Kansas City Wizards Host FC Dallas Saturday as Playoff Push Begins
August 22, 2008 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release
(August 23, 2008) - The Kansas City Wizards (6-7-7, 25 pts) host FC Dallas (6-7-7, 25 pts) tomorrow at 7 p.m. CT. Kansas City and Dallas tied 1-1 on July 4 in the only other match-up between the teams this season. The Wizards and FCD split the season series last year, with Kansas City earning a 2-0 victory on the last day of the regular season to clinch a spot in the 2007 MLS Cup Playoffs. Saturday's match is pivotal for Kansas City's push toward the 2008 playoffs.
The Wizards currently sit on 25 points, good for a 6th place tie with Toronto FC in the highly competitive Eastern Conference. Kansas City is three points out of the final playoff position with ten matches remaining. Both the New York Red Bulls and D.C. United are within striking distance, just three points ahead of Kansas City in the table. Dallas enters with the exact same record, but currently sits 3rd in the West.
Kansas City goalkeeper Kevin Hartman should surpass two milestones in tomorrow's match. With one more save, Hartman will become just the second goalkeeper in League history to surpass the 1100 save plateau. Hartman currently trails only former Wizards standout Tony Meola on the all-time MLS saves list. Hartman is on pace to reach Meola's record this season, as he leads Hartman by 37 saves with ten games remaining. In the seventh minute, Hartman will surpass former Wizards midfielder Chris Henderson for second place on the League's all-time minutes played list. Hartman currently sits on 26,235 career minutes played.
Saturday's game will have several exciting promotional elements surrounding the match. Before the game, members of the Gaelic Athletic Association will be on hand to demonstrate the sport of Hurling to interested fans in advance of next weekends Kansas City Irish Fest. The Wizards will have a major presence at the Irish Fest for the second consecutive year.
At halftime of the game, medal winners from the inaugural Mayor's Night Kicks tournament will be recognized. The 3rd place and championship games of the tournament takes place Friday night at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m., respectively, and will be broadcast at a later date on Time Warner Cable's Metro Sports. Dignitaries present for the halftime presentation will include KCMO Mayor Mark Funkhouser and President of the KCMO Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners John Fierro.
Major League Soccer Stories from August 22, 2008
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