Kansas City Wizards Look to Continue Unbeaten Streak at San Jose on Saturday
August 13, 2010 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release
The Kansas City Wizards' five game unbeaten streak will be put to the test on Saturday as the Wizards travel to San Jose for their first meeting with the Earthquakes in the 2010 season. Kansas City, who announced Friday the signing of Chivas and Mexico National Team star Omar Bravo for the 2011 season, has been winless in their last 13 encounters with the Earthquakes, dating back to 2000.
The Wizards will be riding the momentum of earning eight points over their last four MLS matches, as well as the boost from a 2-1 upset over English powerhouse Manchester United in a July 25th international friendly. The streak started with a 1-0 away victory over Eastern Conference leaders Columbus exactly a month prior to Saturday's match, and continued with a draw at Colorado for back-to-back road results.
The Wizards now return to the road following home victories over Manchester United and Toronto FC, and last weekend's 1-1 draw with defending MLS champions Real Salt Lake. San Jose is coming off back-to-back 1-0 losses, most recently at Colorado last Saturday.
A key to Kansas City's recent run has been the value of early goals. The Wizards have struck first in all five games during the streak, and four of those five goals came before the 30th minute; something the club had managed to do only twice in 14 games this season prior to the streak. The team is now 5-0-2 in league play and 6-0-2 overall when scoring the first goal in 2010.
Kansas City has just four points in their last 13 matches in San Jose and has only two regulation wins in 23 tries at the Earthquakes home ground. The last victorious trip came in 3-0 win at Spartan Stadium a decade ago.
The clash could prove to be an important one in the push for postseason contention, as both Kansas City and San Jose sit in similar positions just outside the playoff picture. The Wizards are currently in fifth place in the Eastern Conference standings with 20 points (5-8-5), while San Jose enters in sixth place in the Western Conference table on 23 points (6-6-5). The two teams will meet again in the regular season finale on Saturday, October 23rd at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.
Saturday's live HD telecast will be shown locally in both English and Spanish on KCWE Channel 29 and La Gran D 1340 AM will broadcast over the airwaves.
The Kansas City Wizards next home match is Saturday, August 21st at 7:30 p.m. CDT at CommunityAmerica Ballpark against the New England Revolution. Tickets can be purchased by visiting KCWizards.com or by calling 888-4KC-Goal. The Wizards are also now accepting initial payments for season tickets for the 2011 season, highlighted by the debut of C.D. Guadalajara (Chivas) star and Mexico international Omar Bravo, and the opening of Kansas City's state-of-the-art soccer stadium next summer.
Major League Soccer Stories from August 13, 2010
- Game Notes - Sounders FC at Chivas USA - Seattle Sounders FC
- FC Dallas signs Brazilian defender Jackson Goncalves - FC Dallas
- Earthquakes Look to Extend Home Unbeaten Streak Over Kansas City - San Jose Earthquakes
- Rapids' Colin Clark Suffers Torn ACL - Colorado Rapids
- Chivas USA to Host Donate Life Night This Saturday - Club Deportivo Chivas USA
- Midfielder Brad Evans Placed on Disabled List - Seattle Sounders FC
- Chivas De Guadalajara Will Face Philadelphia Union on September 1 - MLS
- Kansas City Wizards Look to Continue Unbeaten Streak at San Jose on Saturday - Sporting Kansas City
- Real Salt Lake Match Preview - Real Salt Lake
- Kansas City Wizards Sign Mexico International Striker Omar Bravo as Designated Player - Sporting Kansas City
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