WHAT A WIN!

Amazing. That's the only way to describe. Claudio Lopez was simply fantastic tonight, as was the rest of the team. We outshot SJ 23-7. What a touching moment with Kerry Zavagnin before the match. Too bad we didn't score earlier so he could have come on toward the end. Check out the quotes and notables from tonight:

KANSAS CITY WIZARDS HEAD COACH CURT ONALFO
On the play of Claudio Lopez
“About five weeks ago, he hit a point where he was just tired. It’s normal for a player of his age with the number of minutes he had played all year. He was fresh tonight, and he was the difference in the game. He was outstanding.”

On the game
“This group found a way to win. They didn’t ever give up. Our will to win ended up being the difference. Overall, I thought we played very well and we created a lot of chances. It was a fantastic win.”

KANSAS CITY WIZARDS MIDFIELDER HERCULEZ GOMEZ
On the game
“When you get good service, good things happen. It was a great ball in from Claudio Lopez. I just made a hard run and was very fortunate to get some something on it and it went in. Guys did a good job of creating space, and Claudio provided great service.”

KANSAS CITY WIZARDS FORWARD CLAUDIO LOPEZ (Through translator Kurt Morsink)
On the game
“The team played a good game. I feel good, and I’m happy that this puts us a step closer to the playoffs. I was confident we would have one last chance, and it was a matter of putting it away. Herculez put it away.”

KANSAS CITY WIZARDS GOALKEEPER KEVIN HARTMAN
On the game
“It was a game where we had a ton of opportunities. The second goal we gave up, I felt I mishandled a little bit. I thought we were unfortunate to give up that one. It seemed like it was going to be a devastating tie, but we were able to weather the storm and get that third goal. When we scored I was just done, both physically and emotionally.”

On his reaction to the game-winning goal
“I went over and hugged one of the owners’ wives. We’ve put so much time and effort into this. Our job’s still not done. We need to get ourselves ready for New England next Saturday. That being said, in crunch time over the last six games, we’ve compiled a 4-1-1 record. That’s a tribute to our guys in the locker room and how hard they’re working. It’s one of those things when you put in so much into the game that when you’re able to garner the three points it’s very, very rewarding.”


· Following the match, Kansas City sits 10-10-9 39 pts in a tie for 4th place in the Eastern Conference with the New York Red Bulls.
· Kansas City owns the head-to-head tie-breaker with New York with a 1-0-1 record against the team this season and, thus, currently occupies the 1st wildcard position in the MLS Cup Playoff picture.
· The Wizards control their own playoff destiny; a win next Saturday will clinch a playoff berth for Kansas City.
· Kansas City is now 16-18-6 all-time against San Jose, including an 12-7-1 record at home.
· Kansas City finished 9-2-4 at home this season, including a 7-0-3 record in their last ten.
· Striker Claudio Lopez recorded a goal and two assists on the night, his highest point total since joining the Wizards.
· Lopez now has five goals and six assists on the year. He is in 3rd place on the team in goals and 2nd place in assists.
· Forward Abe Thompson recorded his first assist in a Wizards uniform on Lopez’s first-half goal.
· Jewsbury also recorded an assist on the night and leads the team with seven assists.
· He has set a new career high this season and now has 15 career assists.
· Davy Arnaud scored his 6th goal of the season, moving himself into a tie with captain Jimmy Conrad for the team lead.
· He has 31 career goals, tied with Mo Johnston for 3rd on the Wizards all-time list.
· Lopez found Herculez Gomez in the 3rd minute of second-half stoppage time off a corner kick for his final assist.
· It was Gomez’s first goal in a Wizards uniform and his third of the season.
· Kansas City now has two stoppage-time goals this season. Both came at home.
· Goalkeeper Kevin Hartman and defender Jimmy Conrad are the only Wizards to play all 2610 minutes so far this season.
· They entered the match as two of ten players in MLS to play every minute for their team thus far in 2008.
· Hartman now has 137 career wins, an MLS all-time record.
· Hartman made four saves on the night and now has 1129 for his MLS career.
· He trails only former Wizards standout Tony Meola (1136) for the all-time MLS lead.
· Hartman has 116 saves on the year, good for 3rd best in a single-season for Kansas City.
· Kansas City hosted a doubleheader with Graceland University Saturday.
· Wizards midfielder Kevin Souter attended Graceland before making the Wizards via a preseason open tryout.
· Graceland defeated Missouri Valley College 2-1 on a goal in the 87th minute.
· Saturday’s game served as fan appreciation night, with fireworks and autographs from Wizards players after the match.
· Nearly the whole stadium stayed for the post-match fireworks and over 2,500 fans remained for the autograph session.