Kansas City Wizards Weekly Update for Oct. 8-15

- K.C. eye playoff spot

- Club still has shot at playoff berth as they head to N.Y.

10/08/2007 -- Kansas City Wizards to Hold Free Clinic for KCMO Youth Groups Tuesday at Swope Park Training Center
The Kansas City Wizards announced today that they will host a free clinic for select Kansas City youth Tuesday from 5:30 - 7 p.m. at the team's Swope Park Training Center at 63rd and Lewis. Several community groups that include children ages 8 - 18 have been invited to the clinic scheduled to be run by eight members of the Wizards, including Technical Director Peter Vermes and Head Coach Curt Onalfo.

Between 200 and 300 kids from Liga International Northeast, who get together and play soccer after school and on weekends, will participate in the clinic. Also, children from the Guadalupe Center, Mattie Rhodes, A Todos Deportes and IberoLatina, Liga Torneo de los Barros, Community LINC and KC YouthNet are invited. Participants will receive Wizards posters and hats following the clinic.

Wizards players scheduled to participate include defender Jack Jewsbury, midfielder Davy Arnaud, defender Jose Luis Burciaga Jr., midfielder Kurt Morsink, midfielder Eloy Colombano, midfielder Edson Elcock, Head Coach Curt Onalfo and Technical Director Peter Vermes. Players will sign autographs for participants after the event.

Who: D Jose Luis Burciaga, Jr., M-F Davy Arnaud, D Jack Jewsbury, M Kurt Morsink, M-F Eloy Colombano , M-F Edson Elcock

When: Tuesday, October 9; 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Where: Swope Park Training Facility, 6310 Lewis Road, Kansas City, MO

What: Six Kansas City Wizards players will be holding a clinic for Kansas City, MO children. The players will instruct for an hour and a half for over 100 kids. All participants will receive a 2007 team poster to be autographed by the players and a Kansas City Wizards hat.

Kansas City Wizards Travel to New York Saturday for Third-Place Battle
Kansas City travels to New York over the weekend for a match with huge playoff implications. The Red Bulls currently sit two points ahead of the Wizards in 3rd place in the competitive Eastern Conference. A win Saturday (6:30 p.m. CT on Metro Sports) would put Kansas City alone in 3rd and give the Wizards the tiebreaker over New York with just one game to play.

The Wizards defeated New York 3-2 on the strength of a second-half Eddie Johnson hat trick, his second in as many games, on June 2. Kansas City then tied New York 3-3 at the Meadowlands on June 16.

Saturday's match will feature a match-up of two of Major League Soccer's finest strikers of the 2007 campaign as Colombian Juan Pablo Angel (17 goals, 4 assists) and American Eddie Johnson (15 goals, 6 assists) look to provide the offensive spark for New York and Kansas City, respectively.

If the Wizards win either of their next two matches, they are guaranteed a playoff spot. If the Wizards tie either of their next two matches and the Colorado Rapids and Los Angeles Galaxy do not go undefeated in their remaining games, the Wizards will also secure a playoff spot. Colorado has two games remaining, while the Galaxy have three.

The MLS Cup Playoffs begin on Thursday, October 25 on ESPN2 and MLS Cup 2007 takes place on Nov. 18 in Washington, D.C., where a champion will be crowned for the 12th time in League history.

Possible opponents for Kansas City in the Eastern Conference Semifinal series:
• If the Wizards finish 3rd in the East, they will play the East's second seed in the first round (currently New England).
• If Kansas City finishes 4th in the East, it will play the East's first seed in the first round (currently D.C. United).
• If Kansas City finishes 5th in the East and makes the playoffs, it will play the first seed of the Western Conference in the first round (currently Chivas USA).

Major League Soccer Playoff Race Update
• Click here the release.

Possible opponents for Kansas City in the Eastern Conference Semifinal series:
• If the Wizards finish 3rd in the East, they will play the East's second seed in the first round (currently New England).
• If Kansas City finishes 4th in the East, it will play the East's first seed in the first round (currently D.C. United).
• If Kansas City finishes 5th in the East, it will play the first seed of the Western Conference in the first round (currently Chivas USA).

KCW Reserves 2-1 D.C. United Reserves
The Kansas City Wizards Reserves won their final game of the season 2-1 Monday morning at D.C. United on the RFK Training Field. A first half tally by Ryan Pore and a United own goal were the difference, as a late strike from United forward Jerson Monteiro was not enough to equalize. Forward Ryan Pore scored his 7th goal of the season, to finish with the reserve team lead.

The early moments of the match were quiet until the 10th minute when midfielder Eloy Colombano worked himself free down United's right side. The speedy winger was in alone on goal, but his low strike saw goalkeeper Jay Nolly deflect the ball out of harm's way with a kick save.

United's best chance of the half came in the 39th minute when Nick Addlery collected a loose ball near midfield. The forward carried the ball between Kansas City defenders and unleashed a shot from nearly 20 yards that sailed wide to the left.

Pore put the Wizards up just a minute before halftime when Colombano sent a well driven, curling ball from the right side to the far post directly into the path of the onrushing forward. Pore wasted no time and hit a first time shot past Nolly.

The second half saw the game open up significantly, as both teams traded long distance shots in the early going. The 1-0 score line stood until late in the game, when in the 84th minute Pore was released behind United's defense. Pore dribbled towards goal as second half substitute Ronnie Pascale quickly closed down the space. The forward's quick shot was stopped by Pascale, but the rebound fell to Pore's right where he was able to recollect. As Pascale attempted to recover, The Wizards goal-scorer took another shot that deflected off the goalkeeper and lofted towards the goal. Defender Trevor McEachron had recovered to the goal line and attempted to head the ball up over the bar, but instead sent it just inside the crossbar.

United's comeback bid was short on time, but the team did managed to recover a goal two minutes from the final whistle when Jeff Carroll sent a cross into the goal box that found Jerson Monteiro. The forward rose to meet the ball and sent in a right-footed volley that snuck past goalkeeper Eric Kronberg. The Wizards finished the season 6-5-1 (19 points).

Redeem Your September 27 Tickets for Two-For-One Playoff Offer
If the Kansas City Wizards qualify for the 2007 MLS Cup Playoffs, those who attended last Thursday's match-up with Los Angeles will be able to buy one playoff ticket, get one free playoff ticket for the first home playoff game. This two-for-one offer can be redeemed by bringing the ticket stub from the Wizards versus Galaxy game on 9/27/07 to (A) the Wizards front office at 8900 State Line Road from September 28th through the first playoff game or (B) bringing the 9/27/07 ticket stub to Arrowhead Stadium on the day of the first playoff game.

Dynamo to Attend Cerner Town Hall Meeting
Who: Mascot Dynamo the Dragon
When: Thursday, October 11; 1:00-2:00 p.m.
Where: Kemper Arena, Kansas City, MO
What: Dynamo will be participating in Cerner Corporation's Town Hall Meeting for employees. Dynamo will be greeting the crowd and throwing T-shirts out during the employee appreciation event.

Garcia, Victorine to Bartend at Plaza 810 Zone Thursday
Who: D Nick Garcia, M Sasha Victorine
When: Thursday, October 11; 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Where: 810 Zone, 4686 Broadway, Kansas City, MO
What: Join the Kansas City Wizards players for great food and great drinks at 810 Zone on the Plaza. The players will be bartending, meeting new people in the Kansas City community, and helping raise money for the Kansas City Soccer Foundation.

Dynamo to Attend Sylvan Learning Center Opening
Who: Mascot Dynamo the Dragon
When: Saturday, October 13; 1:30-3:00 p.m.
Where: Sylvan Learning Center, 15315 W. 67th Street, Shawnee, KS
What: Sylvan Learning Center has invited Dynamo the Dragon to participate in their Grand Opening in Shawnee. He will be hanging out with the families and taking pictures with the children.

Kansas City Wizards Training Schedule:
Monday, October 8 -- Training 10 a.m.

Tuesday, October 9 -- Training 10 a.m.

Wednesday, October 10 -- Training 10 a.m.

Thursday, October 11 -- Training 10 a.m.

Friday, October 12 -- Training 10 a.m.

Saturday, October 13 -- Kansas City Wizards at Red Bull New York 6:30 p.m. CT on Metro Sports

*All training sessions are held at the new Swope Park training center off of 63rd and Lewis. Practice times are subject to change.

Source: MLS