KANSAS CITY WIZARDS 2, NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION 2
KANSAS CITY WIZARDS HEAD COACH BOB GANSLER
On giving up the tying goal:
"We never point (fingers). We had plenty of bodies there. Now you have to be active and make a play and we didn't. (Clint Dempsey) persevered and was rewarded. It wasn't a breakdown in our organization, it was just that we didn't act at the right time or in the right manner. It was a play that needed to be defended and we didn't do that."
On the must-win game next weekend in Dallas:
"We have all been in these kinds of predicaments before. We have been very good on the road this year. Now we have to go (to Dallas) and win a game.
KANSAS CITY WIZARDS FORWARD ANTTI SUMIALA
On his first MLS start:
"I did everything that I could and I am not disappointed with what I did. I am disappointed that we did not get the three points. I think the whole team played well and the game was in our hands, so it was very disappointing that we didn't win the game."
On the playoff picture:
"It is still in our hands. If and when we win (next weekend) we will be there. The good thing is we played well tonight so that can give us some promise and confidence."
KANSAS CITY WIZARDS MIDFIELDER CHRIS KLEIN
On the tie:
"Every time we play them, it seems to be a pretty open game. We had our chances and I think we had more than they did. If you are up 2-0, you have got to carry the game and we didn't do that."
On the playoff picture:
"They way I understand it, if we win, we are in. It is pretty simple. I don't think we can sit around and rely on (the MetroStars) to tie or lose to Chivas."
KANSAS CITY WIZARDS MIDFIELDER PREKI
On his final regular season home game:
"It's a reality. I have been in this game a long time, it has been a great ride and it came to an end tonight. I was hoping it would end on a better note. I guess I am going to have to wait and hopefully I will get another chance to play a game at this stadium. That would be great."
On the Wizards playoff picture:
"Everything is on the line now. There are no ifs, buts or whats. We have to go down there and play more aggressively and more defensively, We have to posses the ball better as a group."
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION HEAD COACH STEVE NICOL
On the game:
"I think we deserve it. We have had some good results at home and away from home. Tonight we should have won, even though we were two down but we felt we could get something.
"We said at halftime that 30 of the 45 minutes we played some decent stuff and felt we were in charge. There was just a period of eight to 10 minutes where we lost it and they got both their goals. It took a couple minutes after giving up the second one before we got back in it."
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION MIDFIELDER SHALRIE JOSEPH
On clinching the Eastern Conference:
"It is a good feeling to clinch the Eastern Conference. Now we can rest some guys and look forward to next week at home and just get ready for the playoffs."
On the game:
"It was hard to break them down because they were well organized and they pushed a lot of guys forward. So we just wanted to catch them on the break and catch them going forward. Tonight the ball didn't go our way, but we kept working hard and kept together as a team and got the equalizer we needed."
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION MIDFIELDER CLINT DEMPSEY
On clinching the Eastern Conference:
"Our goal since the beginning of the season was to make sure we end up in first and put ourselves in the best position to win MLS Cup. That is what we set out to do and it would have been a shame if we didn't end up in first after the way we started."
On his goal:
"I was just trying to fight and get the ball. When Khano (Smith) played the ball through to me, it bounced and I just tried to toe-poke it and it went through his legs."
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION GOALKEEPER MATT REIS
On clinching the No. 1 seed in the East:
"It's a great accomplishment to clinch a home seed. It is really important for us because we have great fans and coming into these last games it is important to play at home."
