Wizards Lose to Sounders FC 3-2Kansas City dropped a 3-2 result to Seattle Sounders FC tonight at CAB after falling behind early and surrendering a late lead. The Wizards had been eliminated from playoff contention earlier in the day by other results but could have put Seattle's playoff future in question with a win. As it turned out, Sounders FC clinched a playoff berth after a great performance from Designated Player and #10 Freddie Ljungberg.
For the Wizards, Zoltan scored his 2nd MLS goal in his first start. Josh Wolff later set a new career high with his 11th strike of the season. Read more on Wolff's goal-scoring prowess below.
· Kansas City is now 1-1-0 against expansion club Seattle Sounders FC in regular-season competition.
· The Wizards were eliminated from MLS Cup Playoff contention Saturday due to other results in MLS.
· Striker Josh Wolff scored his 11th goal of the season, setting a new career high.
· Wolff has 73 career goals in MLS regular-season play.
· That total is currently tied for 13th in League history with Edson Buddle of Los Angeles. **updated
· Wolff is tied for 8th with Buddle for goals among active players. ** updated
· McBride did not score Saturday night, and Los Angeles plays Sunday.
· Davy Arnaud assisted on Wolff’s goal, his 2nd assist of the season.
· Arnaud now has 30 career assists, good for 3rd on Kansas City’s all-time list.
· Hungarian striker Zoltan scored Kansas City’s first goal, his 2nd in a Wizards uniform.
· Zoltan’s 1st strike came two weeks ago in a 1-1 tie at Houston.
· Saturday marked Zoltan’s 1st start for the Wizards.
· Michael Harrington assisted on Zoltan’s goal, his 3rd of the season.
· Harrington now has nine career assists in three MLS seasons.
· Wizards goalkeeper Kevin Hartman has now started 111 straight games and hasn’t missed any action in the last 9990 minutes his teams have played.
· His minutes-played streak constitutes an MLS record.
· Hartman made five saves Saturday, increasing his career MLS record in saves to 1231.
· Hartman now has 101 saves on the season, his third-consecutive season with 100 or more saves and the 7th 100-save season of his 13-year career.
· Hartman ranks 2nd in MLS in saves on the season.
· Hartman is the first goalkeeper in MLS history to reach the 1200-save plateau.
· Hartman is the only player to start all 29 games this season for the Wizards and the only player to play every minute of every game this year.
· Hartman played in his 332nd career game Saturday.
· He ranks 2nd in League history, trailing only New England’s Steve Ralston (378).
· Kansas City was without goalkeeper Eric Kronberg, midfielder Kevin Souter and forward Adam Cristman through injury.
· Wizards captain Jimmy Conrad returned to the lineup after missing last week due to duty with the U.S. National Team.
· The USA Bid Committee Inc. announced August 4 that Kansas City and Arrowhead Stadium are one of 27 cities and 32 venues, down from 70 initial stadia in 52 cities, on the short list to be included in the United States’ bid to host the FIFA World Cup™ in either 2018 or 2022.
· The Kansas City / USA Host City Bid Committee is Co-Chaired by Kansas City Chiefs Chairman of the Board Clark Hunt and Cerner Corporation’s Chairman and CEO and Kansas City Wizards co-owner Neal Patterson.
Quotes:
KANSAS CITY WIZARDS HEAD COACH PETER VERMES
On the game
“It was a tough game to lose. Having a lead at home…that’s something we work hard to get, and when we got the lead tonight and couldn’t defend it that was really frustrating. I think our effort was good tonight, but we gave up a couple of easy goals in the second half and that was the difference. Now we need to regroup for another home game next week against D.C. United, and we need to play hard and finish our season on a high note.”
On playing Saturday after finding out earlier in the day that the Wizards had been eliminated from playoff contention
“It wasn’t difficult for me, and it wasn’t for the coaching staff. The players played hard tonight, so I think they did a good job of focusing on the job at hand. Despite us getting eliminated prior to our game tonight, we all know it is important to play well at the end of this season so that we can be a better team in 2010.”
On Zoltan’s first career start
“I thought he played well tonight. He scored another goal, his second in three weeks, and that’s one of the things he brings to this team. As we move towards 2010, Zoltan is a guy we will be counting on to play an important role on this team and challenge for a starting spot.”
KANSAS CITY WIZARDS FORWARD JOSH WOLFF
On setting a career-high for goals this season
“It feels good, but it’s just too bad that I couldn’t do it in a season that we made the playoffs. My job is to score goals. I was just doing my job this year.”
KANSAS CITY WIZARDS DEFENDER JIMMY CONRAD
On the game
“I thought a tie was a fair result tonight, but that isn’t what happened. We learned a few more lessons this game. Unfortunately we keep learning these lessons and we’re not going to make the playoffs this season.”
SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC HEAD COACH SIGI SCHMID
On Seattle’s playoff-clinching win
"Obviously it's an important win. For a first-year franchise to make the playoffs in the first year, it hasn't happened in a long time. Like I said, the scenario was different when Chicago did it because the league was a lot younger. I'm proud of our team, and I'm proud of what we've accomplished. I still think we can play better soccer, but that's just me. I always think we can play better soccer. We showed a lot of desire, a lot of will power, a lot of attitude at times on the field, and that's important to win games."
SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC HEAD COACH SIGI SCHMID
On the comeback
"We thought we had some chances definitely. We hit the crossbar and Hartman came up with a couple of saves. They played very well, and they have nothing to lose so they can cheat a little bit on defense and encourage their guys to go for it. They scored a couple of good goals, and luckily for us, we had a lot of character. We stuck with it and came back and pulled out the win."
SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC HEAD COACH SIGI SCHMID
On what the playoff clinch means to him personally
"I've had a lot fun coaching this sport. Last year in Columbus and with Columbus' showing this year, they're a tremendous team. We built a great team there and they'll carry it on. What we're trying to do right now is build the same thing in Seattle. For me, everything's been a different challenge. When it came to LA it was sort of 'hey they're a good team, can you take them to the final level?' and we did it. I come to Columbus and it was 'rebuild the whole thing' and we did it. And now we're starting something new and we're starting to get there. That's what makes life fun. An Irish friend of mine says 'if one doesn't accept the challenges life brings you, it's not worth living.'"
SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC MIDFIELDER FREDDIE LJUNGBERG
On the comeback
"We came back from being down 2-1, and that's not that easy so we feel good."
SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC MIDFIELDER FREDDIE LJUNGBERG
On the pitch at CAB
"The grass is very good. The pitch was very good. It was small, but the quality of the pitch was very good."
For the Wizards, Zoltan scored his 2nd MLS goal in his first start. Josh Wolff later set a new career high with his 11th strike of the season. Read more on Wolff's goal-scoring prowess below.
· Kansas City is now 1-1-0 against expansion club Seattle Sounders FC in regular-season competition.
· The Wizards were eliminated from MLS Cup Playoff contention Saturday due to other results in MLS.
· Striker Josh Wolff scored his 11th goal of the season, setting a new career high.
· Wolff has 73 career goals in MLS regular-season play.
· That total is currently tied for 13th in League history with Edson Buddle of Los Angeles. **updated
· Wolff is tied for 8th with Buddle for goals among active players. ** updated
· McBride did not score Saturday night, and Los Angeles plays Sunday.
· Davy Arnaud assisted on Wolff’s goal, his 2nd assist of the season.
· Arnaud now has 30 career assists, good for 3rd on Kansas City’s all-time list.
· Hungarian striker Zoltan scored Kansas City’s first goal, his 2nd in a Wizards uniform.
· Zoltan’s 1st strike came two weeks ago in a 1-1 tie at Houston.
· Saturday marked Zoltan’s 1st start for the Wizards.
· Michael Harrington assisted on Zoltan’s goal, his 3rd of the season.
· Harrington now has nine career assists in three MLS seasons.
· Wizards goalkeeper Kevin Hartman has now started 111 straight games and hasn’t missed any action in the last 9990 minutes his teams have played.
· His minutes-played streak constitutes an MLS record.
· Hartman made five saves Saturday, increasing his career MLS record in saves to 1231.
· Hartman now has 101 saves on the season, his third-consecutive season with 100 or more saves and the 7th 100-save season of his 13-year career.
· Hartman ranks 2nd in MLS in saves on the season.
· Hartman is the first goalkeeper in MLS history to reach the 1200-save plateau.
· Hartman is the only player to start all 29 games this season for the Wizards and the only player to play every minute of every game this year.
· Hartman played in his 332nd career game Saturday.
· He ranks 2nd in League history, trailing only New England’s Steve Ralston (378).
· Kansas City was without goalkeeper Eric Kronberg, midfielder Kevin Souter and forward Adam Cristman through injury.
· Wizards captain Jimmy Conrad returned to the lineup after missing last week due to duty with the U.S. National Team.
· The USA Bid Committee Inc. announced August 4 that Kansas City and Arrowhead Stadium are one of 27 cities and 32 venues, down from 70 initial stadia in 52 cities, on the short list to be included in the United States’ bid to host the FIFA World Cup™ in either 2018 or 2022.
· The Kansas City / USA Host City Bid Committee is Co-Chaired by Kansas City Chiefs Chairman of the Board Clark Hunt and Cerner Corporation’s Chairman and CEO and Kansas City Wizards co-owner Neal Patterson.
Quotes:
KANSAS CITY WIZARDS HEAD COACH PETER VERMES
On the game
“It was a tough game to lose. Having a lead at home…that’s something we work hard to get, and when we got the lead tonight and couldn’t defend it that was really frustrating. I think our effort was good tonight, but we gave up a couple of easy goals in the second half and that was the difference. Now we need to regroup for another home game next week against D.C. United, and we need to play hard and finish our season on a high note.”
On playing Saturday after finding out earlier in the day that the Wizards had been eliminated from playoff contention
“It wasn’t difficult for me, and it wasn’t for the coaching staff. The players played hard tonight, so I think they did a good job of focusing on the job at hand. Despite us getting eliminated prior to our game tonight, we all know it is important to play well at the end of this season so that we can be a better team in 2010.”
On Zoltan’s first career start
“I thought he played well tonight. He scored another goal, his second in three weeks, and that’s one of the things he brings to this team. As we move towards 2010, Zoltan is a guy we will be counting on to play an important role on this team and challenge for a starting spot.”
KANSAS CITY WIZARDS FORWARD JOSH WOLFF
On setting a career-high for goals this season
“It feels good, but it’s just too bad that I couldn’t do it in a season that we made the playoffs. My job is to score goals. I was just doing my job this year.”
KANSAS CITY WIZARDS DEFENDER JIMMY CONRAD
On the game
“I thought a tie was a fair result tonight, but that isn’t what happened. We learned a few more lessons this game. Unfortunately we keep learning these lessons and we’re not going to make the playoffs this season.”
SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC HEAD COACH SIGI SCHMID
On Seattle’s playoff-clinching win
"Obviously it's an important win. For a first-year franchise to make the playoffs in the first year, it hasn't happened in a long time. Like I said, the scenario was different when Chicago did it because the league was a lot younger. I'm proud of our team, and I'm proud of what we've accomplished. I still think we can play better soccer, but that's just me. I always think we can play better soccer. We showed a lot of desire, a lot of will power, a lot of attitude at times on the field, and that's important to win games."
SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC HEAD COACH SIGI SCHMID
On the comeback
"We thought we had some chances definitely. We hit the crossbar and Hartman came up with a couple of saves. They played very well, and they have nothing to lose so they can cheat a little bit on defense and encourage their guys to go for it. They scored a couple of good goals, and luckily for us, we had a lot of character. We stuck with it and came back and pulled out the win."
SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC HEAD COACH SIGI SCHMID
On what the playoff clinch means to him personally
"I've had a lot fun coaching this sport. Last year in Columbus and with Columbus' showing this year, they're a tremendous team. We built a great team there and they'll carry it on. What we're trying to do right now is build the same thing in Seattle. For me, everything's been a different challenge. When it came to LA it was sort of 'hey they're a good team, can you take them to the final level?' and we did it. I come to Columbus and it was 'rebuild the whole thing' and we did it. And now we're starting something new and we're starting to get there. That's what makes life fun. An Irish friend of mine says 'if one doesn't accept the challenges life brings you, it's not worth living.'"
SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC MIDFIELDER FREDDIE LJUNGBERG
On the comeback
"We came back from being down 2-1, and that's not that easy so we feel good."
SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC MIDFIELDER FREDDIE LJUNGBERG
On the pitch at CAB
"The grass is very good. The pitch was very good. It was small, but the quality of the pitch was very good."
5 comments:
The Wizards front office and security our f*cks. You lost a lot of season ticket holders last night. Thanks.
McBride has 74 career goals, not 73...
Mike once again correcting stat information. Why haven't you guys hired this guy yet?
Hire Mike? Really? Take a look at his comments on BS...no way someone who posts like that would ever be hired by any organization. Just saying...
At least Mike gets his stats right. The postings on BS are fan forums that people use to vent. Please try and "understand" the difference.
I'll take someone who is accurate to someone who gets his stats wrong once a week.
BTW, go check out Mike's blog, where he writes his commentary. Best soccer blog in KC without question.
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