MLS Sporting Kansas City

Wizards in U.S. Open Cup Semifinals Tuesday in Columbus

Published on September 9, 2002 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release


The Wizards will face the Columbus Crew at Crew Stadium on Tuesday, September 10th, in the Semifinals of the U.S. Open Cup. The Semifinal match will kickoff at 7:00 p.m. CT and will be broadcast live on Fox Sports World. Fans can also log onto The.Crew.com to follow the U.S. Open Cup action. Kansas City defeated Milwaukee 2-0 in the Quarterfinals to advance to the Semifinals of the 89th annual tournament for the first time in team history. By advancing to the Semifinals, the Wizards became the only team in MLS this season to advance to the Semifinals of both the U.S. Open Cup and the Champions Cup.

The winner of the Kansas City-Columbus match will face the Los Angeles Galaxy in the Finals of the Open Cup. Los Angeles advanced to the Championship match after defeating Dallas 4-1 on September 3rd. The U.S. Open Cup Final will take place the weekend of October 25, 26 and 27. The Wizards have submitted a bid to U.S. Soccer to host the Championship game, but the host venue has not been announced.

Wizards Saturday Regular Season Home Finale vs. the Colorado Rapids

The Kansas City Wizards (9-9-8) will face the Colorado Rapids (12-11-3) in their last regular season home game at 7:00 p.m. The Wizards will face the Rapids at home and away wrapping up the 2002 regular season before MLS playoffs begin on September 25th. The two games September 14th at Arrowhead Stadium and September 20th at INVESCO Field will wrap up the four-game season series between the clubs. Currently, the Rapids lead the series 1-0-1, opening the 2002 season with a 1-1 tie at Arrowhead on March 23 and posting a 2-0 victory at INVESCO Field on May 11. The Wizards lead the all-time series 14-11-5 (including playoffs), recording an 11-3-1 mark in Kansas City, while the Rapids have registered an 8-3-4 record in Denver.

Colorado has not been victorious at Arrowhead Stadium since Sept. 25, 1999. Wizards midfielder Preki has been the thorn in the Rapids' side, posting 7 g, 11 a (25 points) in 24 games. Kansas City Wizards "magic number" to reach the playoffs now stands at three points. The Wizards need just one win in their final two games of the 2002 season in order to clinch a playoff berth. A Wizards win vs. the Rapids would move them into a playoff spot or a loss by New England would allow them to move into the running for MLS Cup 2002.

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Major League Soccer Stories from September 9, 2002


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