Wizards Conclude Regular Season Saturday at New England With Playoff Berth Secured
October 24, 2008 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release
The Kansas City Wizards (10-10-9, 39 pts) face the New England Revolution (12-10-7, 43 pts) Saturday for the second time in three games. Kansas City has already booked its ticket to the 2008 MLS Cup Playoffs by virtue of the New York Red Bulls loss Thursday night at the Chicago Fire, but Kansas City still has positioning to play for heading into the final match of the regular season. Kansas City enters the match 4-1-1 in its last six, while New England is 1-3-2 over that stretch. The Wizards can still end up facing either the 2008 Supporters' Shield-winning Columbus Crew or two-time defending MLS Cup champions Houston Dynamo depending on this weekend's results.
If Kansas City finishes 4th in the East, they will be the 4th seed in the Eastern Conference playoff bracket and host Columbus on Nov. 1. If they finish 5th in the East, they will change conferences and become the 4th seed in the Western Conference playoff bracket and host Houston on Nov. 1. Below are the scenarios that could transpire this weekend and where Kansas City will fall in the playoff picture:
If KC wins, KC is 4E
If KC draws, and DC does not win by 3 goals or more, KC is 4E
If KC draws, and DC wins by 3 goals or more, KC is 4W
If KC loses, and DC loses, KC is 4E
If KC loses, and DC draws, KC is 4E
If KC loses, and DC wins, KC is 4W
(4E = 4th seed in the Eastern Conference bracket; 4W = 4th seed in the Western Conference bracket.)
The Wizards will offer a free playoff ticket and a 2009 season ticket holder scarf to any fan who puts down a new deposit for 2009 season tickets from now through Nov. 1. For more information, call the Wizards ticket office at (913) 387-3400. Family Four Packs courtesy of Pepsi and Hy-Vee will also be available for the match Nov. 1. Four Packs are available here at kcwizards.com or by calling the Wizards ticket office at (913) 387-3400. Individual tickets are also available online at Ticketmaster.com, by calling (816) 931-3330 or at any area Ticketmaster location.
Saturday night will mark the final time that midfielder Kerry Zavagnin suits up for a regular-season game in a Wizards uniform. Zavagnin, a member of the team since 2000, announced his retirement from the sport earlier this year. He was a member of the 2000 MLS Cup championship team, the 2004 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup championship team and is the team's all-time leader in both games played and minutes played.
Designated Player Claudio Lopez will help lead the Kansas City attack. Lopez is coming off MLS Player of the Week honors for a spectacular one-goal, two-assist performance in the Wizards dramatic 3-2 victory last Saturday against the San Jose Earthquakes. Lopez, one of the major signings by an MLS team in the off-season, leads all newcomers to the League with 11 goals created (5 goals, 6 assists).
The Wizards will hold a watch party for Saturday's regular-season finale at Barley's Brewhaus in Shawnee.
Major League Soccer Stories from October 24, 2008
- Comcast Ch. 664 to Air Saturday's Key RSL at Colorado Match - Real Salt Lake
- Earthquakes Play Their Last Game of the Season Saturday, Oct. 25 Against Toronto FC - San Jose Earthquakes
- Major League Soccer Commissioner Fines D.C. United President and CEO Kevin Payne - MLS
- Wizards Conclude Regular Season Saturday at New England With Playoff Berth Secured - Sporting Kansas City
- MLS Announces 2008 Expansion Draft Rules for Seattle Sounders FC - MLS
- Locations, dates set for Revolution's playoff series vs. Chicago - New England Revolution
- Chicago Fire Down New York Red Bulls 5-2 - Chicago Fire FC
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