Underdog Wizards host Crew in first leg
Kansas City hopes to spring upset in Series opener
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Sat., Nov. 1, CommunityAmerica Ballpark
(7 p.m. CT; HDNet; MetroSports; ONN)
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: KC 16 wins, 59 goals scored ... CLB 16 wins, 64 goals scored ... 5 ties
2008 HEAD-TO-HEAD: KC 0 wins, 4 goals scored; CLB 2 wins, 8 goals scored; 2 ties
AT COMMUNITYAMERICA BALLPARK:
6/14: KC 0, CLB 3 (Marshall 3; Moreno 21, 67)
MLS CUP PLAYOFFS: first meeting
REFEREE: Jorge Gonzalez.
SAR (bench): Chris Strickland; JAR (opposite): Corey Rockwell;
4th: Baldomero Toledo
INJURY REPORT: KANSAS CITY WIZARDS -- QUESTIONABLE: FW Josh Wolff (fibular stress reaction); PROBABLE: MF Roger Espinoza (ankle contusion); MF Jack Jewsbury (shin contusion); DF Jonathan Leathers (shoulder sprain); DF Lance Watson (back strain) ... COLUMBUS CREW -- OUT: MF Brian Plotkin (athletic pubalgia)
SUSPENDED: none
WARNINGS: none
WIZARDS: While the Crew held the upper hand over Kansas City during the regular season series, the Wizards feel Columbus hasn't seen what they are all about. The Crew won two of the three meetings, with one tie, scoring eight goals -- but they last met on July 17 (a 3-3 draw in Columbus). On Sept. 13, Curt Onalfo put in a new system -- and in the seven games since, the Wizards lost just one, posting three shutouts and allowing just six goals. "As of late, we haven't been giving up a ton of shots, which means we're denying service, we're blocking shots, and just really, tactically, we've been very disciplined," said goalkeeper Kevin Hartman. "For me, one of my strengths has been being able to help guys and make sure, along with the help of Jimmy [Conrad], our shape is right. We're getting the most out of the guys." ... Another key to the change was moving Davy Arnaud to a central midfield role, in front of Jack Jewsbury. "With Davy and Jack and their effort in the middle of the field, it really sets the tone that we're going to press and defend fervently throughout the field, and by winning 50-50 balls and by winning second knockdown balls, we put ourselves in position to win games," said Hartman. "That's something that has really permeated the team." ... Josh Wolff could miss the entirety of the playoffs with a lower leg injury. But Claudio Lopez has returned to form -- and at the right time: he has two goals and three assists in the final two games of the season. "He's rejuvenated," Onalfo said. "He hit a fatigue point and wasn't having the same influence on games. He's a guy who plays with enormous heart. He is a champion. He has played with some of the biggest clubs in the world. But he hit a point, with all the minutes he had logged, all the travel, it caught up with him. As you can see, when he came back in the lineup the last two games, he was a part of almost all of our goals."
CREW: Heading into the MLS Cup Playoffs, the Columbus Crew are trying to shake off a late-season dip -- and also reverse a trend of late. Over their final three games, the Crew came back for a 2-2 tie at Chicago, lost 3-1 at New York with a reserve-laden lineup, then defeated D.C. United 1-0 in the season finale despite the visitors having the edge in play. "Everybody is happy that's behind us," Sigi Schmid said. "Let's get on with the next phase. We've been waiting for it to happen. We had goals and all season we were pretty focused on getting to the playoffs and we achieved that. Then we achieved more. There's eight teams left and let's be part of the four that are standing after these series." ... But the last time the Supporters' Shield winner won MLS Cup was in 2002, when the Los Angeles Galaxy did it. The last time the Shield winner was even in the final was the Chicago Fire the next year. "In the regular season you always strive to win but if you lose you fix things. You lose here you go home. We've got the target on our back from winning the Supporters' Shield but if we carry the same fight and the same mentality we've had all season we'll be successful," said defender Danny O'Rourke. ... The Crew look at their 3-0 win in Kansas City on June 14 as a turning point for their season -- it ended a four-game winless run and snapped a 370-minute scoreless drought. That was their only visit to CommunityAmerica Ballpark. "It's narrower. Sometimes it can be box-to-box because it only takes a couple of passes to get from one box to the other," Alejandro Moreno said. "It's very similar to what (Spartan Stadium) used to be in San Jose. The game is going to be pretty physical, not a lot of space; a lot of one-two touches. There's going to be opportunities simply because of how many balls get into the box because of a lack of space. It's important for us to be sharp in front of the goal and certainly be organized in the back as we have been the whole year."
