K.C., Chicago could effect playoff race
KANSAS CITY WIZARDS v CHICAGO FIRE
ARROWHEAD STADIUM, Kansas City, Mo.
7 p.m. CT (MetroSports)
Aug. 22, 2007 (WEEK 21) / MLS Game #131
The Kansas City Wizards and Chicago Fire face off in the front end of their home-and-home series this week that could have a huge effect on the future of the Eastern Conference postseason battle. The clubs are separated by six points in the tight division; with as many as six points on offer this week, the stretch run for both teams could take real shape. The teams enter the game going in opposite directions - the Fire haven't lost in three games, while the Wizards have lost their last two. Chicago continued their home dominance in the series when the teams met in April, capturing a 2-1 win at Toyota Park.
REFEREE: Baldomero Toledo. SAR (bench): Anthony Vasoli; JAR (opposite): Kyle Borne; 4th: Brad Clem
MLS Career: 39 games; FC/gm: 28.2; Y/gm: 3.8; R: 11; pens: 11
Games involving Wizards: P6 W2 L3 T1; FC/gm: 24.7; Y/gm: 3.0; R: 1; pens: 1
Games involving Fire: P9 W4 L3 T2; FC/gm: 31.1; Y/gm: 4.0; R: 1; pens: 4
INJURY REPORT: KANSAS CITY WIZARDS - OUT: MF Ryan McMahen (torn ACL); QUESTIONABLE: MF A.J. Godbolt (knee tendonitis); PROBABLE: DF Jimmy Conrad (quadriceps contusion); DF Nick Garcia (knee contusion) ... CHICAGO FIRE - OUT: DF Osei Telesford (L groin strain)
SUSPENDED: KC: Carlos Marinelli (through Aug. 23; five cautions)
WARNINGS:
SUSPENDED NEXT YELLOW CARD: KC: Davy Arnaud, Jose Burciaga Jr., Jack Jewsbury ... CHI: Calen Carr
SUSPENDED AFTER TWO YELLOW CARDS: KC: Nick Garcia, Eddie Johnson, Kerry Zavagnin ... CHI: Chad Barrett, C.J. Brown, Gonzalo Segares, Thiago
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: none
HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (29 meetings): Wizards 7 wins (0 shootout), 36 goals ... Fire 18 wins (1 shootout), 63 goals ... Draws 4
AT KANSAS CITY: (15 meetings): Wizards 6 wins (0 shootout), 25 goals ... Fire 6 wins (1 shootout), 29 goals ... Draws 3
• This is the second of three meetings between the clubs this season, the only one set for Arrowhead Stadium and the first of a home-and-home set to conclude their season series. They meet back in Bridgeview this Saturday.
• A season ago, the Fire won the season series, claiming both meetings in their new Bridgeview home after the Wizards won one (with one draw) in Kansas City. Despite the Fire's dominance against the Wizards at home, it was the first time since 2003 Chicago had taken the season series between the clubs.
• In addition, the teams met in the fourth round of U.S. Open Cup, a match that was abandoned once because of thunderstorms, then played just two days before their league encounter at Toyota Park in mid-August. The Fire claimed a 2-0 win (Carr 18, Herron 65) as they started their march toward a fourth Dewar Trophy.
• When the Wizards won 3-2 on Aug. 10, 2005 at Soldier Field, it marked the first time ever they had defeated the Fire on the road, a span of 10 league contests dating back to the first encounter in Chicago, June 24, 1998.
• Coaches record: Curt Onalfo v CHI P1 W0 L1 T0 ... Juan Carlos Osorio vs. KC: first game
LAST MEETING (MLS):
4/21: CHI 2, KC 1 (Barrett 36; Rolfe 73 pen - Marinelli 90 pen)
• The Fire claimed a 2-1 win against the Wizards at Toyota Park on April 21. It was the Fire's 12th victory in 14 home games all-time against Kansas City.
• The Fire struck first in the 36th minute as Chad Barrett scored his second goal in as many weeks. Chris Armas dribbled forward from midfield, found Chris Rolfe, who slipped Barrett in behind the Kansas City with a quick pass, and the third-year striker slotted home past Kevin Hartman.
• The teams then traded penalty kicks over the final 20 minutes. The Fire doubled their lead in the 73rd minute when Ivan Guerrero was hauled down after a strong run into the right side of the area. Rolfe converted from the spot for his first goal of 2007.
• Then in the final minute, Diego Gutierrez hooked down Carlos Marinelli in the area. The recently signed Argentinean -- making his MLS league debut after coming on as a halftime substitute -- sent Chicago 'keeper Matt Pickens the other way in converting his own penalty.
• Here's Dave Sarachan's team (4-4-2): Matt Pickens - C.J. Brown, Jim Curtin, Dasan Robinson, Gonzalo Segares - Ivan Guerrero, Chris Armas, Diego Gutierrez, Justin Mapp (Calen Carr 55) - Chris Rolfe (Osei Telesford 91+), Chad Barrett (Thiago 86). Substitutes Not Used: Pascal Bedrossian, Jon Busch, Brian Plotkin, Bakary Soumare
• Here's Onalfo's team (4-4-2): Kevin Hartman - Jack Jewsbury (Ryan Pore 79), Nick Garcia, Jimmy Conrad, Jose Burciaga Jr. - Davy Arnaud, Sasha Victorine, Kerry Zavagnin, Michael Harrington - Yura Movsisyan (Carlos Marinelli 46), Eddie Johnson. Substitutes Not Used: Aaron Hohlbein, Will John, Eric Kronberg, Kurt Morsink, Ryan Raybould
KANSAS CITY WIZARDS
The Kansas City Wizards played their first game in nearly three weeks - and lost for the second consecutive match to the New England Revolution, falling 1-0 at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday evening. The Wizards now have 29 points from 20 matches, still in fourth place in the Eastern Conference, now four points behind D.C. United and the New York Red Bulls and 10 adrift of the Revolution.
LAST MATCH
• The Wizards were returning to action after a 17-day layoff, their last match a 2-0 loss to the Revolution in New England. Since that match, the Revs had played three games, a win against the Galaxy sandwiched by a pair of 3-0 losses.
• The home side was showing the effects of their break, but the Revolution didn't break through until the 72nd minute. Shalrie Joseph won the ball in midfield and sprung Khano Smith on the left on a quick counter. Smith carried into the box until rolling a cross to the far post for a perfectly timed run from Taylor Twellman, who came sliding in and tapped it into the empty goal for his 10th goal on the campaign.
• Wizards head coach Curt Onalfo made one change to the team that lost to the Revolution on Aug. 2. Sasha Victorine was held out of the starting lineup for the first time all season, Yura Movsisyan coming in to partner Eddie Johnson in attack as Davy Arnaud moved to the right of midfield.
• Here's Onalfo's team (4-4-2): Kevin Hartman - Jack Jewsbury (Scott Sealy 75), Jimmy Conrad, Nick Garcia, Jose Burciaga Jr. (Sasha Victorine 60) -Davy Arnaud, Kerry Zavagnin, Michael Harrington - Carlos Marinelli - Eddie Johnson, Yura Movsisyan (Eloy Colombano 46). Substitutes Not Used: Eric Kronberg, Kurt Morsink, Ryan Raybould, Tyson Wahl
• "I was taken aback a bit by how hard they came out tonight. They had just played on Thursday so I was surprised by their energy. But, we weren't sharp tonight. I knew that it would take awhile for us to shake the rust off. I felt like we started the second half well, but that goal really hurt us," Onalfo said.
LAST MATCH
• While the Wizards were happy with the three-week break to recharge their batteries in advance of the stretch run in the season, it did take the club a while to get back into the flow of live game competition.
• "We need to be able to figure out how, when we're not playing well, when our rhythm is off, to get back into the game, how we change the rhythm," said Sasha Victorine. "When we get the ball moving quicker and we isolate guys one-v-one, we're a dangerous team. When we don't move fast enough, we have a performance like tonight."
• After narrowly missing the playoffs the last two seasons, the Wizards now find themselves in a familiar position as they battle for one of the eight playoff spots in Major League Soccer. Only six points separate them and three other teams in the chase for the last two playoff spots. One of those teams is Chicago.
• "We're worried about ourselves; we're not worried about anybody else. That's the way you have to deal with this stuff. The important thing is that we get ourselves ready for Wednesday," said Onalfo.
• As well, the Wizards have the opportunity to put the loss behind them quickly in the face of what could be a hugely important home-and-home series with the Fire, in the effect it could have on the final MLS postseason picture.
• "It gives us a chance in three days to turn around and change things," said Victorine. "Right now, our rhythm is off, and we're still trying to figure out how we want to play and it's the last third of the season. We should have ourselves going in a peak right now. It's frustrating."
• Eloy Colombano made his Wizards debut, coming on as a halftime substitute. The 24-year-old native of Argentina had played in Argentina's Primera Division since 2001, for Defensa y Justicia and Estudiantes of La Plata.
• "It was good, but it wasn't the result I was hoping for. I feel good, and I think I am playing well with the other guys. In the next games I know things will turn around for us," Colombano said.
CHICAGO FIRE
The Chicago Fire ran their modest unbeaten streak to three games, winning for the second time in that stretch with a 2-0 victory against Real Salt Lake on Saturday evening at Rice-Eccles Stadium. The Fire inched closer to the bottom of the MLS Cup playoff team, now with 23 points from 19 matches, three points behind the Columbus Crew who sit in eighth place in the overall table.
LAST MATCH
• Both teams came into the game desperately needing a win if they were to stay in contention for a playoff spot, both off two-week layoffs. Real Salt Lake had ended a four-game losing streak with their second win of the season last time out, while the Fire had just one win in their last eight games.
• Cuauhtemoc Blanco sent the Fire on their way with a world-class strike two minutes before the halftime interval. Taking a pass from the left, the Mexican international took a quick touch before blasting an rising angled shot from all of 25 yards away from goal inside the far post for his first league goal.
• The Fire's newest addition, Costa Rican international Paulo Wanchope teamed with Blanco to salt the game away 12 minutes from the end. Blanco sent in a corner from the left and Wanchope was able to hang in the air before nodding home a header at the back stick for his first MLS goal and secure an important three points.
• Fire head coach Juan Carlos Osorio made three changes to the team that played to a scoreless draw with the Crew on Aug. 4 at Toyota Park. Bakary Soumare came into the team for the suspended Diego Gutierrez - but the big changes came up front, where Chris Rolfe made his first start since May 12 and Paulo Wanchope made his MLS debut, coming in for Calen Carr and Chad Barrett.
• Here's Osorio's team (3-4-1-2): Matt Pickens - Dasan Robinson, C.J. Brown, Gonzalo Segares - Logan Pause, Chris Armas, Bakary Soumare, Ivan Guerrero - Cuauhtemoc Blanco (Calen Carr 81) - Chris Rolfe (Justin Mapp 68), Paulo Wanchope (Chad Barrett 84). Substitutes Not Used: Jon Busch, Thiago, Floyd Franks, Bruno Menezes
TEAM NEWS
• Since Cuauhtemoc Blanco has joined the Fire, they've scored five goals in three league games. But Osorio had what he considers his first-choice attack on the field together for the first time, as he ran out Paulo Wanchope and Chris Rolfe in front of Blanco.
• "When you have the combination of a target man like Paulo, a real power who's very good at holding the ball up, and you combine that with Chris Rolfe's diagonal runs and him always trying to get in behind the defenders -- we're very pleased with the way that has been working out for us," Osorio said. "It's also very good to have someone like Chad [Barrett] that comes and does Paulo's job. We can then rotate the players and get Paulo a little bit of rest and give Chad a chance to play -- he almost scored too. I'm very pleased with that."
• Of the five goals the Fire have scored, Blanco has been a part of three (one goal, two assists). He also scored the lone Chicago goal in his club debut, in a friendly against Scotland's Celtic FC.
• "I think the idea was that, knowing that Salt Lake played a diamond figure in the middle, the idea was to have Cuauhtémoc play behind the anchor man. I think he did very well there, just receiving the ball, playing through balls and getting us going in the offensive third," said Osorio. "I'm very pleased with Cuauhtémoc. It was a beautiful goal, as I'm sure you will all agree. I'm very pleased to have him on board."
• Chicago now is also undefeated with Blanco in the lineup, with two wins and a draw since he's joined the team. The Fire have not lost a league game since July 12.
• "We are happy because we got three points," Blanco said. "We really wanted to get those three points, and it was important we come in here and do our job."
• An added feature is the attraction Blanco generates away from Chicago. The Rice-Eccles Stadium crowd was dotted with fans sporting Blanco jerseys from either the Mexican national team or Club América, and his goal certainly elicited a large cheer from the Salt Lake City crowd.
• "Guys feel a little better on the road where it's sometimes tough," Chris Armas said. "For him, it's good to have the support. In Chicago, it's great support and everywhere we go, it's great support from the Mexican community." Said Blanco: "I'm happy because a big part of the United States is Mexican, and I'm really happy because they give me a lot of support."
