Tough Loss, Good Effort

We looked good for long stretches but couldn't get that final goal (though the foul call certainly didn't help) to pull back level with Chivas USA. After big wins for Real Salt Lake and Colorado Rapids, the East isn't assured of five playoff teams anymore. Read the last sentence from the press release to see how things stack up now. And don't forget next Sunday's Reserve Division tilt following the MLS match. A few tickets are still available, get them soon.

Kansas City is now two points out of the final playoff spot as two Western Conference teams surpassed D.C. United, the 5th place team in the East, with wins Saturday. Kansas City, however, is only three points behind the New York Red Bulls for 4th place in the East and just one point behind D.C. for 5th with four matches remaining. Real Salt Lake and the Colorado Rapids sit on 34 points after wins Saturday, with D.C. and the Wizards just behind with 33 and 32, respectively. Kansas City has three of its final four matches at home, where they hold a strong 7-2-3 record this season. The Wizards are 5-0-2 in their last seven at home and face the Chicago Fire next Sunday at 2 p.m. CT at CommunityAmerica Ballpark. Sunday’s match will be a doubleheader, with the team’s reserve squads playing immediately after the MLs match at 4:30 p.m. CT.

And some tidbits:

· Following the match, Kansas City sits 8-10-8, 32 pts in 6th place in the Eastern Conference.
· Kansas City is two points out of the final playoff place behind Real Salt Lake and Colorado Rapids, who each won Saturday. The Wizards are also just three points behind the New York Red Bulls for 4th place in the East.
· Kansas City is now 4-2-2 all-time against Chivas USA.
· Three of Kansas City’s four remaining matches will be played in Kansas City.
· Striker Josh Wolff hit a highlight-reel bicycle kick goal in the 70th minute.
· It was his 3rd goal of the season since rejoining Kansas City from 1860 Munich at midseason.
· Wolff now has 30 career tallies in Kansas City colors, tied with teammate Davy Arnaud for 4th on the team’s all-time list.
· Goalkeeper Kevin Hartman and defender Jimmy Conrad are the only Wizards to play all 2340 minutes so far this season.
· Coming into the match, they were two of nine players in MLS to play every minute for their team thus far in 2008.
· Hartman made three saves and now has 1120 for his MLS career.
· He trails only former Wizards standout Tony Meola (1136) for the all-time MLS lead.
· Hartman has 107 saves on the year, good for 2nd in MLS behind Jon Busch of next week’s opponent the Chicago Fire.
· The Wizards had a scoreless streak of 229 minutes snapped.
· Kansas City has recorded three shutout streaks of over 200 minutes this season.
· Wizards midfielder Jack Jewsbury sat out due to yellow-card accumulation and will be available for next Sunday’s match against the Chicago Fire.
· Three former Wizards started for Chivas (Sasha Victorine, Shavar Thomas, Alex Zotinca).

Oh...and WHAT A GOAL by Wolffie. I think it's safe to say that'll be a Sierra Mist Goal of the Week nominee. In fact, check ESPN...it just might make top plays. Word from LA is that Wolff hasn't hit a bicycle kick since he was 16 years old. Even if you were out of practice, great shot Josh.