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MLS Sporting Kansas City

Wizards vs. Crew Game Notes

August 12, 2006 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release


Kansas City Wizards vs. Columbus Crew

Saturday, August 12, 2006
7:30 p.m. CST
Arrowhead Stadium

Television: ONN (Direct Kick package)
Satelite Coordinates:
KU BAND
AMC 3, Tr. 18 Ch. 806
Uplink: 14369(H)
Downlink: 12069(V)
Symbol Rate: 13.235

Going For The Slam

The Wizards close out their season series with the Columbus Crew this Saturday, August 12th at Arrowhead Stadium at 7:30 p.m. Winners of each of this season's first three games against the Crew, Kansas City is unbeaten in its last two games having broke free from its mid-season seven-game slump. Currently tied for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with Chicago at 22 points, the Wizards remain just two wins shy of second place in the East after this past Wednesday's tie vs. the New England Revolution. However, they are also just two points ahead Columbus who sits at the bottom of the East standings with 20.

In their last meeting this season on June 10th in Columbus, Kansas City topped the Crew 1-0 on a goal in the 89th minute by Jose Luis Burciaga Jr. That win was the Wizards' third this season against Columbus, marking the first time since 2004 that they defeated a team three times in a single season. In 2004 the Wizards went 3-1-0 against Colorado and Dallas, but they had never beaten Columbus three times in a season. This weekend they will be looking to take the season series with a perfect 4-0-0 record against the Crew. Only once in the history of the organization has Kansas City gone 4-0 against one team in a single season, in 1997 it went 4-0 against the Colorado Rapids, however one of those wins was by way of a shootout after the match ended 3-3 in regulation play. Twenty times the Wizards have ended a season series unbeaten, including against three times last year. They went 2-0-0 against Real Salt Lake, 1-0-1 with Chivas USA, and 0-0-2 against FC Dallas.

This weekend's two opponents first met on opening day with Kansas City topping Columbus 3-1 on goals from Davy Arnaud, Jack Jewsbury, and Eddie Johnson, the goals are Arnaud and Jewsbury's only tallies this season, while Johnson has only scored one more goal in addition to his opening day tally. The Wizards took the second meeting 1-0 on Josh Wolff's first goal of the season on April 28th in Columbus.

Entering the season finale this weekend, the all-time series stands even at 13-13-4 following Kansas City's three straight wins in 2006 against Columbus.

Streaks Come And Go

There are ups and downs to every season, and Kansas City's current offensive drought could be viewed as the down-slope of its season-opening streak. Heading into week 13 against D.C. United the Wizards were just one of three teams in the league to have scored in every game. Kansas City's 12-game streak of consecutive games scoring a goal opened with five goals in its first two contests and culminated with three goals against the Chicago Fire in its twelfth for a total of 17. The 12 consecutive games to start the year without being shutout tied the Wizards' all-time record that was first set by the squad from 2003. The '03 team totaled 19 goals during its season-opening span. Since this year's streak ended Kansas City has been held scoreless in six, having totaled five goals in its last nine games.

Turning Things Around

The play of Kansas City's defense has been one of the key components in its turn around. Having gone unbeaten in their last two matches, both against the New England Revolution, the Wizards defense has allowed only one goal in its last two games, playing against the strike duo of Taylor Twellman and Clint Dempsey. Goalkeeper Bo Oshoniyi has been a critical in snapping Kansas City's losing streak, making four saves in the tie on July 29th and five in this week's shutout in Foxboro. That defensive play has allowed for the Wizards' offense to post 7-to-5 advantages in shots on goal in each of their last two games.

Pointy Elbows

Defender Jimmy Conrad is expected to miss the next four-to-six weeks with the Wizards due to his jaw being broken by the elbow of Clint Dempsey in this past Wednesday's match. Conrad went up for a head ball early in the second half and had position Dempsey when the Revs midfielder went up with his left elbow, catching the KC defender flush on the right side of his jaw. The Wizards' team captain has started 11 matches for Kansas City this season having missed nine games overall, six while he was with the United States National Team, two while he was recovering from a sports hernia surgery, and one for a red card suspension. Conrad has scored two goals in 2006 for the Wizards, including the game-winner in Kansas City's 1-0 week three victory over New England. This season the Wizards are 2-6-3 with Conrad in the lineup and 4-4-1 when he has not appeared, however three of their four shutouts in 2006 have come when the three-time all-star is on the pitch.

Arnaud's March

It can now be said that there is only one player who has appeared in all 21 matches for the Wizards this season. Midfielder/Forward Davy Arnaud became the only player on the roster to don the blue and white 21 times in 2006 when teammate Kerry Zavagnin missed his first game of the year on Wednesday with a groin strain. Zavagnin had appeared in 41 consecutive games for Kansas City before missing this week's match at Gillette Stadium. Arnaud, obviously, leads the team with 21 games played, while Zavagnin's 20 appearances is tied with Nick Garcia, Sasha Victorine, and Alex Zotinca for second most on the team. As expected, Araud leads the team with 1,795 minutes played, Garica is second with 1,791 minutes logged, and Zavagnin is third 1,783.

The Starting Nod

Second-year man Ryan Raybould became the 20th player on the Wizards' roster this season to start a match when he received the call this past Wednesday at New England, it was his first ever MLS start and just his second-ever MLS appearance. He made his league debut last season, playing 11 minutes against Real Salt Lake on July 16th. In fact, there is only one player to have appeared for Kansas City this season who has not yet received a starting nod, midfielder/forward Sergei Raad. Raad made his MLS debut two-games ago, replacing Dave van den Bergh midway through the second half of their 1-1 tie with the Revs. Veterans Nick Garcia and Kerry Zavagnin lead the team with 20 starts each this season.

Setting The Table

Of the 28 goals scored against the Wizards this season, ten of them are the direct result of a set piece. The interesting thing is that all ten of those set piece goals have been scored by just three teams. D.C. United leads the way with six of its nine goals scored against KC this season coming off of set pieces: one was an own goal, two were penalty kicks by Jamie Moreno, and the remaining three were off free kicks. With their two two weeks ago, the Houston Dynamo ran their total to three set piece goals, of their four total, against the Wizards. Dynamo's came from a corner kick and two free kicks. The final set piece goal scored against Kansas City this season was netted by the New York Red Bulls, when Chris Henderson eventually finished off Mark Lisi's free kick in week ten. Minus those ten goals, the Wizards have only given up 18 goals in the run of play through 21 games, an average of 0.86.

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