MLS Sporting Kansas City

Kansas City Wizards Face Columbus Crew Saturday in Decisive Playoff Match

Published on November 7, 2008 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release


(November 7, 2008) - The Kansas City Wizards and Columbus Crew face off Saturday in decisive Game 2 of the 2008 Eastern Conference Semifinal Series at Columbus Crew Stadium. After the Wizards and Crew tied 1-1 last weekend at CommunityAmerica Ballpark, the winner Saturday night in Columbus will take the two-game, total-goals series. If the match (and series) is tied after 90 minutes, the teams will play a full 30 minutes of extra time. If still tied, the game will then go to penalty kicks. The match will be broadcast live nationally on HDNet and locally on Metro Sports (English) and Time Warner Cable Channel 5 (Spanish).

Kansas City took a 1-0 series lead in the 53rd minute last Saturday through brilliant passing from midfielder Davy Arnaud and striker Claudio Lopez. Arnaud stole a ball in midfield, eventually playing a ball along the ground for Lopez in space on the left flank. Lopez swung in a perfectly weighted cross that dropped down onto Arnaud's head eight yards from goal. Arnaud extended fully and powered the ball past former teammate William Hesmer with a diving-header, the 4th postseason goal of Arnaud's career. Arnaud now has three goals in his last three games in 2008, all three of which have been assisted by Lopez. Lopez has scored two goals and added four assists over the same three-game stretch.

The Wizards will be without right-sided midfielder Herculez Gomez Saturday after the 26-year-old attacker was shown a red card in the 75th minute of Game 1. Kansas City may also be without the services of veteran striker Josh Wolff, who is doubtful with a stress reaction. Midfielder Jack Jewsbury carries a yellow card into Game 2. Should Jewsbury receive another yellow card and the Wizards win, he would miss the Eastern Conference Final against Chicago. Defender Gino Padula and midfielder Brian Carroll also enter Saturday's game on yellow cards.

A bus full of Wizards fans will depart Kansas City Saturday morning for the match, and the Wizards are hosting a watch part in Kansas City at Barley's Brewhaus in Shawnee, Kan. Fans are encouraged to join fellow Kansas City supporters to watch the game.

If Kansas City wins Saturday, they will play on the road against the Chicago Fire next Thursday, Nov. 13 at 7:30 CT. The game will be broadcast live nationally on ESPN 2. The Wizards went 1-0-2 against the Fire this season, including a 1-0 victory at TOYOTA Park in April. Kansas City also beat Chicago 1-0 for each of its major championships, the 2000 MLS Cup and the 2004 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

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