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MLS Sporting Kansas City

Wizards Host Chicago Fire, Mexico Captain Cuauhtémoc Blanco Sunday

August 14, 2009 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release


The Kansas City Wizards (5-7-6, 21 pts) host the Chicago Fire (8-4-8, 32 pts) and Mexico National Team star Cuauhtémoc Blanco Sunday at CommunityAmerica Ballpark at 2 p.m. CT. Blanco wore the captain's armband for Mexico Wednesday in a 2-1 victory over the United States in World Cup Qualifying and will rejoin Chicago for Sunday's match. Kansas City will play its first game with Peter Vermes at the helm after he was named Interim Head Coach Aug. 4. A limited number of tickets remain available for the match, starting at $15. Fans can purchase tickets online at www.Ticketmaster.com/kcwizards. For more information, call the Wizards at (913) 387-3400.

Vermes became the Wizards Technical Director on November 15, 2006 and will maintain that role while assuming Interim Head Coaching duties. Vermes retired from MLS after playing in 184 games League games (183 starts), amassing 16,384 minutes, 11 goals and 17 assists for the then New York/New Jersey MetroStars, Colorado Rapids and Kansas City Wizards over seven seasons. He scored two goals and recorded three assists in 2000, helping lead the Wizards to their first MLS Cup championship. Vermes was a finalist for the National Soccer Hall of Fame in each of the last two rounds of voting, finishing in the top 10 both years. Veteran coach Zoran Savic will be added to the staff as an assistant coach under Vermes. Savic has previously served as a Head Coach of the Kansas City Comets and an assistant for Chivas USA of Major League Soccer.

Sunday, the Wizards will show their support for the United States' bid to host the FIFA World Cup in 2018 or 2022 with two new field boards at CommunityAmerica Ballpark. One field board will feature the new website launched by the USA Bid Committee: www.GOUSABID.com. The Wizards will encourage all fans to log on to www.GOUSABID.com and sign a petition to show their support for bringing the greatest sporting event in the world back to the United States. The second field board will feature the tag line for Kansas City's bid to become a host city should the USA Bid to FIFA be successful. The phrase "The American City" will be displayed on the second field board, representing the uniquely American characteristics of Kansas City.

The Fire's mercurial playmaker Cuauhtémoc Blanco will rejoin Chicago for Sunday's match after playing the opening 56 minutes for Mexico Wednesday at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. Blanco has played in Kansas City twice previously, with the Wizards posting a 1-0-2 record in games featuring the controversial figure in Kansas City.

Chicago enters the match in 2nd place in the highly competition Eastern Conference, though suffering from numerous injuries. Former USA star Brian McBride is listed as out for the game, as is Costa Rica defender Gonzalo Segares, Daniel Woolard and Tim Ward. Defender Wilman Conde and midfielder John Thorrington are also listed as questionable. The Wizards are still without goalkeeper Eric Kronberg, defender/midfielder Chance Myers and midfielder Kevin Souter due to long-term injuries. Striker Claudio Lopez and midfielder Davy Arnaud are ruled out through one-game suspensions for a red card and yellow card accumulation, respectively.

The Wizards have sold out their last six matches at CommunityAmerica Ballpark. A limited number of tickets remain available for Sunday's game, starting at $15 for General Admission tickets. Bleacher tickets are still available for $20, as are Stadium Reserved tickets for $25 and All-You-Can-Eat Seats for $35. The Pepsi/Price Chopper Family 4-Pack is also offered for this match. As part of the package, fans will receive:

- Four (4) Kansas City Wizards Tickets

- Four (4) Hot Dogs at CAB

- Four (4) Pretzels at CAB

- One (1) Stadium Blanket

- One (1) Pepsi Coupon Package for redemption at area Price Chopper stores:

o One (1) Free 6-Pack of Dr. Pepper or Sierra Mist (20 oz. bottles)

o One (1) Free 2 Liter of Crush or Sierra Mist

o One (1) Buy One, Get One SOBE Lifewater (20 oz. bottle)

o One (1) Kansas City Wizards Merchandise Discount Coupon good for $5 off a merchandise purchase of free customization of a Wizards jersey.

- All coupons expire on November 30, 2009

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