MLS Sporting Kansas City

Wizards Weekly Update

Published on May 11, 2006 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release


Battle For The Top Spot

First place in the Eastern Conference is up for grabs this weekend when the front-running Kansas City Wizards visit second-place D.C. United this Saturday, May 13th at RFK Stadium in Washington D.C. Kickoff for the match is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT and can be seen live on the MLS Direct Kick package. The Wizards currently sit two-points ahead of United with 13 total on the season by virtue of their 4-1-1 record. D.C. had its five-game unbeaten streak to start the season snapped last week with a 2-1 loss to Colorado, dropping them to 3-1-2 on the year (11 points). Unless this weekend's match ends in a tie, whomever takes this Saturday's game will control the top spot in the East after the first seven weeks of play. Kansas City's all-time series with D.C. is just one-game away from being an even .500 with the Wizards holding the advantage with 11 wins to United's 10. Six games have ended in ties. Kansas City has not lost a season series to D.C. since 2001 when it went 0-2-0 against United. Over the course of the past four years the Wizards have gone a combined 5-3-5, including an even 2-2-2 in 2004 and 2005. Last season, Kansas City's first as a fellow member of the Eastern Conference, it split the games in D.C. falling 3-2 in their first meeting at RFK on April 21st before taking the second 1-0 on an unassisted goal by Sasha Victorine on July 9th. Goalkeeper Bo Oshoniyi made seven saves in the July 9th win. The Wizards and United drew in both of the games played in Kansas City last year. D.C.'s offense has paced the Eastern Conference with 12 goals through its first six games, just one shy of the league pace set by FC Dallas at the end of week six. On the defensive end, United has allowed six goals this season, one behind second place Kansas City's five goals allowed, and three behind conference leader New England who has given up just three goals thus far on the year. Breaking it down even farther, United is sporting a league-best +1.00 scoring margin on the year with Kansas City second in MLS with a +.67 mark.

An Odd Outcome

The Wizards will be looking to return to the win column this week after drawing for the first time this season last weekend, tying the Chicago Fire 1-1 in Arrowhead. Despite not capturing the entire three points, Kansas City did gain points for a league-high fifth time this season in what was one of the strangest outcomes for the Wizards so far in 2006. Despite outshooting the Fire a whopping 20-4, Kansas City just couldn't find the back of the net, thanks to either the post or the hands of Chicago goalkeeper Zach Thornton who had eight saves in the match, the highest total posted against the Wizards this season. Eddie Johnson scored the game-tying goal midway through the second half after Chicago took a 1-0 lead into halftime.

Opportunity Abounds

The Wizards will be playing their first match of the season this weekend without their trio of players who were selected to the United States' World Cup squad, forwards Eddie Johnson and Josh Wolff, and defender Jimmy Conrad. Although it is nothing new to the Wizards who played games one and two without Conrad and game one without Wolff already this season. In fact, Kansas City scored a season-high three goals in the season-opener that it played without Conrad and Wolff. Johnson, Wolff, and Conrad reported to the U.S. camp this past Wednesday at the SAS Complex in Cary, NC. The U.S. team will train in Cary and play a trio of warm-up matches stateside before they head to Germany for the Cup where they face the Czech Republic in their opening match on June 12th. A number of Wizards will get the opportunity to step up in the absence of these three players while they are with the National Team, including forward Scott Sealy who was in the opening day starting lineup in Wolff's absence.

Watch The Wizards

Fans wishing to watch the Wizards this weekend with their fellow blue and white clothed brethren can once again do so at one the Wizards' Official Watch Party Network locations. Sponsored by Budweiser, the Official Watch Party Network consists of Buffalo Wild Wings in Raytown, 810 Zone in Leawood, a pair of Paddy O'Quigley's in Lee's Summit, and Aces & 8's in Shawnee, the site of this week's featured watch party. Fans attending the Aces & 8's watch party this weekend will receive discounts on drinks and appetizers and there will be drawings for various Wizards' prizes.

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Major League Soccer Stories from May 11, 2006


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