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PIZZA HUT PARK
DALLAS, Texas
7:30 pm CT (No TV)
The most highly-charged match of the final weekend of the league campaign takes place at Pizza Hut Park, where the final semifinal positioning for both conferences will likely be decided. FC Dallas still hold a slim two-point lead on the Los Angeles Galaxy for second place in the Western Conference, and a victory will guarantee they have home-field advantage for the postseason's first round. For the Kansas City Wizards, it's a much starker landscape - they need to win to guarantee they will not be left out of the playoffs after reaching the MLS Cup Final a year ago. Amazingly, the teams have scored and allowed the identical number of goals this season, but FC Dallas has translated those into three more points this season - three points that would have the Wizards home and dry entering the final weekend.
REFEREE: Brian Hall. SAR (bench): Jose Corro; JAR (opposite): Corey Rockwell; 4th: Troy Travis
MLS Career: 102 games; FC/gm: 29.4; Y/gm: 3.3; R: 27; pens: 33
Games involving FC Dallas: P21 W12 L6 T3; FC/gm: 27.5; Y/gm: 2.6; R: 5; pens: 11
Games involving Wizards: P15 W6 L5 T4; FC/gm: 27.9; Y/gm: 3.1; R: 3; pens: 4
INJURY REPORT: FC DALLAS - OUT: GK Jeff Cassar (R shoulder separation); FW Eddie Johnson (R toe stress-related injury); MF Richard Mulrooney (R knee surgery) ... KANSAS CITY WIZARDS - OUT: GK Martin Hutton (R MCL sprain); PROBABLE: FW Ryan Pore (R MCL first-degree sprain)
SUSPENDED: none
WARNINGS: DAL: Bobby Rhine (20 CP); Chris Gbandi (10 add'l CP); Simo Valakari (10 add'l CP) ... KC: Jose Burciaga Jr. (9 add'l CP); Diego Gutierrez (20 CP); Kerry Zavagnin (18 CP)
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: none
HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (33 meetings): FC Dallas 13 wins (1 shootout), 52 goals ... Wizards 15 wins (2 shootout), 47 goals ... 5 draws
AT DALLAS: (16 meetings): FC Dallas 8 wins (0 shootout), 31 goals ... Wizards 7 wins (2 shootout), 15 goals ... 1 draw
This is the second of the two meetings this year between the former Western Conference rivals, the only game between the two in Texas. The teams met in their first meeting of the season.
LAST MEETING
The Wizards squandered a two-goal lead late as the teams played to a 3-3 draw at Arrowhead Stadium on May 7. The teams traded goals early in the first half, with Sasha Victorine heading home a corner after just four minutes, before Eddie Johnson headed home a cross powered in from the right to pull the Hoops level (16).
The Wizards then hit for two goals within three minutes shortly after the break. Josh Wolff converted from the spot after Bobby Rhine was adjudged to have pulled over Jose Burciaga Jr. (51), then Burciaga found Chris Klein all alone in the heart of the area with a long ball from nearly the halfway line, and he neatly slipped it past FCD 'keeper Scott Garlick.
But Dallas pulled a goal back on 76 minutes through a neat header from Ronnie O'Brien, whose backward redirection from a Bobby Rhine service found home. Then Carlos Ruiz hit for the equalizer six minutes later, turning to escape his marker at the top of the area and lashing a low, left-footed shot inside Bo Oshoniyi's left-hand post.
Here's Bob Gansler's team (4-4-2): Bo Oshoniyi - Sasha Victorine (Preki 84), Jimmy Conrad, Nick Garcia, Jose Burciaga Jr. - Chris Klein, Kerry Zavagnin, Alex Zotinca, Jack Jewsbury (Khari Stephenson 69) - Josh Wolff, Davy Arnaud
Here's Colin Clarke's team (4-4-2): Scott Garlick - Bobby Rhine, Clarence Goodson, Greg Vanney, David Wagenfuhr - Ronnie O'Brien, Richard Mulrooney, Simo Valakari, Carey Talley (Arturo Alvarez 68) - Eddie Johnson, Carlos Ruiz
HISTORY
A year ago, the Wizards won three of the four meetings between the clubs - the final three in a row. The then-Dallas Burn claimed a 1-0 win on April 24 at home (Nhleko 17), then Kansas City posted a 2-0 victory at home on May 22 (Jewsbury 60, Wolff 67).
The Wizards then laid a 5-1 defeat on the Burn on July 3 in Kansas City (Arnaud 22, 79, 90; Klein 72; Wolff 75 - Kreis 31) - the heaviest defeat of the season for Dallas - then K.C. claimed a 1-0 victory two weeks later at the Cotton Bowl (Gutierrez 42)
The Wizards also knocked the Burn out of the U.S. Open Cup at the quarterfinal stage on their way to winning the Dewar Trophy, in a 4-0 victory on Aug. 4 in suburban Kansas City (Klein 52; Arnaud 57; Detter 73; Zotinca 88)
The Wizards have won seven of the last nine meetings between the teams, dating back to July 31, 2002, and have just two losses in the last 13 encounters between the clubs. The Wizards have won the season series between the teams each of the last three years.
Dallas hasn't won in regulation time in Kansas City since a 1-0 victory on Sept. 19, 1998 - a span of 11 games. Dallas did win a match via shootout on Sept. 18, 1999 after a 1-1 draw over 90 minutes.
Coaches record: Colin Clarke v KC: P6 W1 L4 T1 ... Bob Gansler vs. DAL: P20 W9 L6 D5
FC DALLAS
FC Dallas missed out a chance to ensure they would finish in second place in the Western Conference in the second of two games-in-hand they had on the Los Angeles Galaxy, playing to a scoreless draw with the Colorado Rapids last Saturday at Pizza Hut Park. The Hoops are still in second place in the West with 47 points from 30 matches, two ahead of the Galaxy with a match left for both teams on the season.
FC Dallas and the Colorado Rapids played to a dour scoreless draw, where substitute goalkeepers made the few saves required in order to keep clean sheets.
New Argentinian signing Dario Sala made his MLS debut and became the first international goalkeeper in FC Dallas history, while Byron Foss once again deputized for the injured Joe Cannon for the Rapids, though the pair were required just seven saves on the night (five for Foss).
The point was enough to pull FC Dallas two points clear of the Los Angeles Galaxy in second place in the Western Conference, though a victory would have ensured home-field advantage in the conference semifinals. With the teams having split their season series though, FC Dallas currently hold the advantage in the tie-breaker if they finish level in the table, seven goals better on the season differential.
FC Dallas boss Colin Clarke made three changes to the team that defeated the Columbus Crew 2-1 the previous Wednesday at Pizza Hut Park. Dario Sala made his MLS debut, coming in for Scott Garlick between the posts. Clarence Goodson and Greg Vanney returned from suspension, as Drew Moor and Ronnie O'Brien returned to the substitutes' bench.
Here's Clarke's team (4-1-4-1): Dario Sala - Steve Jolley, Clarence Goodson (Drew Moor 53), Greg Vanney, Chris Gbandi - Simo Valakari - Bobby Rhine, Aaron Pitchkolan (Carey Talley 89), Mark Wilson (Oscar Pareja 66), Ramon Nunez - Abe Thompson
"Very very good performance, very solid. I thought that defensively we were sound all night and never really gave them a sniff, created a couple of great chances going forward," Clarke said. "Overall it was a good sound performance.
TEAM NEWS
Dario Sala made his debut in goal for FCD, giving Scott Garlick a breather. He faced just three shots on goal, one of which forced an acrobatic save to end the first half.
"He made a couple of big saves, one in the first half off a header," said FCD coach Colin Clarke. "He did well - came off his line, read situations and tidied things up. He was solid, a good first game."
Sala played an aggressive style where he charged off the line, acting almost as a sweeper at times.
"It's a style like a sweeper," said the newly-signed Argentinian netminder, who became the first international goalkeeper in club history. "Here in MLS you play more with the line of four defenders outside the box - the goalkeeper has to all the time keep running and working. This is the way you play with four defenders."
The Hoops had some changes in their back four, which featured three regular center backs in Steve Jolley, Clarence Goodson and Greg Vanney starting alongside Chris Gbandi. Having a new look in the back four gave Bobby Rhine a chance to move back into an attacking role in wide midfield where he has proven dangerous, coming into the attack effectively from the right flank position.
"Just having a look at some different options," said Clarke. "Steve played out there (at right back) in L.A. and did a good job and he did a good job tonight. I thought Bobby was great in front of him, he could have scored another two or three he got forward well. It's a more solid look, just to have a look at it going into the playoffs and just open our options up."
Without Ruiz, Johnson, Mina and O'Brien, FC Dallas was missing a quartet of players who had produced 29 of the club's 50 goals on the season.
"It's a good experience for me. I know that Carlos (Ruiz) and Roberto (Mina) are coming back for the final game and the playoffs, but it's good to get some games before they come back because you never know what could happen," Thompson said. "Carlos could get hurt again and there might be more call-ups, so it's good for me to get out there, work hard, battle and occupy the two center backs the best that I can."
KANSAS CITY WIZARDS
The Kansas City Wizards ensured the battle for the final spot available in the MLS Cup Playoffs will come down to the final weekend of the season, holding a two-goal lead before settling for a 2-2 draw with the New England Revolution at Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday. The Wizards and MetroStars are now tied for fourth place in the Eastern Conference with 44 points from 31 matches, though the Wizards hold a slight advantage in tie-breakers if they remain level through the season finale this season.
The Wizards came into their final regular-season home game with a six-game winless run, while the Revolution needed a point and a United loss in the nation's capital to secure the top seed in the East.
After honoring Preki before the match, the MLS original retiring after this season, the Wizards got off to the start they needed with two goals in short order late in the first half. First, in the 28th minute, new signing Antti Sumiala, making his MLS debut, found Josh Wolff in the left side of the area. He skipped inside a defender and lashed a curling shot inside the far post.
Then on 39 minutes Jimmy Conrad doubled the Kansas City lead, stabbing home a deflection from close range after a clearing attempt from New England's Khano Smith on a free kick swung into the area went right into the heart of the goalmouth melee.
But the Revolution pulled a goal back just two minutes later, Jose Cancela bending home a free kick from the top of the box, the first New England goal scored directly from a free kick this season.
New England then secured a share of the points - and with the result in D.C., the top seed - when sheer hustle from Clint Dempsey brought the equalizer, chasing a bounding shot that deflected off a pair of Wizards defenders before knocking home his own second-chance effort.
Wizards boss Bob Gansler made three changes to the team that lost 1-0 at home to the Chicago Fire the weekend before. Alex Zotinca came into the team in a midfield role as Shavar Thomas returned to the substitutes' bench, while Diego Gutierrez made his first start since July 23, coming in for Preki. Antti Sumiala made his MLS debut, coming in to partner Josh Wolff in attack for the suspended Davy Arnaud.
Here's Gansler's team (3-5-2): Bo Oshoniyi - Nick Garcia, Jimmy Conrad, Jose Burciaga Jr. - Chris Klein, Sasha Victorine, Kerry Zavagnin, Diego Gutierrez (Jack Jewsbury 84), Alex Zotinca (Shavar Thomas 71) - Josh Wolff, Antti Sumiala (Preki 71).
"For sure it was a better performance on offense. We need to take it from there," Gansler said. "We've all been in these kind of predicaments before. We've been very good on the road this year; we have to go and win a game. You take the positive, and you go."
TEAM NEWS
With Scott Sealy and Arnaud out of the lineup due to international duty and caution point suspension respectively, and the Wizards on a six-game winless streak, Gansler inserted Antti Sumiala, his newly acquired Finnish forward, up front with usual selection Josh Wolff.
"We haven't won games now for a while with the guys that we feel make up our best lineup. You've got to try some other things whether it's Preki starting as last time, [Sumiala] starting this, or whether it was Jermaine starting a couple of games ago," said Gansler.
The coughing up of the lead and another match without a win, the fifth in a row at home, have become all too familiar.
"We talk about scoring goals; we talk about winning at home, being ahead. None of that means anything if you are not able to hold leads," said Wolff, whose goal equaled his season career best of 10. "This come-from-behind tie game - we've done this a number of times this year - it's frustrating; it gets old. The comments in the locker room get old; everything gets old because it culminates to a night where you are up 2-0 when you need to get two points and you're not able to get it. That's pretty sad."
Speaking of his feelings on possibly his last game ever at Arrowhead Stadium, Preki said, "I was hoping it would end on a better note. I was hoping we'd get a result tonight and make the playoffs. But I guess we're going to have to wait. Hopefully I'll get another game here at Arrowhead Stadium, and that would be great.
"
PLAYOFF SCENARIOS
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Colorado can finish in third place with:
(a) A Los Angeles loss vs. San Jose.
FC Dallas can finish in second place with:
(a) A win vs. Kansas City or a Los Angeles tie or loss vs. San Jose
(b) A tie vs. Kansas City and a Los Angeles win of seven or less vs. San Jose
Los Angeles can finish second with:
(a) A win vs. San Jose and an FC Dallas loss vs. Kansas City
Los Angeles can finish in at least third place with:
(a) A win or tie vs. San Jose
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Kansas City Wizards can clinch a berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs with:
(a) A win vs. FC Dallas AND a MetroStars loss or tie vs. Chivas
(b) A win vs. FC Dallas AND a MetroStars win by six or less vs. Chivas USA
(c) A tie vs. FC Dallas AND a MetroStars tie or loss vs. Chivas USA
MetroStars can clinch a berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs with:
(a) A win vs. Chivas USA AND a Kansas City loss or tie vs. FC Dallas
(b) A win vs. Chivas USA which would leave them with an equal to or higher overall goal differential if KC defeats FC Dallas.
(c) A tie vs. Chivas USA AND a KC loss to FC Dallas
DISCIPLINARY INFORMATION
Red card and caution point accumulation suspensions collected in regular season games shall be served in a player's next regular season game.
Any suspensions for yellow card points earned in a player's last regular season game will not carry over into the MLS Cup Playoffs, or into the next league season.
However, any Player who receives a red card in his last game of the season (regular season or playoffs), will serve the one-game suspension during their next game (whether it's during the playoffs, championship game, or in the next regular season game of the following season).
All red card and caution point suspensions will, if necessary, follow a player to a new team.
