Wizards acquire two international players
By Robert Whitman
Jan. 22, 2010
The Wizards filled two open spots for
international players when they signed midfielder
Stephane Auvray and defender Pablo Escobar.
Auvray, 28, has spent his 10-year professional career in
the French second division with SM Caen, Vannes OC and Nimes
Olimpique. He is a Guadaloupe international and captained
the selection to the quarterfinals of the 2009 Gold Cup.
Auvray played on the selection that made the semifinals of
the 2007 Gold Cup.
Escobar, a 22-year-old Colombian central defender, is on
load with the Wizards from Cali. He played 17 games with
Columbian first division side Deportivo Cali in 2009 and
67 games from 2005-2008 with Columbian first division side
Deportes Quindio.
The Back Post blog reports Wizards sign
Guadeloupe international Stephane Auvray
The midfielder makes the transfer
from French second-division side Nimes Olympique
By Robert Whitman
Jan. 20, 2010
Defensive midfielder Stephane Auvray has
been signed by the Wizards,
The Back Post blog has reported.
Auvray, 28, played for the Guadeloupe in both the 2007 and 2009
Gold Cup. Guadeloupe made it to the semifinals in 2007 and the
quarterfinals in 2009. Auvray, who captained Guadaloupe in 2009,
scored a goal against Nicaragua in the group
stage.
The Back Post also
reports the Wizards are after two other players. One is an
English attacker who was in the youth system of one of England's
top four (Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United).
The other is one of three central defenders recently signed
by Major League Soccer playing in the Colombian first division:
Edward Zea of America De Cali, Pablo Escobar of Deportivo
Cali and Hanyer Mosquera of Deportes Quindio.
Wizards close the deal
on their own stadium
The stadium will be built at
Village West
By Robert Whitman
Jan. 19, 2010
That heavy equipment moved last month
to the site of the Wizards new stadium will be moving dirt
just hours after the development plan for the project
received final approval Tuesday by the Board of Commissioners
of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City,
Kansas.
The price tag for the stadium itself makes up about $165
million of the more than $400 million for the entire
development. The other components of the development are
an 18-24 field soccer complex suitable for youth sporting
events including soccer, an office complex for Cerner
Corporation expansion and three youth soccer fields to
be built in Wyandotte County for community use.
The stadium for the Wizards is scheduled to be completed in
2011 according to a press release from OnGoal, the owners
of the Wizards.
The seating capacity for the stadium will be about
18,000. The grass field will have a heating and cooling
system to optimize the playing quality of the surface.
The field will be 75 yards wide by 120 yards long with at
least 16 feet to the field wall from the touchline.
The plan is for 33 suites and three stadium clubs, one of
which will cater to Cauldron. Parking will be free,
continuing a policy that was started at CommunityAmerica
Ballpark, the Wizards temporary home.
The Wizards will continue to train at the Swope Park
Training Facility.
Wizards select Teal Bunbury
with first draft
pick
St. Thomas Aquinas and Kansas
City Brass player
Michael Thomas selected by San Jose
By Robert Whitman
Jan. 14, 2010
With the fourth pick in the 2010 MLS
SuperDraft, the Wizards selected Teal Bunbury from NCAA Division
I finalist Akron.
Burbury is the 2009 Hermann Award winner and is the sixth
player to win the award who has played indoor or outdoor
soccer in Kansas City.
At Akron, Bunbury scored 23 goals, including 17 in 2009.
Although he has played as a Region II player, Bunbury has also
played for Canada's U-17 squad.
Alex Bunbury, Teal father, played for the Wizards in 1999
and 2000.
The Wizards selected Korede Aiyegbusi, a defender from North
Carolina State. Aiyegbusi, 21, is a London native and
played for England in the 2009 World University
Games.
Aiyegbusi played two years for the Wolfpack after two years
at Essex (Md.) Community College.
Former St. Thomas Aquinas and Kansas City Brass player
Michael Thomas was selected by San Jose with the 19th selection
in the draft. The Wizards had the 20th pick, which they
used to select Aiyegbusi.
With the first of their two third-round picks, the Wizards
selected Nick Cardenas of San Diego State. Cardenas, 22,
played four years for the Aztecs. The 6-5 defender scored
four goals in 2009 and scored 12 in his career.
The Wizards had a second pick in the third round and selected
Mauro Fuzetti of Michigan. Fuzetti scored 23 goals and had 15
assists in four years for the Wolverines. He was an All-Big Ten
First Team selection in 2009.
In the fourth and final round, the Wizards selected
Ofori Sarkodie, a defender from Indiana. Sarkodie scored only
one goal in 80 games in four years at Indiana.
Sarkodie, who is from Huber Heights, Ohio in the Dayton area,
was named to the All-Tournament Team at the 2005 FIFA
Under-17 World Youth Championship in Peru. The United States
finished fifth in the tournament.
Danny Mwanga was the first selection in the draft. Philadelphia
Union selected the 18-year-old Oregon State forward
and Republic of Congo native.
Kansas City makes cut
as World Cup city
City is one of 18 to be
used
in United States bid for 2018 or 2022
By Robert Whitman
Jan. 12, 2010
Kansas City will be one of the 18 cities
used to impress FIFA in the United States bid to host either
the 2018 or 2022 World Cup.
The prospective cities were announced by US Soccer president
Sunil Gulati live on ESPNews and viewed by a group of media
and supporters at 810 Zone on the Plaza.
The 18 cities, in the order they were announced by Gulati, are:
Atlanta, San Diego, Phoenix, Dallas, Seattle, Denver, Tampa,
Indianapolis, Baltimore, Nashville, Kansas City, Houston,
Miami, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Boston and
New York.
Arrowhead Stadium is the venue that would host any World Cup
games awarded to Kansas City. The stadium would be reconfigured
to accomdate FIFA requirements for length and width. When the
Kansas City Wizards played at Arrowhead, the field was only 68
wide. FIFA's minumum width is 75 yards.
Gomez leaves Wizards
Forward goes to top division
Mexican side Puebla FC
By Robert Whitman
Jan. 12, 2010
Herculez Gomez has left the Wizards
and has joined Puebla FC in Mexico's top division.
Gomez scored no goals in 26 games (20 starts) in 2009
and one goal in eight games (seven starts) in 2008.
With Gomez in the starting lineup down the stretch in 2008,
the Wizards were 5-1-1.
Gomez started two games and was a substitute in one of
Kansas City final seven games of 2009. The Wizards were
2-3-2 in those games.
Wizards survive expansion draft
Philadelphia Union selects
no Kansas City players
By Robert Whitman
Nov. 25, 2009
No Kansas City Wizards were selected in
the Major League Soccer expansion draft by Philadelphia
Union the league's 16th team.
The Wizards had exposed 13 players to the expansion draft,
including Kansas City area native Matt Besler.
Here are the players Union selected in the expansion
draft:
• Jordan Harvey, D, Colorado Rapids
• Andrew Jacobsen, M, D.C. United
• Brad Knighton, G, New England Revolution
• Sebastien Le Toux, F, Seattle Sounders FC
• Stefani Miglioranzi, M, Los Angeles Galaxy
• Alejandro Moreno, F, Columbus Crew
• Dave Myrie, D, Chicago Fire
• Shea Salinas, M, San Jose Earthquakes
• Shavar Thomas, D, Chivas USA
• Nick Zimmerman, M, New York Red Bulls
Here is a brief look at last season's expansion draft list by
Seattle Sounders FC and how each player fared:
| Brad Evans, M, Columbus Crew |
Played 27 games, started 25 for Seattle... scored
three goals, had two assists |
| Nate Jaqua, F, Houston Dynamo |
Played 28 games, started 27 for Seattle... scored nine
goals, second-most on the club... had seven assists, tied
for second-most |
| Stephen King, M, Chicago Fire |
Played 10 games, started three, played 433 minutes for
Seattle... no goals or assists... exposed in the 2009
expansion draft |
| Jeff Parke, D, New York Red Bulls |
Released by Seattle before the season... played 524
minutes in seven games for second-division Vancover
Whitecaps |
| James Riley, D, San Jose Earthquakes |
Played 28 games, started 27 for Seattle... scored
no goals and had four assists... exposed in the 2009
expansion draft |
| Jarrod Smith, F, Toronto FC |
New Zealand international who made no appearances
for Seattle and was released on July 16... played in one
Open Cup game and one Open Cup play-in game... underwent
surgery to repair a torn right hamstring tendon just before
his release |
| Khano Smith, F, New England Revolution |
Traded to New York on Feb. 12 for allocation money and
never played for Seattle... played eight games, started
six for New York with no goals or assists... New York waived
him on July 30... now plays for Lincoln City in England's
League Two (fourth division) |
| Nathan Sturgis, D, Real Salt Lake |
Played nine games, started five for Seattle... no goals
or assists in 440 minutes... exposed in the 2009
expansion draft |
| Peter Vagenas, M, Los Angeles Galaxy |
Played 14 games, started nine for Seattle... scored no
goals and had two assists... exposed in the 2009
expansion draft |
| Tyson Wahl, D, Kansas City Wizards |
Played 12 games, started nine for Seattle... exposed in
the 2009 expansion draft |
Seven of the 10 Seattle selections played for the club in
MLS games. Only three of the 10 were regular
starters. Five of the expansion picks were exposed in the
2009 expansion draft to Philadelphia Union.
Philadelphia Union picks 10 players today
Wizards expose 13 players to
expansion draft
but might not lose any
By Robert Whitman
Nov. 25, 2009
Kansas City area native Matt Besler
was among 13 players left unprotected for Wednesday’s
expansion draft for Philadelphia Union, Major League
Soccer’s 16th team.
The Blue Valley West graduate emerged as a starter
by the end of the 2009 season, playing alongside
captain Jimmy Conrad in the center of the Wizards
defense.
Here is the full list of Wizards players left
unprotected:
• Matt Besler
• Adam Cristman
• Herculez Gomez
• Kevin Hartman
• Santiago Hirsig
• Aaron Hohlbein
• Michael Kraus
• Eric Kronberg
• Matt Marquess
• Rauwshan McKenzie
• Kurt Morsink
• Boris Pardo
• Lance Watson
Here is the complete list of protected Wizards
players:
• Davy Arnaud
• Jimmy Conrad
• Michael Harrington
• Zoltan Hercegfalvi
• Jack Jewsbury
• Kei Kamara
• Jonathan Leathers
• Claudio Lopez
• Kevin Souter
• Josh Wolff
• Graham Zusi
The Wizards left all three goalkeepers exposed,
including starter Kevin Hartman, one MLS’ all-time
leaders in many goalkeeping statistical categories.
Kansas City also left central defender Aaron Hohlbein
exposed, giving Union and choice between him and
Besler.
Current teams were allowed to protect 11 players.
Generation Adidas players are not exposed for the draft
and did not need protection. For the Wizards, those
players are Chance Myers and Honduras international
Roger Espinoza.
Philadelphia Union may select only one of the unprotected
Wizards. Union will select 10 players league-wide from
players left unprotected by their clubs, meaning that
five clubs will not lose a player in the draft.
Some former Wizards players are unprotected by their
current clubs. They are Carey Talley, Shavar Thomas
and Sasha Victorine of Chivas USA; Dave Van Den Bergh
of FC Dallas; Abe Thompson of Houston Dynamo; Chris
Klein of Los Angeles Galaxy; Yura Movsisyan of Real Salt
Lake; Taylor Graham and Tyson Wahl of Seattle Sounders;
and Nick Garcia of Toronto FC.
Movsisyan is an unlikely selection because of his planned
move to Denmark. Wahl was selected by Seattle in the 2008
expansion draft.
Also left unprotected was Real Salt Lake’s Robbie Russell,
who made the decisive penalty kick in the shootout Sunday
that gave RSL the MLS Cup.
Real Salt Lake wins the MLS Cup
Russell's penalty kick in
shootout gives RSL the 5-4 edge
after RSL and Galaxy play
1-1 draw
By Robert Whitman
Nov. 22, 2009
SEATTLE – When game-changing players met a playoff-changing
team, the MLS Cup final had to be decided at the penalty
spot.
Robbie Russell made a penalty kick in the seventh round
of shootout to give Real Salt Lake a 5-4 victory in the
shootout after they battled Western Conference champion
Los Angeles to a 1-1 draw in 120 minutes.
Thirty minutes of extra time decided nothing as both
teams fought fatigue successfully just long enough to
mount a few attacks that appeared to hold little promise
of success.
RSL took longer to find an attacking rhythm in the first
half. The Galaxy had the game’s first corner (12th minute),
first shot on goal (Jovan Kirovski in the 25th minute)
and the first goal.
On the next attack after the Donovan released Buddle with
a pass in which Buddle was flagged for offside, the
Galaxy scored.
Beckham led the charge up the middle of the field,
passing to Donovan on right. Donovan curled a pass to
left post, where Mike Magee tapped the ball into the
net in the 41st minute.
In first half stoppage time, Movsisyan had a chance to
tie the game, taking a cross from the left and making a
nice move to past the defender to get a shot. But the
Movsisyan was too high on the target as the ball bounced
too high on the artificial turf surface when spun with
it.
RSL tied the game with a persistent attack in the 64th
minute. Movsisyan’s shot was blocked by the defense,
but the ball fell to Findley, whose short-range shot
could not be stopped.
Movsisyan had a chance to put RSL in the lead in the
71st minute, but he pounded his 15-yard shot from a
right-sided angle over the net.
MLS Cup final ends
on
penalty kicks
By Robert Whitman
Nov. 22, 2009
SEATTLE - The MLS Cup final was decided on penalty
kicks. Real Salt Lake won the shootout, 5-4, in seven
rounds.
Here is how the shootout played out:
LA - Beckham, scored
RSL - Mathis, scored
LA - Berhalter, scored
RSL - Findley, scored
LA - Kirovski, saved
RSL - Beckerman, saved
LA - Donovan, missed high
RSL - Grabavoy, scored
LA - Magee, scored
RSL - Williams, saved
LA - Klein, scored
RSL - Wingert, scored
LA - Buddle, saved
RSL - Russell, scored
Lineups for the MLS Cup final
Some possible surprises for
both teams
By Robert Whitman
Nov. 22, 2009
SEATTLE – Lineups are out for the 2009 MLS Cup
final.
Real Salt Lake will start: Rimando, Russell, Borchers,
Olave, Wingert, Williams, Beckerman, Morales, Johnson,
Findley, Movsisyan. On the bench are: Seitz, Alexandre,
Beltran, Campos, Espindola, Grabavoy, Mathis.
Los Angeles will start: Ricketts, Franklin, Berhalter,
Gonzalez, Dunivant, Beckham, Magee, Birchall, Kirovski,
Buddle, Donovan. On the bench are: Saunders,
DeLaGarza, Gordon, Klein, Kovalenko, Lewis,
Marshall.
Some possible surprises in the lineups for RSL:
Russell instead of Espindola (who was listed as
questionable with a training hip flexion strain)
and Williams instead of Mathis. Possible lineup
surprises for the Galaxy: Birchall instead of
Klein, Franklin instead of DeLeGarza, Kirovski
instead of Magee.
The referee is Kevin Stott, the referee's assistants are
C.J. Morgante and Rob Fereday and the fourth official is
Baldomero Toledo.
Thirty minutes before kickoff
Almost everything is
in place for the 2009 MLS Cup final
By Robert Whitman
Nov. 22, 2009
SEATTLE – Thirty minutes before the scheduled kickoff
of the 2009 MLS Cup final, not quite everybody is
in place at Qwest Field in Seattle.
The Los Angeles Galaxy and Real Salt Lake players,
except for the goalkeepers, have not emerged to warm
up. Most of the anticipated crowd of more than 45,000
has yet to take their seats. Most of the press has
arrived, as have much of the people who will view
the game from the club level luxury boxes.
Real Salt Lake’s field players emerge first from
the southeast tunnel, warming up in the north end
of the field. The Galaxy trots out from the tunnel
a couple of minutes later, about 25 minutes before
the scheduled kickoff time.
The Galaxy’s David Beckham, who told the media Friday
that he had a bone bruise on his right foot that
prevented him from training until Friday, came out
to warm up. He showed no signs of injury and took
part in the same warm up drills as his teammates.
For the sake of success
Donovan, Beckham patch things
up for Galaxy to find success
By Robert Whitman
Nov. 21, 2009
SEATTLE - Say what you want about
Landon Donovan and David Beckham, they both want
many of the same things.
They both want to be the best players they can be.
They both want to play on the biggest stage.
And they both want to win Sunday's MLS Cup final at
Qwest Field in Seattle. The game will be televised on
ESPN at 7:30 p.m. (Central time).
Donovan and Beckham had to patch up things in July
when Beckham returned from a loan spell at AC Milan.
Donovan made statements published in The Beckham
Experiment, a book by Grant Wahl that was released
this year, that would certainly have destroyed team
harmony off the field if they had not been addressed,
ironed out and put behind them.
And they did, the first day Beckham returned for training
with the Galaxy.
At the time of Beckham's return, the Galaxy was doing
well – five wins, nine draws and three defeats. The
Galaxy finished on top of the Western Conference,
giving them just the home-field edge they probably
needed when then they edged Houston in the conference
final.
Fans and media see what Beckham means to Los Angeles
on the field.
"You guys see what happens when the lights come on,
on Saturday nights. I think from that standpoint, you
see how helpful David has been," Donovan said. "But
what we see every day in the locker room, on the road,
when we travel, has been tremendous. When your most
talented player or players are doing that on your team,
then everyone else follows.
"The other thing you don't see is this guy has been
hurt or sick for probably the last six or seven games.
You read about it and you don't hear it, but he gets on
with it and he plays. That's helped our team a
lot."
After Beckham returned, the Galaxy won seven, drew
three and lost three – half of their 48 points in 13
of their 30 games.
Beckham, in turn, does diminish Donovan's
contributions.
"He's a player that players look at and look up to,"
Beckham said. "I think that's important when you've
got a captain like that and when you've got an MVP
player in our team, you look to them for advice,
you look to them for how they play on the field,
and how they conduct themselves, whether it's in the
locker room, whether it's on the field, or whether
it's just out for dinner. He's a perfect example
for that."
For the Galaxy to work their way to the final,
it took a mix 30-plus veterans such as Chris Klein
and Gregg Berhalter in addition to younger players
such as Sean Franklin and Omar Gonzalez, the last
two Rookie of the Year award winners in MLS.
Getting the mixture right fell to manager Bruce Arena,
who took it and molded it into a championship squad.
Arena is, perhaps, the least talked about, but big
factor in LA's rise.
Donovan was specific on what were the biggest concrete
factors in putting the Galaxy in this position.
"One was having Bruce come in and just create stability,
which we hadn't had for a while," Donovan said. "And
candidly, the second was David's reaction to everything
that's gone on.
"Life is about choices. He could have come in and
chosen to be something different than he has been.
He chose to be a man and… want this team to be
successful. Without him, we're not where we are. We can
cut it any way we want, but that's the reality of it.
He's been tremendous."
