credited With Assist On Yura Movsisyan's Game-Winning Goal Sunday
Nick Garcia has now recorded his first assist of the season. Initially scored as an unassisted goal, Yura Movsisyan's game-winner in the 89th minute has now been changed to credit Garcia for starting the play.
Garcia collected the ball in midfield and played it wide on the left wing for Movsisyan. The young forward proceeded to beat two defenders into the penalty area, then cut back and fired a right-footed shot that deflected off former Wizards defender Shavar Thomas and oven goalkeeper Brad Guzan for the game-winning goal.
It is Garcia's first assist since July 3, 2004 and the 4th of his career. The Wizards now have 29 team assists, good for first in MLS.
Transaction:
The Kansas City Wizards announced today the release of midfielder/defender Matt Groenwald. Groenwald, 24, spent all of 2006 with the Wizards, playing in 19 games and recording two assists. Groenwald had been on the season-ending injury list this season after being diagnosed with blood clots during preseason.
Dynamo to Battle Sluggerr, KC Wolf
Who: Mascot Dynamo the Dragon
When: Wednesday, August 1; 9:00-10:00 a.m.
Where: American Royal, 1701 American Royal Ct., Kansas City, MO
What: Dynamo the Dragon will be participating in the American Royal's 2nd Annual Mascot Olympics. He will be competing against Royals mascot Sluggerr and Chiefs mascot KC Wolf. Come out to cheer Dynamo on.
Ryan McMahen, Will John to Appear at AMC Studio 30 in Olathe Over the Weekend
Who: M Ryan McMahen
When: Friday, August 3; 7:00-8:30 p.m.
Where: Olathe Studios 30 with IMAX, 12075 S Strang Line Road, Olathe, KS
What: Ryan McMahen will be signing autographs at Olathe Studios 30 on Friday. The Kansas City Wizards will be out at the theatres promoting upcoming home games and offering the opportunity to win Kansas City Wizards prizes.
Who: M-F Will John
When: Saturday, August 4; 3:30-5:00 p.m.
Where: Olathe Studios 30 with IMAX, 12075 S Strang Line Road, Olathe, KS
What: Will John will be signing autographs at Olathe Studios 30 on Saturday. The Kansas City Wizards will be out at the theatres promoting upcoming home games and offering the opportunity to win Kansas City Wizards prizes.
Kansas City Wizards Training and Game Schedule:
Monday, July 30
Reserve game vs. Chivas USA, 9 a.m. at Swope Park Training Facility
Tuesday, July 31
Training 10 a.m.
Wednesday, August 1
Training 10 a.m. and then the team departs for Boston.
Thursday, August 2
Game at New England 6 p.m. CT on MLS Primetime on ESPN 2
Friday, August 3
DAY OFF
*All training sessions are held at the new Swope Park training facility off of 63rd and Lewis. Practice times are subject to change. Please call Sarah Hardy at 816-665-8442 to confirm.
Tidbits From Sunday's Match Against Chivas USA
• Following the match, Kansas City sits 8-5-5 (29 pts.) in 2nd place in the competitive Eastern Conference, just one point behind first-place New England Revolution.
• Kansas City is now 5-3-2 at home and 3-5-2 when allowing the first goal.
• Kansas City is now 13-24-2 all-time on Sundays. The Wizards have scored 56 goals and allowed 77 all-time.
• With the 3-2 win, it marked the 14th consecutive game that the final score was decided by one goal or a draw.
• The Wizards are currently riding a four-game streak without losing (2-0-2).
• The Wizards last win on a Sunday came against the same Colorado Rapids on August 19, 2001. Kansas City beat the Rapids 3-2 that day at Arrowhead Stadium.
• Kansas City's home crowd of 11,649 is also the second-largest crowd ever for a Sunday match. On August 11, 1996, 12,362 saw Kansas City beat the Los Angeles Galaxy in a shootout after regulation ended at 2-2.
• The Wizards are now 3-0-2 all time vs. Chivas USA and 2-0-0 against the club at home. In the series they have given up 5 goals (3 at home) while scoring 10 (8 at home).
• Sunday's match marked the return of three former Wizards players. Chivas USA Head Coach Preki is the Wizards all-time leader in games played (218), goals (71) and assists (98). Starting Chivas defenders Shavar Thomas and Alex Zotinca both played for Kansas City last season.
• Tonight's game snapped Eddie Johnson's four game goal-scoring streak (three goals on May 26, three goals on June 2, one goal on July 14, and two July 22). He also has had either a goal or an assist in the last five games prior to tonight. He had nine goals and one assist during his streak.
• Kerry Zavagnin's 35-yard bomb was his 3rd of the season. Zavagnin has now surpassed his previous career high of two.
• Sasha Victorine recorded his team-high 6th assist on the play. He is now tied for 3rd in MLS in assists.
• Davy Arnaud's free-kick goal was his 4th of the season and 25th of his career. He currently sits 6th on Kansas City's all-time goal scoring list, just two behind current 1860 Munich forward Josh Wolff.
• Substitute forward Yura Movsisyan scored his 5th career and season goal. It was his first-game winning goal. Movsisyan has scored all five of his goals this season after coming off the bench to lead MLS in goals as a substitute.
• The Wizards have now scored six goals after the 85th minute and five after the 88th minute.
• Kansas City's nine goals after the 75th minute are tops in Major League Soccer.
• Left back Ryan Raybould, a Rockhurst High School graduate, made his first start of the season, playing the first 82 minutes.
• Kansas City Wizards rookie defender/midfielder Michael Kraus made his first career appearance in the 18-man roster. Kraus, a Creighton graduate, leads the Wizards Reserves in points with two goals and four assists in seven Reserve Division games.
• The Kansas City Wizards next play Thursday at New England Revolution on MLS Primetime Thursday broadcast live at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN 2. The Wizards will appear on MLS Primetime twice in 2007. The second Primetime match will be Thursday, September 27 when the Wizards host the Los Angeles Galaxy and international superstar David Beckham.
