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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."





Click on Wizards/MLS link for audio from Chris Klein and Yura Movsisyan


Watch video from MLSnet.com of Teal Bunbury and Ofori Sarkodie at the combine before the SuperDraft


Wizards SuperDraft selections

Bunbury
Teal Bunbury, Akron

Aiyegbusi Korede Aiyegbusi,
North Carolina State

Cardenas Nick Cardenas,
San Diego State

Fuzetti Mauro Fuzetti, Michigan

Sarkodie Ofori Sarkodie, Indiana