Kansas City Wizards Weekly Update
Published on October 20, 2008 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release
The Kansas City Wizards control their own destiny heading into the final week of the regular season, as they travel to face the New England Revolution this Saturday at 6:30 p.m. CT. A win will assure Kansas City of a spot in the 2008 MLS Cup Playoffs regardless of other results. Kansas City could potentially enter Saturday's match already assured of a playoff spot. Saturday will mark the fourth straight season that the Wizards playoff hopes have gone down to the final day of the regular season.
Tuesday, October 21 - Training
10:00 a.m. CT; Swope Park Training Center
Wednesday, October 22 - Training
10:00 a.m. CT; Swope Park Training Center Turf Field
Thursday, October 23 - Training
10:00 a.m. CT; Swope Park Training Center Turf Field
Friday, October 24 - Training
9:30 a.m. CT; Swope Park Training Center
Saturday, October 25 - MLS Match
6:30 p.m. CT Kansas City Wizards at New England Revolution on Metro Sports and Time Warner Cable Channel 5
Kansas City Wizards Swope Park Training Center
6310 Lewis Road
Kansas City, MO 64132
Google Maps here
MLS Cup Playoff Race Update
Kansas City enters the final weekend of the MLS regular season fully in control of its own destiny in the 2008 MLS Cup Playoff race. The Wizards currently hold the first "wildcard" spot in the playoff picture and would occupy the 4th seed in the Eastern Conference bracket if the season ended today. A win Saturday guarantees Kansas City the 4th seed in the East. The Wizards can still make the playoffs with a loss or a tie and help from other results. Kansas City could know as early as Thursday if they have clinched a spot in the playoffs, as a New York loss guarantees qualification for the Wizards. If the Wizards qualify as the second "wildcard" team, they will move to the Western Conference bracket as the 4th seed.
INCLUDES GAMES OF Sunday, October 19, 2008
EASTERN GP W L T PTS GF GA GD W L T GF GA W L T GF GA *Columbus (1) 29 16 7 6 54 49 36 13 10 2 2 29 15 6 5 4 20 21 *Chicago (2) 29 12 10 7 43 39 31 8 6 5 3 18 15 6 5 4 21 16 *New England (3) 29 12 10 7 43 39 40 -1 6 4 4 23 17 6 6 3 16 23 Kansas City (X) 29 10 10 9 39 34 38 -4 9 2 4 22 15 1 8 5 12 23 New York (Y) 29 10 10 9 39 40 43 -3 9 3 3 30 20 1 7 6 10 23 D.C. United 29 11 14 4 37 43 50 -7 9 4 2 32 19 2 10 2 11 31 Toronto FC 29 9 12 8 35 34 41 -7 6 2 7 17 12 3 10 1 17 29
WESTERN GP W L T PTS GF GA GD W L T GF GA W L T GF GA *Houston (1) 29 13 5 11 50 44 31 13 10 1 4 30 14 3 4 7 14 17 *Chivas USA (2) 29 12 11 6 42 39 40 -1 7 4 3 20 14 5 7 3 19 26 Real Salt Lake (3) 29 10 10 9 39 39 38 1 8 1 6 24 10 2 9 3 15 28 Colorado 29 11 14 4 37 43 44 -1 7 5 2 21 13 4 9 2 22 31 FC Dallas 29 8 10 11 35 43 39 4 5 4 6 23 19 3 6 5 20 20 Los Angeles 29 8 13 8 32 53 60 -7 6 4 4 33 25 2 9 4 20 35 San Jose 29 7 13 9 30 30 38 -8 5 5 4 20 19 2 8 5 10 19
* Clinched a spot in the MLS Cup Playoffs. Columbus has clinched the Supporter's Shield and the top spot in the Eastern Conference.
(1,2 or 3) - Currently occupying an automatic playoff berth.
x - Kansas City currently holds the first wildcard and the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference. They hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over New York who is tied on points.
y - New York currently holds the second wildcard and the fourth seed in the Western Conference.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE (all times CT)
Thursday, October 23
New York at Chicago - 8:00*
Saturday, October 25 Kansas City at New England - 6:30*
Real Salt Lake at Colorado - 8:30
Toronto FC at San Jose - 9:00
Houston at Chivas USA - 9:30
Sunday, October 26 FC Dallas at Los Angeles - 2:00
D.C. United at Columbus - 5:00*
*Relevant games to Kansas City playoff picture
Kansas City Playoff Permutations The Western Conference results are irrelevant to Kansas City's playoff scenario due to tiebreakers. The Wizards hold the tiebreaker over all possibilities unless D.C. United catches up to Kansas City in goal differential, which KC currently leads by 3 goals. (4E = 4th seed in Eastern Conference bracket; 4W = 4th seed in Western Conference bracket.)
If KC wins, no matter what NYRB or DC do, KC is 4E
If DC does not win, KC is in the playoffs no matter what NY does
If NYRB loses, KC is in the playoffs no matter what DC does
If NYRB wins, KC draws, and DC wins by fewer than 3 goals, KC is 4W
If NYRB wins, KC draws, and DC wins by 3 goals or more, KC is out
If NYRB wins, KC loses, and DC wins, KC is out
If NYRB draws, KC draws, and DC wins by fewer than 3 goals, KC is 4E
If NYRB draws, KC draws, and DC wins by 3 goals or more, KC is 4W
If NYRB draws, KC loses, and DC wins, KC is out
If NYRB draws, KC loses and DC does not win, KC is 4W
If NYRB loses, KC draws, and DC does not win by 3 goals or more, KC is 4E
If NYRB loses, KC draws, and DC wins by 3 goals or more, KC is 4W
If NYRB loses, KC loses, and DC wins, KC is 4W
Kansas City Wizards Forward Claudio Lopez Named MLS Player of the Week
Kansas City Wizards striker Claudio Lopez was named MLS Player of the Week Monday for a masterful performance Saturday against the San Jose Earthquakes. Lopez, Kansas City's first-year Designated Player, factored in all three Wizards goals during a vital 3-2 win over the San Jose Earthquakes at CommunityAmerica Ballpark. The award marks his first career MLS Player of the Week honor. After the riveting last-second victory, Kansas City controls its playoff fate heading into the regular-season finale this Saturday, Oct. 25 at 6:30 p.m. CT on the road against the New England Revolution.
"It means a lot to win MLS Player of the Week because that means our team won," Lopez said. "It was a very exciting game, and we needed to win to help make the playoffs. Our fans were great and very loud, and after the final goal we all celebrated together."
The Major League Soccer Player of the Week is selected each week of the MLS regular season by a panel of journalists from The North American Soccer Reporters (NASR). The group consists of members of print, television, radio and online media. More information and membership information can be found at http://www.soccerreporters.com/.
Zavagnin Honored Saturday
Last Saturday, long-time Wizards central midfielder Kerry Zavagnin was honored with a special presentation before the match. The Wizards flew his mother and sister to Kansas City for the presentation to the surprise of Zavagnin, and he was presented with a framed jersey commemorating his service to the organization. The Wizards played a two-minute video montage on the scoreboard to honor Zavagnin. The Cauldron also unfurled several banners, including a 30 X 30 banner that featured the words "Thank You Kerry" above a painted likeness of the player.
Zavagnin has been a vital member of the organization since joining the team in 2000. He started in both of the club's major championships, the 2000 MLS Cup and the 2004 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Zavagnin currently holds the records for regular-season games played (236) and minutes played (20,507) in a Kansas City uniform. In 2001, the Wizards named Zavagnin their team Defender of the Year. Zavagnin was then named to the MLS Best XI in 2004 and was an MLS All-Star that season. He also appeared 21 times for the U.S. National Team from 2000-2006 (15 starts) and recorded one assist.
Zavagnin broke into MLS in 1997 with the New York/New Jersey MetroStars, where he played for two seasons. Overall, Zavagnin has appeared in 275 MLS matches and played 22,350 minutes. In August, he announced his plans to retire at the end of the season.
Hartman's Pink Goalkeeper Jersey Auctioned Off as Part of Breast Cancer Fundraiser
Beginning Tuesday, two of goalkeeper Kevin Hartman's autographed, pink jerseys from the October 11 match against the New England Revolution will be available for auction at kcwizards.com. Hartman wore two jerseys in the match (one in each half), and both will be available for sale. Proceeds from the sale will be matched by Saturday's game sponsor American Family Insurance and donated to Young Survival Coalition, an organization dedicated to assisting young women who currently have or are survivors of breast cancer. Opening bid for both jerseys is set at $175.
The Jimmy Conrad Show Live from McFadden's Wednesday
The Jimmy Conrad Show will be hosted by Jimmy Conrad and voice of the Sean Wheelock live from McFadden's in Kansas City's Power and Light District Wednesday, October 22 at 6 p.m. CT. This week, Conrad and Wheelock will chat about the MLS Cup Playoff race and be joined by a guest from around Major League Soccer.
Archives of The Jimmy Conrad Show are available online at the Wizards podcast page.
Wizards Weekly Press Conference Held Thursday at Swope Park
The Wizards weekly press conference will be held on Thursday this week and start at 12:00 p.m. CT at the pavilion adjacent to the team's Swope Park Training Center. Head Coach Curt Onalfo and a player will be the guests this week. Planet Sub sandwiches and cookies will be provided to all media members who attend. Each Kansas City Wizards practice will still be open to media, and outlets are encouraged to take advantage of the Wizards media policy.
Zona Wizards Airs Live Thursday on La Playa 1480 AM, Time Warner Cable Channel 5
Zona Wizards, the weekly Spanish-language radio and TV show, will air live this Thursday at 2 p.m. on La Playa 1480 AM and Time Warner Cable Channel 5. Hosted by Enrique Morales and Raul Villegas, Zona Wizards will feature a player each week.
Wizards Weekly to Air Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Wizards Weekly, Kansas City's weekly magazine show covering the Wizards will feature Head Coach Curt Onalfo and a player each week. Metro Sports will air Wizards Weekly three times per week.
Wizards Weekly show times:
Thursday's 9:30 p.m. CT
Friday's 6:30 p.m. CT
Saturday's 11:30 a.m. CT
Dynamo to Attend Brookside Soccer Event Friday
Who: Mascot Dynamo the Dragon
When: Friday, October 24; 6:15-7:45pm
Where: Swope Park Training Facility, Kansas City, MO
What: Dynamo the Dragon will be attending Brookside Soccer's Friday Family Fun Night for the U-6 division to greet the families and entertain the kids.
Major League Soccer Stories from October 20, 2008
- Chivas USA's Playoff Opener Just 12 Days Away - Club Deportivo Chivas USA
- Earthquakes Weekly Update - San Jose Earthquakes
- Kansas City Wizards Weekly Update - Sporting Kansas City
- Final Three Playoff Berths Up for Grabs in Last Week of the Regular Season - MLS
- Real Salt Lake Weekly Update - Real Salt Lake
- Kansas City Wizards Forward Claudio Lopez Named MLS Player of the Week - Sporting Kansas City
- D.C. United's Jaime Moreno to retire from international play - D.C. United
- Chicago Fire Weekly Notes - Chicago Fire FC
- Revs close out regular-season schedule on Saturday night - New England Revolution
- Revolution's Eastern Conference Semifinal Series to air on ESPN2's Primetime Thursday - New England Revolution
- New York Red Bulls Weekly Update - Red Bull New York
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
