2010 Kansas City Wizards season
Encyclopedia
The 2010 Kansas City Wizards
season is the fifteenth season of the team's existence. In the earliest parts of 2010 the club broke ground on their future stadium and made the announcement that they had reached a new local television contract with KCWE
that would put every home and away match for the league season on local over-the-air high definition
.
. Hartman's situation was used as an example against the collective bargaining
agreement between the league and the players' union
however Hartman was replaced by Danish Jimmy Nielsen
which was a questionable move with limited Senior International spots available. In addition to all the player movement the Wizards found themselves winners in a weighted allocation lottery
for the services of US Youth
player 16 year-old Luis Gil
. Despite "winning" the lottery speculation was that the league had agreed the youngster would be placed somewhere on the west coast and he was quickly traded to Real Salt Lake
for a second round draft pick
, future transfer consideration, and a Senior International roster spot.
made his introduction to the club and the league in the Wizards opener, an emphatic 4-nil whooping of DC United
. Kei Kamara
opened his account slamming home a sloppy rebound from a Smith shot on Troy Perkins'
goal, Davy Arnaud
doubled the lead in the first half with Smith earning the assist. Despite being an official "sell out" the weather kept a large number of fans from seeing new goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen
make his uneventful debut. Nielsen was tested only the one time by the all-time league leading goal scorer Jaime Moreno
but the Danish keeper nicknamed "White Puma" responded properly and kept his sheet clean. The second half opened just like the first and Smith got his first goal of the season easily passing another sloppy rebound into an open net, this time in front of The Cauldron. 15 minutes later Smith's corner intended for Kamara found instead the hand of a defender and referee Kevin Stott pointed to the spot, Jack Jewsbury
(late entry to starting eleven) made the best of the situation and gave the home squad a 4 goal lead.
Off the Field
Hours before the season opener the Wizards organization invited a group of season ticket holders to tour the construction site of the new stadium. Tactically the club hid the formation they planned to play often letting people believe they were playing a 4-4-2 when in fact Peter Vermes
had installed a new hybrid 4-5-1 and 4-3-3 formation. Birahim Diop
and Chance Myers
were both intended to be in the starting eleven to open the season however both became injured and were replaced with Jack Jewsbury
and Kei Kamara
who would both make the most of their chances and earn the starting positions. In addition to the all the roster changes Indian footballer Sunil Chhetri was added to the club very late in March despite not having an open roster spot available. The Chhetri signing brought so much attention to the club from India
that the Wizards held a video press conference for the reporters in India.
. The friendly was part of a doubleheader planned to pit the Swope Park Rangers versus University of Evansville and Wizards v Saint Louis. In the opener the newest striker Sunil Chhetri struck for a hat trick
against the amateur Evansville Purple Aces
leading to a 5-0 victory. The Wizards fielded a weaken side for the second match but still came out ahead 2-1 thanks to a late Santiago Hirsig
winner, more importantly though was the lost of backup center forward Zoltán
whose ACL was torn and is expected to miss five-to-eight months. The striker was placed on the injured reserve list allowing Chhetri to join the roster without having to move another player.
Colorado
became the second visitors to CommunityAmerica Ballpark
in 2010 as well staying to open the 2010 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
later in the week at Stanley H. Durwood Soccer Stadium on the downtown campus of UMKC. The league match-up was hindered by harsh fouls and questionable officiating yet Kei Kamara
scored the lone goal and winner off the boot of Ryan Smith
from a long distance free kick. Colorado defender Julien Baudet
was sent off in the 72nd minute and despite having one of the deadliest strike duos in the league the Rapids didn't trouble Jimmy Nielsen
. The Open Cup
match started with Teal Bunbury
scoring his first professional goal but it would prove to not be enough as Rapids midfielder Wells Thompson
would net a Brace ending the Open Cup run before it had even started.
Traveling to Seattle
has proven tough for most clubs in the league, but Kansas City handed the Sounders
their first ever home loss in 2009 and appeared ready to duplicate that result. In their first away match of the season the Wizards invited pressure early and it nearly cost them as the Sounders had a handful of half chances in the opening minutes. Young Colombian standout Freddy Montero
was denied on the doorstep by the strong right hand of Jimmy Nielsen
which marked the end of the Seattle pressure and ushered in Kansas City's possession for the remainder of the first half. Frustrated and maligned James Riley first and Steve Zakuani
later picked up careless yellow cards and Swedish International Freddie Ljungberg was held without incident for much of the match. Jimmy Conrad
was forced out of the match with injury which left the KC
backline lacking age and experience; Harrington (24)
, Besler (23)
, Escobar (23)
, and Espinoza (23)
. Enjoying much of the ball the Wizards could only muster two shots on goal out of nine, despite having 19 in their first two matches. Ryan Smith and the Wizards created nine corners and nine shots to Seattle's two corners and five shots however the Sounders second shot on goal came in the 92nd minute and found the netting despite an apparent illegal throw-in. Making only his second professional appearance Michael Fucito
came on in the 85th minute and got on the end of a throw in from fellow substitute Brad Evans
winning the game 1-0. Chance Myers
had an immediate counter attack but failed to beat goalkeeper Kasey Keller
one-on-one.
Landon Donovan
and The Galaxy
brought in their perfect 12 points and Edson Buddle's
league leading seven goals to face the stingy defense of the Wizards. To the dismay of neutrals and supporters alike the weather affected the match as the Kansas City area saw hours and hours rain previous and during the match. Both clubs had trouble holding the ball and at times it looked more like a tennis match but Kansas City did have the better of chances despite the match ending in a scoreless draw. Jimmy Nielsen
and Donovan Ricketts
would take home most of the accolades and Kei Kamara
the scapegoating, Kamara botched a sitter in the first half that British Newspaper The Sun
questioned as the miss of the century?.
Off the Field
April's Fools! at Michael Harrington's
expense. The premise of the stunt was that Maxim
was doing an animal themed photo-shoot for a future article, this prank resulted in national coverage as it appeared on numerous outlets including SportsCenter
. Before the second home game against Colorado another ceremony was planned for the fans, this time allowing them to sign the first beam of steel in the new stadium.
Cauldron Man of the Month
Jimmy Nielsen
and the nations capital where pointless DC United
awaited, while both road match ups and the subsequent home match on May 15 would all be on national television where the side has struggled in recent seasons. Wizards starting centerback Jimmy Conrad
couldn't pass a pregame fitness test and the young backline who held the league leading Galaxy
offense scoreless seemed ready to handle a club missing their starting forward Brian Ching
. The young Wizards lost the plot quickly and the Dyanmo jumped them as Matt Besler
picked up a quick yellow and the disappointing young Mexican strike Luis Ángel Landín
gave the home side an early lead, the goal was only his second since joining the club as a Designated Player and both have come against KC at Robertson Stadium
. Wizards captain Davy Arnaud
was sent off for only the second time in his eight years after making contact with the goalkeeper and the club never recovered in the heat and humidity as the Texan side cruised to a 3 - nil victory.
After being skunked in the league opener the Black-and-Red
had been shutout in four of five matches and had managed zero points while scoring only two goals and conceding a total of 13. Even without the services of captain Arnaud and veteran Conrad the club looked favorites in the ESPN2 MLS Game of the Week
. In an attempt to shake things up and to aid in the wary legs from playing a man down just days earlier Peter Vermes
gave Santiago Hirsig
and Chance Myers
each their first starts of the season, neither of which made the desired impact and were both subbed by the 51st minute. Australian international Danny Allsopp
provided a first half brace while 19-year-old Bill Hamid
made his professional debut earning him a league record as the youngest goalkeeper to ever register a win at just 19 years 161 days, besting Tim Howard's
record by four days. Hamid was stunning in his appearance making five saves, the biggest denying Jack Jewsbury
directly before halftime. The Wizards created more chances but their finishing aim let them down again as they recorded 14 shots and only a single tally that came very late when substitute and team goal leader Kei Kamara
spoiled the clean sheet in the 92nd minute.
Another struggling Eastern Conference foe would find a point off of the Wizards when the Chicago Fire
came calling on another rainy Kansas City Saturday night. The club followed their 2010 script perfectly as they outshot the Fire 18-8 (10-6 on net) while holding a commanding double digit corner kick advantage 11-1 but as in many of the earlier games the Wizards simply could not get the ball around Chicago goal keeper Andrew Dykstra
who ended the match with eight saves. Julio Martínez
put the visitors ahead in the 14th minute and former US International and Chicagoland native Brian McBride
doubled the lead straight out of halftime. Davy Arnaud
would have a goal called back and several KC shots hit woodwork before Kei Kamara
pulled one back only two minutes after the lead was doubled. Much of the second half would be played in the Wizards final third but the equalizer wouldn't come until Kamara tapped in a deflected shot from Teal Bunbury
in the 89th minute, despite increased pressure the homeside would not find a magical stoppage time winner and was forced to live with splitting the points.
May was shaping up to be a decidedly bad month for the club when undefeated Columbus
(5-0-2) made their lone appearance to the CAB. The Crew left home earlier in the week trailing only the surprising Red Bulls
in the East but after dispatching New York 3-1 at Red Bull Arena the yellow clad warriors looked unstoppable. Eddie Gaven
put himself in a position to break the scoreless draw in the 10th minute as he went 1v1 with Kansas City keeper Jimmy Nielsen
but the Dane was up to the task first getting a foot to the shot and then falling directly on top of the rebound (Nielsen won Save of the Week for this save). The first half frustration came to a head just before half time when captain Arnuad hit the left upright after an inspiring built up from Graham Zusi
and the lay off from Kei Kamara
. The opening 20 minutes of the second half saw the Wizards out shoot the Crew 7-1 of those seven shots, two easily handled Ryan Smith
muffs, a Zusi screamer that went just wide, a Jewsbury
rocket that had Will Hesmer beaten if on frame, Bunbury shot off target, and a Kamara turn from the top of the circle plus his header from within six yards that found its way over the cross bar- The Columbus shot in those 20 minutes, Emilio Rentería's
game winning header off of a corner kick taken by 2008 MLS MVP winner
Guillermo Barros Schelotto
. The home loss meant the club had not registered a win in seven straight matches dating back to the April 10th 1-nil win over Colorado.
Defending MLS Cup holders RSL
rounded out a terrible month of May. Salt Lake had won four straight league matches and was undefeated at Rio Tinto Stadium while out scoring their opponents 14-4 over the month, Kansas City on the other hand finished May 0–4-1 while netting four and leaking 12. There would be no surprises in this one as RSL rolled 4-1 and Wizards Captain Davy Arnuad received his second red card of the season and third of his career. Jimmy Nielsen
was once again up for Save of the Week.
Off the Field
Wizards players Kei Kamara
and Sunil Chhetri each got to visit Kansas Speedway
with Kei running a few laps at nearly 200 MPH and Sunil visiting with his fellow countryman Narain Karthikeyan
and wishes him luck in this video. The biggest news of the month came when KC Wizards announced the international friendly with Manchester United to be played July 25 at the newly renovated Arrowhead Stadium
. Wizards President Robb Heineman was privately disciplined by the league for this tweet using the social networking tool
Twitter
. The White Puma
won Save of the Week for his week 9 save against Eddie Gaven and was nominated again in week 10.
Cauldron Man of the Month
Kei Kamara
to face the surging Reds who were enjoying their best start to a season in club history. They had tallied 12 of 12 home points and riding a four match unbeaten streak that consisted of three victories and one very impressive scoreless draw at Home Depot Center against the unstoppable Galaxy
. Jimmy Nielsen
kept the Wiz in the match long enough to allow referee Baldomero Toledo to send off TFC Defender Nick Garcia
in the 27th minute. For the remainder of the first half the visitors enjoyed some attacking football but couldn't break down the defense and would have to settle for going to half up a man and even on the score sheet. Toledo's performance in the middle would be questioned by both sides before the game ended and in the 57th minute Craig Rocastle
put himself in a position to be sent off and Toledo granted him the wish. The match would end scoreless with ten a side in what would repeatedly called an uninspired performance by both sides but the point earned was the first road point for the club in 2010.
Expansion side Philadelphia Union brought the worse statistical defense in the league and cured the Kansas City streak of eight matches without a win. Kei Kamara
scored his team leading sixth goal (which won MLS Goal of the Week) early in the first half thanks in large part to Ryan Smith's
picture perfect pass, Smith then feed Graham Zusi
another slick ball to put him behind the backline and the second year backup slotted home his first professional goal. Philadelphia center back Michael Orozco Fiscal received a red card late in the first half which caused the Union to pack men behind the ball and created an incredibly boring second half. This was the final game for the league before the international break structured into the season for the 2010 FIFA World Cup
.
After sixteen days off the Wizards got back into league play hosting New York Red Bulls
at CAB
. Many of the supporters were disappointed after watching the USMNT
crash out of the World Cup earlier in the day and then watch the home side get slammed 3-0. This match was marred by two poor performances, first by reserve center back Aaron Hohlbein
and second the otherwise outstanding Jimmy Nielsen
. To add to the disgrace the club captain Davy Arnaud
picked up his third red card of the season in the 93rd minute causing a large number of supporters to call for him to lose the armband.
Off the Field
The Club released another stadium update video. In connection with the FIFA World Cup
the club announced their intentions to host a watch party for all 64 matches at the Kansas City Live living room at the highly visible Kansas City Power & Light District
. On June 24 Wizards President Robb Heineman indicated via BigSoccer
that the club had tendered a Designated Player contract to Icelandic striker Eiður Guðjohnsen
and they believed that Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
was also interested in the former Chelsea F.C.
and FC Barcelona
forward. Also on the same day as news of Gudjohnsen's offer, came word that ESPN
planned to use the Wizards World Cup watch party as a cut away location for the United States
versus Ghana
second round match. Kei Kamara won Goal of the Week for week 12 thanks to his goal on June 10 against Philadelphia. Nielsen won Save of the Week for week 13 because of his performance against New York on June 26.
Cauldron Man of the Month
Michael Harrington
opened July by tinkering with the formation while trying to get anything out of the offense. A visit to Dallas in the summer of 2009 resulted in then-manager Curt Onalfo
being dismissed following a 6-0 thumping, and heading into this match Dallas
was riding a two-game win streak and looked every bit capable of running away with another lopsided win. The first half saw KC not get a single shot as they looked more willing to defend and play for a scoreless draw until Colombian
attacking midfielder David Ferreira
unlocked the Kansas City defense. Dallas then coasted to the 1-0 victory at home.
Wizards returned home to face the Western Conference's last place team Chivas USA
. Everyone has seen matches where one team deserves to win and in the end doesn't, as an example KC lead in corner kicks 14-1 and shots 20-8 yet were defeated 2-0 thanks to Justin Braun finding the net on two mistakes by center back Jimmy Conrad
. To round out his poor performance Conrad then went on to pick up a yellow card in the 81st minute as many home supporters left the grounds early. This match appeared to break the backs of many fans and there was much talk about Peter Vermes dismissal but it never came and the club went on the road hoping to end a three game scoreless streak.
In a vast reversal Kansas City edged out The East Leading Crew
in Columbus while riding the back of goal keeper Jimmy Nielsen
(and his fourth Save of the Week win) and Rookie Teal Bunbury's
first professional goal. Columbus out shot the Wizards 19-8 and lead in corners 8-1 while being denied by the Puma seven times. Late in the match Bunbury had a second break away opportunity where Crew keeper and former Kansas City back up Will Hesmer forced him wide and then made an amazing save on Graham Zusi's
headed shot after Teal crossed it deftly (nominated for Save of the Week). The away win was the club's first of the season, it snapped both three game scoreless and losing streaks. Nielsen had two saves from this match nominated for Save of the Week.
Skipper Davy Arnaud
got the Wizards out to another fast start by beating Rapids
keeper Matt Pickens
early in the first half on another break away. For the second straight match Teal Bunbury teamed up top with Smith
and Kamara
and his on ball strength and threat of splitting the opponents center backs made for another strong respected performance. Colorado chased the game the entire first half and were extremely lucky to only be trailing 1-nil at half thanks in large part to Pickens making a blind kick save off of a Kamara shot and then stopping the stinging rebound of Arnaud (nominated for Save of the Week). The Rapids most fortunate play in the first half came as Bunbury held the ball outside the 18' and then deftly turned and sent a rocket that beat Pickens but then hit the right post and hugged the line until it struck the left upright and came back to the spot where Kamara's rebound attempt was foiled by a defender. Kansas City never got a clear chance in the second half yet they defended well until the 74th minute when Conor Casey
equalized on the only shot on goal the home team got all night long. Recently brought in Shavar Thomas
was responsible for allowing Casey to turn and shoot but Jimmy Nielsen
reacted poorly and should have denied Casey of his team leading seventh goal, in addition to the equalizer Casey had clear chance to win the match late on but missed an open net- putting the ball off the upright and across the byline.
In front of a Kansas City record 52,424 fans the Wizards beat English Superclub Manchester United. Peter Vermes
kept the same starting eleven who had sparked the recent good form and it paid dividends immediately as the Wizards pressured high and got stuck in versus the Red Devils. In just the eleventh minute the home side would push ahead as Davy Arnaud
was kept onsides by a lazy and slow moving Rafael
and he easily tallied past backup Ben Amos
. Like they had in the opening moments the club would keep creating serious chances throughout the first half with Teal Bunbury
, Kei Kamara
, and Englishman Ryan Smith all having good goes of it. While the Wizards were creating chances United was countering with only half chances until Jimmy Nielsen
stopped a point blank attempt with his belly and the Wizards were forced onto their back foot, which is where they found themselves in the 39th minute when Ryan Giggs
slipped Dimitar Berbatov
between the KC centerbacks. Jimmy Conrad
found himself a full step behind and on the wrong side of the Bulgarian striker but still made a play for the ball, he got man instead and the penalty was given by American Referee Terry Vaughn
- who also gave Conrad an ejection. Berbatov's hesitation step sent Nielsen diving the wrong direction and he easily equalized the exhibition match. Just one minute later Kansas City's leading assist maker Smith crossed a corner into and off of leading scorer Kamara's head that gave the now ten man home side the lead once again. Manchester United fought for the equalizer playing all their starters until the 68th minute and Alex Ferguson
decided to even keep playing Giggs and fellow Red Devil legend Paul Scholes
the full 90 minutes but the Major League Soccer
outfit held their lines and won the match 2-1.
Returning to league play on the final day of July meant welcoming the third place (in the east) Toronto FC
to the ballpark. The visitors came in a little off form and bogged down from fixture congestion in addition to a mistake make in customs that left the side without their match gear. Both sides looked affected by the extreme heat and played rather sloppy for most of the match. Recently acquired Spanish
forward Mista had the best chance in the first half when he got through to Jimmy Nielsen
alone but was spoiled by the right hand of the white puma. Neither club looked very dangerous as combined they totaled 20 shots; only 5 on goal yet rookie Teal Bunbury
took advantage of a mistake in the back and headed a bouncing ball over Stefan Frei
for the only goal of the match. Ryan Smith was taken off hurt in the first half, but before, he missed a good scoring chance and Birahim Diop
also missed for the home side late in the second half with a chance to send the Canadians home before the whistle, however he mishit the ball and the result was a roller to the keeper. The seven points earned in July were the most of any month to date.
Off the Field
The club released disappointing Colombian
center back Pablo Andrés Escobar
after rumors of poor effort and development. Escobar was replaced by former Kansas City player Shavar Thomas
who was reacquired in a trade with Philadelphia on July 2. Jimmy Nielsen
won his third Save of the Week of the season and second straight with his play at Dallas on July 3 and his fourth just two weeks later thanks to his play versus Columbus. The club continued an attempt at stabilizing their center defense by signing Greek Nick Kounenakis just a few matches after inserting Thomas into the lineup. With Eiður Guðjohnsen
apparently off the table and staying in England the club turned it's DP focus onto another international striker, Omar Bravo
. The Mexican International
is a legendary hero of Club Deportivo Guadalajara (Chivas) as the club's second highest all time goal scorer (106) having played nearly 300 matches over a decade of service. Bravo has scored 15 times for his country, never against the United States, and El Tri has never lost a match in which he has scored- (12-0-1).
Cauldron Man of the Month
Teal Bunbury
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Overall
Statistics accurate as of match played August 8, 2010
left club during season*
club leader(s) bolded
(loan to Miami FC
)
(loan to India
)
(loan to C.D. Guadalajara
)
Nielsen
}}
Kansas City Wizards
Sporting Kansas City is an American professional soccer club based in Kansas City, Kansas that competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
season is the fifteenth season of the team's existence. In the earliest parts of 2010 the club broke ground on their future stadium and made the announcement that they had reached a new local television contract with KCWE
KCWE
KCWE is the CW-affiliated television station for the Kansas City Metropolitan Area licensed to the Missouri side. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 31 from a transmitter at the East 23rd Street/Topping Avenue intersection in Kansas City, Missouri's Blue Valley section...
that would put every home and away match for the league season on local over-the-air high definition
High-definition television
High-definition television is video that has resolution substantially higher than that of traditional television systems . HDTV has one or two million pixels per frame, roughly five times that of SD...
.
Preseason
The club decided to travel to Arizona for preseason training after opening camp in cold Kansas City. As promised by the front office in the off season the club brought in a large number of trialist and draft picks to fight for the limited squad positions. Much of the preseason banter surrounded the departure of popular Latin Striker Claudio Lopez and the contract status of fan favorite goalkeeper Kevin HartmanKevin Hartman
Kevin Hartman is an American soccer player who currently plays for FC Dallas in Major League Soccer-Youth and College:...
. Hartman's situation was used as an example against the collective bargaining
Collective bargaining
Collective bargaining is a process of negotiations between employers and the representatives of a unit of employees aimed at reaching agreements that regulate working conditions...
agreement between the league and the players' union
Major League Soccer Players Union
The Major League Soccer Players Union, also referred to as MLS Players Union or MLSPU, is the union of professional Major League Soccer players. The Players Union serves as the exclusive collective bargaining representative for all current players in MLS.-History:The Major League Soccer Players...
however Hartman was replaced by Danish Jimmy Nielsen
Jimmy Nielsen
Jimmy Nielsen is a Danish professional footballer currently playing for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer....
which was a questionable move with limited Senior International spots available. In addition to all the player movement the Wizards found themselves winners in a weighted allocation lottery
Allocation (MLS)
In Major League Soccer, an allocation represents an amount of money teams can use to sign players and/or allocate to their salaries to get under the salary cap. Allocations are given to teams that have missed the playoffs the previous seasons, given to expansion teams, or awarded as compensation...
for the services of US Youth
United States U-17 men's national soccer team
The United States U-17 men's national soccer team is the national under-17 association football team of the United States and is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation...
player 16 year-old Luis Gil
Luis Gil
Luis Gil is an American soccer player currently playing for Real Salt Lake in Major League Soccer.-Club:...
. Despite "winning" the lottery speculation was that the league had agreed the youngster would be placed somewhere on the west coast and he was quickly traded to Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake is an American professional soccer club based in Sandy, Utah, a suburb of Salt Lake City. The team competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. They currently play their home games at Rio Tinto Stadium. Real Salt Lake won...
for a second round draft pick
2011 MLS SuperDraft
The 2011 MLS SuperDraft was the twelfth annual SuperDraft presented by Major League Soccer. It was held on January 13, 2011 in Baltimore, Maryland, during the 2011 NSCAA Convention at the Baltimore Convention Center. The 2011 SuperDraft consisted of three rounds with eighteen selections each, for...
, future transfer consideration, and a Senior International roster spot.
March (1-0-0) 3 points
Ryan SmithRyan Smith (footballer)
Ryan Craig Matthew Smith is an English footballer who currently plays for Chivas USA in Major League Soccer.-Arsenal:...
made his introduction to the club and the league in the Wizards opener, an emphatic 4-nil whooping of DC United
2010 D.C. United season
The 2010 D.C. United season was the club's 16th year of existence, as well as their 15th season in Major League Soccer, and their 15th consecutive season in the top-flight of American soccer....
. Kei Kamara
Kei Kamara
Kei Kamara is a Sierra Leonean footballer who currently plays for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer.-Early life:Kamara was born and raised in Kenema, Sierra Leone's third largest city to Temne parents...
opened his account slamming home a sloppy rebound from a Smith shot on Troy Perkins'
Troy Perkins
Troy Perkins is an American soccer player who currently plays for Portland Timbers in Major League Soccer.-College and amateur:...
goal, Davy Arnaud
Davy Arnaud
Davy Arnaud is an American soccer player who currently plays for Montreal Impact in Major League Soccer.-College:Arnaud played college soccer at West Texas A&M University from 1999 to 2001, finishing his career with 31 goals and 11 assists...
doubled the lead in the first half with Smith earning the assist. Despite being an official "sell out" the weather kept a large number of fans from seeing new goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen
Jimmy Nielsen
Jimmy Nielsen is a Danish professional footballer currently playing for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer....
make his uneventful debut. Nielsen was tested only the one time by the all-time league leading goal scorer Jaime Moreno
Jaime Moreno
Jaime Moreno Morales is a former Bolivian footballer now serving as Youth Academy Technical Training Coach for D.C. United in Major League Soccer, and as the head coach of D.C. United's U-23 side....
but the Danish keeper nicknamed "White Puma" responded properly and kept his sheet clean. The second half opened just like the first and Smith got his first goal of the season easily passing another sloppy rebound into an open net, this time in front of The Cauldron. 15 minutes later Smith's corner intended for Kamara found instead the hand of a defender and referee Kevin Stott pointed to the spot, Jack Jewsbury
Jack Jewsbury
Jack Jewsbury is an American soccer player who currently plays for Portland Timbers in Major League Soccer.-Youth and College:...
(late entry to starting eleven) made the best of the situation and gave the home squad a 4 goal lead.
Off the Field
Hours before the season opener the Wizards organization invited a group of season ticket holders to tour the construction site of the new stadium. Tactically the club hid the formation they planned to play often letting people believe they were playing a 4-4-2 when in fact Peter Vermes
Peter Vermes
Peter Joseph Vermes is an American former professional soccer player. He is currently the head coach of Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer....
had installed a new hybrid 4-5-1 and 4-3-3 formation. Birahim Diop
Birahim Diop
Birahim Diop is a Senegalese footballer. He currently plays for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer.-Club career:...
and Chance Myers
Chance Myers
Chance Myers is an American soccer player who currently plays for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer.-College and Amateur:...
were both intended to be in the starting eleven to open the season however both became injured and were replaced with Jack Jewsbury
Jack Jewsbury
Jack Jewsbury is an American soccer player who currently plays for Portland Timbers in Major League Soccer.-Youth and College:...
and Kei Kamara
Kei Kamara
Kei Kamara is a Sierra Leonean footballer who currently plays for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer.-Early life:Kamara was born and raised in Kenema, Sierra Leone's third largest city to Temne parents...
who would both make the most of their chances and earn the starting positions. In addition to the all the roster changes Indian footballer Sunil Chhetri was added to the club very late in March despite not having an open roster spot available. The Chhetri signing brought so much attention to the club from India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
that the Wizards held a video press conference for the reporters in India.
April (1-1-1) 4 points
With no league match scheduled for the second week the Wizards visited their new cross state rival AC St. LouisAC St. Louis
Athletic Club of St. Louis, commonly referred to as AC St. Louis, was an American professional soccer team based in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. Founded in December 2009, the team played its first and only season the next year in the NASL Conference of the temporary USSF D2 Pro League, the...
. The friendly was part of a doubleheader planned to pit the Swope Park Rangers versus University of Evansville and Wizards v Saint Louis. In the opener the newest striker Sunil Chhetri struck for a hat trick
Hat Trick
Hat trick, hat-trick or hattrick may refer to:* hat-trick — in various sports, achieving three goals, wickets, etc. in a single match* Hattrick — online football management game** Hattrick Limited — producers of this game...
against the amateur Evansville Purple Aces
Evansville Purple Aces
The Evansville Purple Aces represent the University of Evansville in NCAA Division I sports.-Purple Aces and Ace Purple:The University of Evansville's nickname, the Aces, was acquired after an opposing coach cracked a joke after losing to the Evansville College Pioneers in the 1920s...
leading to a 5-0 victory. The Wizards fielded a weaken side for the second match but still came out ahead 2-1 thanks to a late Santiago Hirsig
Santiago Hirsig
Santiago Hirsig is an Argentine footballer who currently plays for Quilmes in the Argentine Primera División.-Argentina:...
winner, more importantly though was the lost of backup center forward Zoltán
Zoltán Hercegfalvi
Zoltán Hercegfalvi is a Hungarian footballer.-Club:Hercegfalvi joined the youth academy of storied Hungarian team Honvéd at the age of 6, and played all the way through their system before making his first team appearance in 1998...
whose ACL was torn and is expected to miss five-to-eight months. The striker was placed on the injured reserve list allowing Chhetri to join the roster without having to move another player.
Colorado
2010 Colorado Rapids season
The 2010 Colorado Rapids season was the fifteenth year and season of the club's existence. It was Colorado's fifteenth year in Major League Soccer, and the sixth-consecutive year for the club in the top-flight of American soccer....
became the second visitors to CommunityAmerica Ballpark
CommunityAmerica Ballpark
CommunityAmerica Ballpark is a multi-purpose stadium in Kansas City, Kansas, home of the Kansas City T-Bones of the independent American Association, and the temporary home of Kansas City Wizards of Major League Soccer. It is located in the Village West area at 1800 Village West Parkway...
in 2010 as well staying to open the 2010 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
2010 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
The 2010 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup was the 97th edition of the oldest competition in American soccer, running from June through early October.The tournament proper featured teams from the top five levels of the American Soccer Pyramid...
later in the week at Stanley H. Durwood Soccer Stadium on the downtown campus of UMKC. The league match-up was hindered by harsh fouls and questionable officiating yet Kei Kamara
Kei Kamara
Kei Kamara is a Sierra Leonean footballer who currently plays for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer.-Early life:Kamara was born and raised in Kenema, Sierra Leone's third largest city to Temne parents...
scored the lone goal and winner off the boot of Ryan Smith
Ryan Smith (footballer)
Ryan Craig Matthew Smith is an English footballer who currently plays for Chivas USA in Major League Soccer.-Arsenal:...
from a long distance free kick. Colorado defender Julien Baudet
Julien Baudet
Julien Baudet is a former French footballer and current manager.- Europe :Although excelling as a skier in his youth, Baudet chose to concentrate on football, beginning his career with Toulouse FC in France, where he spent two years, clocking up 21 league appearances.In 2001 Baudet moved to Oldham...
was sent off in the 72nd minute and despite having one of the deadliest strike duos in the league the Rapids didn't trouble Jimmy Nielsen
Jimmy Nielsen
Jimmy Nielsen is a Danish professional footballer currently playing for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer....
. The Open Cup
2010 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
The 2010 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup was the 97th edition of the oldest competition in American soccer, running from June through early October.The tournament proper featured teams from the top five levels of the American Soccer Pyramid...
match started with Teal Bunbury
Teal Bunbury
Teal Bunbury is a Canadian-born American soccer player who currently plays for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer...
scoring his first professional goal but it would prove to not be enough as Rapids midfielder Wells Thompson
Wells Thompson
Thomas Wells Thompson is an American soccer player who currently plays for Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer.-High school and College:...
would net a Brace ending the Open Cup run before it had even started.
Traveling to Seattle
2010 Seattle Sounders FC season
The 2010 Seattle Sounders FC season was the club's second season in Major League Soccer, the United States' top-tier of professional soccer. For the Sounders FC franchise, it was their third year of existence, and including all previous franchises, it would be the 30th season of a soccer team...
has proven tough for most clubs in the league, but Kansas City handed the Sounders
Seattle Sounders FC
Seattle Sounders FC is an American professional soccer club based in Seattle, Washington. The club competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. Sounders FC was established in November 2007 as a MLS expansion team, making it the 15th team in...
their first ever home loss in 2009 and appeared ready to duplicate that result. In their first away match of the season the Wizards invited pressure early and it nearly cost them as the Sounders had a handful of half chances in the opening minutes. Young Colombian standout Freddy Montero
Freddy Montero
Fredy Henkyer Montero Muñoz is a Colombian footballer who plays for Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer.-Deportivo Cali:...
was denied on the doorstep by the strong right hand of Jimmy Nielsen
Jimmy Nielsen
Jimmy Nielsen is a Danish professional footballer currently playing for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer....
which marked the end of the Seattle pressure and ushered in Kansas City's possession for the remainder of the first half. Frustrated and maligned James Riley first and Steve Zakuani
Steve Zakuani
Steve Zakuani is a Congolese footballer who currently plays for Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer. Born in Zaire , Zakuani grew up in London before attending the University of Akron on a soccer scholarship...
later picked up careless yellow cards and Swedish International Freddie Ljungberg was held without incident for much of the match. Jimmy Conrad
Jimmy Conrad
James "Jimmy" Conrad is a retired American soccer defender who last played for Chivas USA in Major League Soccer.-High School and College:...
was forced out of the match with injury which left the KC
Kansas City Wizards
Sporting Kansas City is an American professional soccer club based in Kansas City, Kansas that competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
backline lacking age and experience; Harrington (24)
Michael Harrington (soccer)
Michael Harrington is an American soccer player who currently plays for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer.-College and Amateur:...
, Besler (23)
Matt Besler
Matt Besler is an American soccer player who currently plays for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer.-College and Youth:...
, Escobar (23)
Pablo Escobar
Pablo Emilio Escobar Gaviria was a Colombian drug lord. He was an elusive cocaine trafficker and rich and successful criminal. He owned numerous luxury residences, automobiles, and even airplanes...
, and Espinoza (23)
Roger Espinoza
Roger Espinoza is a Honduran footballer who currently plays for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer.-Youth and College:Espinoza moved from his native Honduras to Denver, Colorado when he was 12 years old...
. Enjoying much of the ball the Wizards could only muster two shots on goal out of nine, despite having 19 in their first two matches. Ryan Smith and the Wizards created nine corners and nine shots to Seattle's two corners and five shots however the Sounders second shot on goal came in the 92nd minute and found the netting despite an apparent illegal throw-in. Making only his second professional appearance Michael Fucito
Michael Fucito
Michael Fucito is an American soccer player who currently plays for Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer.-High School and College:...
came on in the 85th minute and got on the end of a throw in from fellow substitute Brad Evans
Brad Evans
Brad Evans is an American soccer player who currently plays for Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer.-College and Amateur:...
winning the game 1-0. Chance Myers
Chance Myers
Chance Myers is an American soccer player who currently plays for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer.-College and Amateur:...
had an immediate counter attack but failed to beat goalkeeper Kasey Keller
Kasey Keller
Kasey Keller is a retired American soccer player who last played for Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer....
one-on-one.
Landon Donovan
Landon Donovan
Landon Timothy Donovan is an American soccer player for the Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer in the United States. He usually plays as a withdrawn forward, and can also be used as an attacking midfielder on either wing....
and The Galaxy
2010 Los Angeles Galaxy season
The 2010 Los Angeles Galaxy season was the club's fifteenth season of existence. It was also the Galaxy's fifteenth season in Major League Soccer and their fifteenth-consecutive year at the top-flight of American soccer....
brought in their perfect 12 points and Edson Buddle's
Edson Buddle
Edson Buddle is an American soccer player who currently plays for Ingolstadt 04 in Second Bundesliga, the second-highest level of competition of soccer in Germany. Buddle previously spent his entire career in North America, beginning in 2000 with the Long Island Rough Riders, who played in the USL...
league leading seven goals to face the stingy defense of the Wizards. To the dismay of neutrals and supporters alike the weather affected the match as the Kansas City area saw hours and hours rain previous and during the match. Both clubs had trouble holding the ball and at times it looked more like a tennis match but Kansas City did have the better of chances despite the match ending in a scoreless draw. Jimmy Nielsen
Jimmy Nielsen
Jimmy Nielsen is a Danish professional footballer currently playing for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer....
and Donovan Ricketts
Donovan Ricketts
Donovan Ricketts is a Jamaican footballer who plays as goalkeeper for Montreal Impact in Major League Soccer. He is also the vice captain of the Jamaica national football team.-High School and College:...
would take home most of the accolades and Kei Kamara
Kei Kamara
Kei Kamara is a Sierra Leonean footballer who currently plays for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer.-Early life:Kamara was born and raised in Kenema, Sierra Leone's third largest city to Temne parents...
the scapegoating, Kamara botched a sitter in the first half that British Newspaper The Sun
The Sun (newspaper)
The Sun is a daily national tabloid newspaper published in the United Kingdom and owned by News Corporation. Sister editions are published in Glasgow and Dublin...
questioned as the miss of the century?.
Off the Field
April's Fools! at Michael Harrington's
Michael Harrington (soccer)
Michael Harrington is an American soccer player who currently plays for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer.-College and Amateur:...
expense. The premise of the stunt was that Maxim
Maxim (magazine)
Maxim is an international men's magazine based in the United Kingdom and known for its pictorials featuring popular actresses, singers, and female models, sometimes pictured dressed, often pictured scantily dressed but not fully nude....
was doing an animal themed photo-shoot for a future article, this prank resulted in national coverage as it appeared on numerous outlets including SportsCenter
SportsCenter
SportsCenter is a daily sports news television show, and the flagship program of American cable network ESPN since the network launched on September 7, 1979. Originally broadcast only daily, SportsCenter is now shown up to twelve times a day, replaying the day's scores and highlights from major...
. Before the second home game against Colorado another ceremony was planned for the fans, this time allowing them to sign the first beam of steel in the new stadium.
Cauldron Man of the Month
Jimmy Nielsen
Jimmy Nielsen
Jimmy Nielsen is a Danish professional footballer currently playing for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer....
May (0-4-1) 1 point
Following the encouraging result against LA, the club appeared poised to pick up some points on a quick two city road trip to Houston2010 Houston Dynamo season
The 2010 Houston Dynamo season is the fifth season of the team's existence.- In :-Out:- Preseason :In February, the Dynamo participated in the Pro Soccer Classic, taking place at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. They lost to New York Red...
and the nations capital where pointless DC United
2010 D.C. United season
The 2010 D.C. United season was the club's 16th year of existence, as well as their 15th season in Major League Soccer, and their 15th consecutive season in the top-flight of American soccer....
awaited, while both road match ups and the subsequent home match on May 15 would all be on national television where the side has struggled in recent seasons. Wizards starting centerback Jimmy Conrad
Jimmy Conrad
James "Jimmy" Conrad is a retired American soccer defender who last played for Chivas USA in Major League Soccer.-High School and College:...
couldn't pass a pregame fitness test and the young backline who held the league leading Galaxy
2010 Los Angeles Galaxy season
The 2010 Los Angeles Galaxy season was the club's fifteenth season of existence. It was also the Galaxy's fifteenth season in Major League Soccer and their fifteenth-consecutive year at the top-flight of American soccer....
offense scoreless seemed ready to handle a club missing their starting forward Brian Ching
Brian Ching
Brian Ching is an American professional soccer forward currently playing for the Montreal Impact of Major League Soccer.-Youth and College:...
. The young Wizards lost the plot quickly and the Dyanmo jumped them as Matt Besler
Matt Besler
Matt Besler is an American soccer player who currently plays for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer.-College and Youth:...
picked up a quick yellow and the disappointing young Mexican strike Luis Ángel Landín
Luis Ángel Landín
Luis Ángel Landín is a Mexican footballer. He currently plays for Atlante of the Primera División de México.-Professional:...
gave the home side an early lead, the goal was only his second since joining the club as a Designated Player and both have come against KC at Robertson Stadium
Robertson Stadium
John O'Quinn Field at Corbin J. Robertson Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Houston, located on the campus of the University of Houston. It is the home of the Houston Cougars football and women's soccer teams...
. Wizards captain Davy Arnaud
Davy Arnaud
Davy Arnaud is an American soccer player who currently plays for Montreal Impact in Major League Soccer.-College:Arnaud played college soccer at West Texas A&M University from 1999 to 2001, finishing his career with 31 goals and 11 assists...
was sent off for only the second time in his eight years after making contact with the goalkeeper and the club never recovered in the heat and humidity as the Texan side cruised to a 3 - nil victory.
After being skunked in the league opener the Black-and-Red
2010 D.C. United season
The 2010 D.C. United season was the club's 16th year of existence, as well as their 15th season in Major League Soccer, and their 15th consecutive season in the top-flight of American soccer....
had been shutout in four of five matches and had managed zero points while scoring only two goals and conceding a total of 13. Even without the services of captain Arnaud and veteran Conrad the club looked favorites in the ESPN2 MLS Game of the Week
MLS Game of the Week
MLS Game of the Week is a weekly presentation of Major League Soccer on ESPN and ESPN2 that began in 2009.-2011 season EST:*Tuesday March 15- Seattle Sounders FC @ Los Angeles Galaxy 9:30 p.m.*...
. In an attempt to shake things up and to aid in the wary legs from playing a man down just days earlier Peter Vermes
Peter Vermes
Peter Joseph Vermes is an American former professional soccer player. He is currently the head coach of Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer....
gave Santiago Hirsig
Santiago Hirsig
Santiago Hirsig is an Argentine footballer who currently plays for Quilmes in the Argentine Primera División.-Argentina:...
and Chance Myers
Chance Myers
Chance Myers is an American soccer player who currently plays for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer.-College and Amateur:...
each their first starts of the season, neither of which made the desired impact and were both subbed by the 51st minute. Australian international Danny Allsopp
Daniel Allsopp
Daniel Lee "Danny" Allsopp is an Australian professional football player.He is a full international for the Australia national football team, and is Melbourne Victory's second highest, and the A-League's third highest all-time goalscorer, behind teammate Archie Thompson and Shane Smeltz.-Club...
provided a first half brace while 19-year-old Bill Hamid
Bill Hamid
Abdul "Bill" Hamid is an American soccer player currently playing for D.C. United in Major League Soccer.-Professional:...
made his professional debut earning him a league record as the youngest goalkeeper to ever register a win at just 19 years 161 days, besting Tim Howard's
Tim Howard
Timothy Matthew Howard is an American soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for English club Everton and the United States national team....
record by four days. Hamid was stunning in his appearance making five saves, the biggest denying Jack Jewsbury
Jack Jewsbury
Jack Jewsbury is an American soccer player who currently plays for Portland Timbers in Major League Soccer.-Youth and College:...
directly before halftime. The Wizards created more chances but their finishing aim let them down again as they recorded 14 shots and only a single tally that came very late when substitute and team goal leader Kei Kamara
Kei Kamara
Kei Kamara is a Sierra Leonean footballer who currently plays for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer.-Early life:Kamara was born and raised in Kenema, Sierra Leone's third largest city to Temne parents...
spoiled the clean sheet in the 92nd minute.
Another struggling Eastern Conference foe would find a point off of the Wizards when the Chicago Fire
2010 Chicago Fire season
The 2010 Chicago Fire season is the club's 15th year of existence, as well as their 13th season in Major League Soccer and 13th consecutive year in the top-flight of American soccer.- Squad :As of October 23, 2010-In:...
came calling on another rainy Kansas City Saturday night. The club followed their 2010 script perfectly as they outshot the Fire 18-8 (10-6 on net) while holding a commanding double digit corner kick advantage 11-1 but as in many of the earlier games the Wizards simply could not get the ball around Chicago goal keeper Andrew Dykstra
Andrew Dykstra
Andrew Dykstra is an American soccer player currently playing for Charleston Battery in the USL Professional Division.-College and amateur:...
who ended the match with eight saves. Julio Martínez
Julio Enrique Martínez
Julio Enrique Martínez Rivera is a Salvadoran footballer who currently plays for Alianza in the Salvadoran Premier Division.He also plays internationally for the El Salvador national team.-León:...
put the visitors ahead in the 14th minute and former US International and Chicagoland native Brian McBride
Brian McBride
Brian Robert McBride is a retired American soccer player who finished his career for Chicago Fire in Major League Soccer , but spent the majority of his time in MLS playing for the Columbus Crew. For much of his career he played in Europe, notably for Fulham in the English Premier League...
doubled the lead straight out of halftime. Davy Arnaud
Davy Arnaud
Davy Arnaud is an American soccer player who currently plays for Montreal Impact in Major League Soccer.-College:Arnaud played college soccer at West Texas A&M University from 1999 to 2001, finishing his career with 31 goals and 11 assists...
would have a goal called back and several KC shots hit woodwork before Kei Kamara
Kei Kamara
Kei Kamara is a Sierra Leonean footballer who currently plays for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer.-Early life:Kamara was born and raised in Kenema, Sierra Leone's third largest city to Temne parents...
pulled one back only two minutes after the lead was doubled. Much of the second half would be played in the Wizards final third but the equalizer wouldn't come until Kamara tapped in a deflected shot from Teal Bunbury
Teal Bunbury
Teal Bunbury is a Canadian-born American soccer player who currently plays for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer...
in the 89th minute, despite increased pressure the homeside would not find a magical stoppage time winner and was forced to live with splitting the points.
May was shaping up to be a decidedly bad month for the club when undefeated Columbus
2010 Columbus Crew season
- February :Prior to the start of the 2010 MLS season season, the Crew began play in the CONCACAF Champions League, with a quarterfinal-fixture against Group C-winner, Toluca of Mexico....
(5-0-2) made their lone appearance to the CAB. The Crew left home earlier in the week trailing only the surprising Red Bulls
2010 New York Red Bulls season
The 2010 New York Red Bulls season was their fifteenth in Major League Soccer, and in their existence.Following a dismal 2009 season, the Red Bulls saw the arrival of Swedish head coach Hans Backe...
in the East but after dispatching New York 3-1 at Red Bull Arena the yellow clad warriors looked unstoppable. Eddie Gaven
Eddie Gaven
Eddie Gaven is an American soccer player who currently plays for Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer.-Youth:Gaven attended Steinert High School in New Jersey but did not play college soccer...
put himself in a position to break the scoreless draw in the 10th minute as he went 1v1 with Kansas City keeper Jimmy Nielsen
Jimmy Nielsen
Jimmy Nielsen is a Danish professional footballer currently playing for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer....
but the Dane was up to the task first getting a foot to the shot and then falling directly on top of the rebound (Nielsen won Save of the Week for this save). The first half frustration came to a head just before half time when captain Arnuad hit the left upright after an inspiring built up from Graham Zusi
Graham Zusi
Graham Zusi is an American soccer player who currently plays for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer.-College:Zusi played college soccer at the University of Maryland, College Park...
and the lay off from Kei Kamara
Kei Kamara
Kei Kamara is a Sierra Leonean footballer who currently plays for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer.-Early life:Kamara was born and raised in Kenema, Sierra Leone's third largest city to Temne parents...
. The opening 20 minutes of the second half saw the Wizards out shoot the Crew 7-1 of those seven shots, two easily handled Ryan Smith
Ryan Smith (footballer)
Ryan Craig Matthew Smith is an English footballer who currently plays for Chivas USA in Major League Soccer.-Arsenal:...
muffs, a Zusi screamer that went just wide, a Jewsbury
Jack Jewsbury
Jack Jewsbury is an American soccer player who currently plays for Portland Timbers in Major League Soccer.-Youth and College:...
rocket that had Will Hesmer beaten if on frame, Bunbury shot off target, and a Kamara turn from the top of the circle plus his header from within six yards that found its way over the cross bar- The Columbus shot in those 20 minutes, Emilio Rentería's
Emilio Rentería
Emilio Rentería is an Venezuelan footballer who currently plays for Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer.-Club:...
game winning header off of a corner kick taken by 2008 MLS MVP winner
Major League Soccer MVP Award
The Major League Soccer MVP is a soccer award for players in Major League Soccer. The award is given to the player deemed the most valuable player in the league each season. From 1996 to 2007 the award was sponsored by Honda. The award is now sponsored by Volkswagen.Preki is the only player to win...
Guillermo Barros Schelotto
Guillermo Barros Schelotto
Guillermo Barros Schelotto is a former Argentine football forward.Barros Schelotto, nicknamed "Guille" or "Melli" , played 16 years of his professional career in the Argentine Primera División...
. The home loss meant the club had not registered a win in seven straight matches dating back to the April 10th 1-nil win over Colorado.
Defending MLS Cup holders RSL
2010 Real Salt Lake season
The 2010 Real Salt Lake season was the sixth year of the club's existence. It was also the sixth year for the club in Major League Soccer and the sixth-consecutive year for the club in the top-flight of American soccer....
rounded out a terrible month of May. Salt Lake had won four straight league matches and was undefeated at Rio Tinto Stadium while out scoring their opponents 14-4 over the month, Kansas City on the other hand finished May 0–4-1 while netting four and leaking 12. There would be no surprises in this one as RSL rolled 4-1 and Wizards Captain Davy Arnuad received his second red card of the season and third of his career. Jimmy Nielsen
Jimmy Nielsen
Jimmy Nielsen is a Danish professional footballer currently playing for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer....
was once again up for Save of the Week.
Off the Field
Wizards players Kei Kamara
Kei Kamara
Kei Kamara is a Sierra Leonean footballer who currently plays for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer.-Early life:Kamara was born and raised in Kenema, Sierra Leone's third largest city to Temne parents...
and Sunil Chhetri each got to visit Kansas Speedway
Kansas Speedway
Kansas Speedway is a tri-oval race track in Kansas City, Kansas. The speedway was built in 2001 and currently hosts two annual NASCAR race weekends. The IndyCar Series also raced at the speedway until 2011...
with Kei running a few laps at nearly 200 MPH and Sunil visiting with his fellow countryman Narain Karthikeyan
Narain Karthikeyan
Kumar Ram Narain Karthikeyan , is the first Formula One motor racing driver from India. He has previously competed in A1GP, and the Le Mans Series. He made his Formula One debut in with the Jordan team, and was a WilliamsF1 test driver in and...
and wishes him luck in this video. The biggest news of the month came when KC Wizards announced the international friendly with Manchester United to be played July 25 at the newly renovated Arrowhead Stadium
Arrowhead Stadium
Arrowhead Stadium is a stadium located in Kansas City, Missouri and home to the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs....
. Wizards President Robb Heineman was privately disciplined by the league for this tweet using the social networking tool
Social network service
A social networking service is an online service, platform, or site that focuses on building and reflecting of social networks or social relations among people, who, for example, share interests and/or activities. A social network service consists of a representation of each user , his/her social...
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
. The White Puma
Jimmy Nielsen
Jimmy Nielsen is a Danish professional footballer currently playing for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer....
won Save of the Week for his week 9 save against Eddie Gaven and was nominated again in week 10.
Cauldron Man of the Month
Kei Kamara
Kei Kamara
Kei Kamara is a Sierra Leonean footballer who currently plays for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer.-Early life:Kamara was born and raised in Kenema, Sierra Leone's third largest city to Temne parents...
June (1-1-1) 4 points
After a month of forgettable football most Wizards fans were very critical of the coaching staff and formation being played by the club. Things didn't appear to get any easier to start June as the schedule read a quick trip up to Toronto2010 Toronto FC season
The 2010 MLS season was the fourth season in Toronto FC's existence. The club was looking to make the playoffs for the first time in their history and ultimately fell short...
to face the surging Reds who were enjoying their best start to a season in club history. They had tallied 12 of 12 home points and riding a four match unbeaten streak that consisted of three victories and one very impressive scoreless draw at Home Depot Center against the unstoppable Galaxy
2010 Los Angeles Galaxy season
The 2010 Los Angeles Galaxy season was the club's fifteenth season of existence. It was also the Galaxy's fifteenth season in Major League Soccer and their fifteenth-consecutive year at the top-flight of American soccer....
. Jimmy Nielsen
Jimmy Nielsen
Jimmy Nielsen is a Danish professional footballer currently playing for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer....
kept the Wiz in the match long enough to allow referee Baldomero Toledo to send off TFC Defender Nick Garcia
Nick Garcia
Nick Garcia is an American soccer player who grew up playing for the Dallas Texans Soccer Club and most recently played for Toronto FC in Major League Soccer.-Youth and College:...
in the 27th minute. For the remainder of the first half the visitors enjoyed some attacking football but couldn't break down the defense and would have to settle for going to half up a man and even on the score sheet. Toledo's performance in the middle would be questioned by both sides before the game ended and in the 57th minute Craig Rocastle
Craig Rocastle
Craig Aaron Rocastle is an English-born Grenadian international footballer.He played for Chelsea, Sheffield Wednesday, Oldham Athletic and Port Vale, also enjoying loan spells with numerous clubs...
put himself in a position to be sent off and Toledo granted him the wish. The match would end scoreless with ten a side in what would repeatedly called an uninspired performance by both sides but the point earned was the first road point for the club in 2010.
Expansion side Philadelphia Union brought the worse statistical defense in the league and cured the Kansas City streak of eight matches without a win. Kei Kamara
Kei Kamara
Kei Kamara is a Sierra Leonean footballer who currently plays for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer.-Early life:Kamara was born and raised in Kenema, Sierra Leone's third largest city to Temne parents...
scored his team leading sixth goal (which won MLS Goal of the Week) early in the first half thanks in large part to Ryan Smith's
Ryan Smith (footballer)
Ryan Craig Matthew Smith is an English footballer who currently plays for Chivas USA in Major League Soccer.-Arsenal:...
picture perfect pass, Smith then feed Graham Zusi
Graham Zusi
Graham Zusi is an American soccer player who currently plays for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer.-College:Zusi played college soccer at the University of Maryland, College Park...
another slick ball to put him behind the backline and the second year backup slotted home his first professional goal. Philadelphia center back Michael Orozco Fiscal received a red card late in the first half which caused the Union to pack men behind the ball and created an incredibly boring second half. This was the final game for the league before the international break structured into the season for the 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
.
After sixteen days off the Wizards got back into league play hosting New York Red Bulls
2010 New York Red Bulls season
The 2010 New York Red Bulls season was their fifteenth in Major League Soccer, and in their existence.Following a dismal 2009 season, the Red Bulls saw the arrival of Swedish head coach Hans Backe...
at CAB
CommunityAmerica Ballpark
CommunityAmerica Ballpark is a multi-purpose stadium in Kansas City, Kansas, home of the Kansas City T-Bones of the independent American Association, and the temporary home of Kansas City Wizards of Major League Soccer. It is located in the Village West area at 1800 Village West Parkway...
. Many of the supporters were disappointed after watching the USMNT
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
crash out of the World Cup earlier in the day and then watch the home side get slammed 3-0. This match was marred by two poor performances, first by reserve center back Aaron Hohlbein
Aaron Hohlbein
Aaron Hohlbein is an American soccer player who currently plays for Fort Lauderdale Strikers in the North American Soccer League.-College and Amateur:...
and second the otherwise outstanding Jimmy Nielsen
Jimmy Nielsen
Jimmy Nielsen is a Danish professional footballer currently playing for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer....
. To add to the disgrace the club captain Davy Arnaud
Davy Arnaud
Davy Arnaud is an American soccer player who currently plays for Montreal Impact in Major League Soccer.-College:Arnaud played college soccer at West Texas A&M University from 1999 to 2001, finishing his career with 31 goals and 11 assists...
picked up his third red card of the season in the 93rd minute causing a large number of supporters to call for him to lose the armband.
Off the Field
The Club released another stadium update video. In connection with the FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
the club announced their intentions to host a watch party for all 64 matches at the Kansas City Live living room at the highly visible Kansas City Power & Light District
Kansas City Power & Light District
The Kansas City Power & Light District or Power & Light District is a shopping and entertainment district in Downtown Kansas City, Missouri, United States, developed by the Cordish Company of Baltimore, Maryland and designed by Beyer Blinder Belle and 360 Architecture. The district comprises nine...
. On June 24 Wizards President Robb Heineman indicated via BigSoccer
Bigsoccer
BigSoccer.com is one of the most popular football -related websites in the United States. The site has more than 150,000 registered users, and had over 1.2 million unique visitors during the 2006 FIFA World Cup. BigSoccer is the de-facto home of American soccer, read by not only fans, but also...
that the club had tendered a Designated Player contract to Icelandic striker Eiður Guðjohnsen
Eiður Guðjohnsen
Eiður Smári Guðjohnsen is an Icelandic footballer who currently plays for AEK Athens F.C. in the Superleague Greece. He has previously played for Premier League club Chelsea and FC Barcelona of Spain, having made his name with Bolton Wanderers. He was the captain of the Iceland national team until...
and they believed that Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
was also interested in the former Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
and FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
forward. Also on the same day as news of Gudjohnsen's offer, came word that ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
planned to use the Wizards World Cup watch party as a cut away location for the United States
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
versus Ghana
Ghana national football team
The Ghana national football team, popularly known as the Black Stars, is the national association football team of Ghana and is controlled by the Ghana Football Association...
second round match. Kei Kamara won Goal of the Week for week 12 thanks to his goal on June 10 against Philadelphia. Nielsen won Save of the Week for week 13 because of his performance against New York on June 26.
Cauldron Man of the Month
Michael Harrington
Michael Harrington
Edward Michael "Mike" Harrington was an American democratic socialist, writer, political activist, professor of political science, radio commentator and founder of the Democratic Socialists of America.-Personal life:...
July (2-2-1) 7 points
Manager Peter VermesPeter Vermes
Peter Joseph Vermes is an American former professional soccer player. He is currently the head coach of Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer....
opened July by tinkering with the formation while trying to get anything out of the offense. A visit to Dallas in the summer of 2009 resulted in then-manager Curt Onalfo
Curt Onalfo
Curt Onalfo is an American former soccer player.As a player, he played two seasons in France, two in the USISL, one in Mexico and four in Major League Soccer, achieving his most success with Los Angeles Galaxy and D.C. United. He earned also earned one caps with the United States national team...
being dismissed following a 6-0 thumping, and heading into this match Dallas
2010 FC Dallas season
The 2010 FC Dallas season was the fifteenth season of the team's existence.Dallas' season was highlighted by a run to the championship match of the 2010 MLS Cup Playoffs, where the Hoops ultimately came up short, losing to the Colorado Rapids in extra time, from an own goal by George John who...
was riding a two-game win streak and looked every bit capable of running away with another lopsided win. The first half saw KC not get a single shot as they looked more willing to defend and play for a scoreless draw until Colombian
Colombian people
Colombian people are from a multiethnic Spanish speaking nation in South America called Colombia. Colombians are predominantly Roman Catholic and are a mixture of Europeans, Africans, and Amerindians.-Demography:...
attacking midfielder David Ferreira
David Ferreira
David Ferreira is a Colombian footballer who currently plays for FC Dallas in Major League Soccer.-Professional:...
unlocked the Kansas City defense. Dallas then coasted to the 1-0 victory at home.
Wizards returned home to face the Western Conference's last place team Chivas USA
2010 Chivas USA season
The 2010 Chivas USA season is the sixth season of the team's existence.- March :Chivas USA began their sixth Major League Soccer regular season with a home match against the Colorado Rapids, which the team lost 1-0.- First team roster :...
. Everyone has seen matches where one team deserves to win and in the end doesn't, as an example KC lead in corner kicks 14-1 and shots 20-8 yet were defeated 2-0 thanks to Justin Braun finding the net on two mistakes by center back Jimmy Conrad
Jimmy Conrad
James "Jimmy" Conrad is a retired American soccer defender who last played for Chivas USA in Major League Soccer.-High School and College:...
. To round out his poor performance Conrad then went on to pick up a yellow card in the 81st minute as many home supporters left the grounds early. This match appeared to break the backs of many fans and there was much talk about Peter Vermes dismissal but it never came and the club went on the road hoping to end a three game scoreless streak.
In a vast reversal Kansas City edged out The East Leading Crew
2010 Columbus Crew season
- February :Prior to the start of the 2010 MLS season season, the Crew began play in the CONCACAF Champions League, with a quarterfinal-fixture against Group C-winner, Toluca of Mexico....
in Columbus while riding the back of goal keeper Jimmy Nielsen
Jimmy Nielsen
Jimmy Nielsen is a Danish professional footballer currently playing for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer....
(and his fourth Save of the Week win) and Rookie Teal Bunbury's
Teal Bunbury
Teal Bunbury is a Canadian-born American soccer player who currently plays for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer...
first professional goal. Columbus out shot the Wizards 19-8 and lead in corners 8-1 while being denied by the Puma seven times. Late in the match Bunbury had a second break away opportunity where Crew keeper and former Kansas City back up Will Hesmer forced him wide and then made an amazing save on Graham Zusi's
Graham Zusi
Graham Zusi is an American soccer player who currently plays for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer.-College:Zusi played college soccer at the University of Maryland, College Park...
headed shot after Teal crossed it deftly (nominated for Save of the Week). The away win was the club's first of the season, it snapped both three game scoreless and losing streaks. Nielsen had two saves from this match nominated for Save of the Week.
Skipper Davy Arnaud
Davy Arnaud
Davy Arnaud is an American soccer player who currently plays for Montreal Impact in Major League Soccer.-College:Arnaud played college soccer at West Texas A&M University from 1999 to 2001, finishing his career with 31 goals and 11 assists...
got the Wizards out to another fast start by beating Rapids
2010 Colorado Rapids season
The 2010 Colorado Rapids season was the fifteenth year and season of the club's existence. It was Colorado's fifteenth year in Major League Soccer, and the sixth-consecutive year for the club in the top-flight of American soccer....
keeper Matt Pickens
Matt Pickens
Matt Pickens is an American soccer player who currently plays for Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer.-Youth and Amateur:...
early in the first half on another break away. For the second straight match Teal Bunbury teamed up top with Smith
Ryan Smith (footballer)
Ryan Craig Matthew Smith is an English footballer who currently plays for Chivas USA in Major League Soccer.-Arsenal:...
and Kamara
Kei Kamara
Kei Kamara is a Sierra Leonean footballer who currently plays for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer.-Early life:Kamara was born and raised in Kenema, Sierra Leone's third largest city to Temne parents...
and his on ball strength and threat of splitting the opponents center backs made for another strong respected performance. Colorado chased the game the entire first half and were extremely lucky to only be trailing 1-nil at half thanks in large part to Pickens making a blind kick save off of a Kamara shot and then stopping the stinging rebound of Arnaud (nominated for Save of the Week). The Rapids most fortunate play in the first half came as Bunbury held the ball outside the 18' and then deftly turned and sent a rocket that beat Pickens but then hit the right post and hugged the line until it struck the left upright and came back to the spot where Kamara's rebound attempt was foiled by a defender. Kansas City never got a clear chance in the second half yet they defended well until the 74th minute when Conor Casey
Conor Casey
Conor Casey is an American soccer player who currently plays for the Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer.-Youth and College:...
equalized on the only shot on goal the home team got all night long. Recently brought in Shavar Thomas
Shavar Thomas
Shavar Thomas is a Jamaican footballer who currently plays for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer.-Amateur and college:...
was responsible for allowing Casey to turn and shoot but Jimmy Nielsen
Jimmy Nielsen
Jimmy Nielsen is a Danish professional footballer currently playing for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer....
reacted poorly and should have denied Casey of his team leading seventh goal, in addition to the equalizer Casey had clear chance to win the match late on but missed an open net- putting the ball off the upright and across the byline.
In front of a Kansas City record 52,424 fans the Wizards beat English Superclub Manchester United. Peter Vermes
Peter Vermes
Peter Joseph Vermes is an American former professional soccer player. He is currently the head coach of Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer....
kept the same starting eleven who had sparked the recent good form and it paid dividends immediately as the Wizards pressured high and got stuck in versus the Red Devils. In just the eleventh minute the home side would push ahead as Davy Arnaud
Davy Arnaud
Davy Arnaud is an American soccer player who currently plays for Montreal Impact in Major League Soccer.-College:Arnaud played college soccer at West Texas A&M University from 1999 to 2001, finishing his career with 31 goals and 11 assists...
was kept onsides by a lazy and slow moving Rafael
Rafael Pereira da Silva (footballer born 1990)
Rafael Pereira da Silva , commonly known as Rafael or Rafael da Silva, is a Brazilian footballer who plays for Manchester United. He normally plays as a defender in a right back position, but can also play on the right side of midfield...
and he easily tallied past backup Ben Amos
Ben Amos
Benjamin Paul "Ben" Amos is an English footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Manchester United. Born in Macclesfield, Cheshire, Amos began his career with Crewe Alexandra's youth academy, but joined Manchester United at the age of 11. He has spent time on loan at Peterborough United, Molde, and...
. Like they had in the opening moments the club would keep creating serious chances throughout the first half with Teal Bunbury
Teal Bunbury
Teal Bunbury is a Canadian-born American soccer player who currently plays for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer...
, Kei Kamara
Kei Kamara
Kei Kamara is a Sierra Leonean footballer who currently plays for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer.-Early life:Kamara was born and raised in Kenema, Sierra Leone's third largest city to Temne parents...
, and Englishman Ryan Smith all having good goes of it. While the Wizards were creating chances United was countering with only half chances until Jimmy Nielsen
Jimmy Nielsen
Jimmy Nielsen is a Danish professional footballer currently playing for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer....
stopped a point blank attempt with his belly and the Wizards were forced onto their back foot, which is where they found themselves in the 39th minute when Ryan Giggs
Ryan Giggs
Ryan Joseph Giggs OBE is a Welsh professional footballer who plays for Manchester United. Giggs made his first appearance for the club during the 1990–91 season and has been a regular player since the 1991–92 season...
slipped Dimitar Berbatov
Dimitar Berbatov
Dimitar Ivanov Berbatov is a Bulgarian footballer who plays as a forward for Manchester United. He captained the Bulgarian national team from 2006 to 2010, and is its all-time leading goalscorer and has also won the Bulgarian Footballer of the Year a record seven times, surpassing the number of...
between the KC centerbacks. Jimmy Conrad
Jimmy Conrad
James "Jimmy" Conrad is a retired American soccer defender who last played for Chivas USA in Major League Soccer.-High School and College:...
found himself a full step behind and on the wrong side of the Bulgarian striker but still made a play for the ball, he got man instead and the penalty was given by American Referee Terry Vaughn
Terry Vaughn (referee)
Terry Vaughn is an American football referee who currently resides in Mount Vernon, Iowa. He has been a full international referee for FIFA since 2004....
- who also gave Conrad an ejection. Berbatov's hesitation step sent Nielsen diving the wrong direction and he easily equalized the exhibition match. Just one minute later Kansas City's leading assist maker Smith crossed a corner into and off of leading scorer Kamara's head that gave the now ten man home side the lead once again. Manchester United fought for the equalizer playing all their starters until the 68th minute and Alex Ferguson
Alex Ferguson
Sir Alexander Chapman "Alex" Ferguson, CBE is a Scottish association football manager and former player, currently managing Manchester United, where he has been in charge since 1986...
decided to even keep playing Giggs and fellow Red Devil legend Paul Scholes
Paul Scholes
Paul Scholes is a retired English footballer, a one-club man who played his entire professional career for Manchester United.Born in Salford, but later moving to Langley, Scholes excelled in both cricket and football in school. He first trained with Manchester United at the age of 14 after being...
the full 90 minutes but the Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
outfit held their lines and won the match 2-1.
Returning to league play on the final day of July meant welcoming the third place (in the east) Toronto FC
2010 Toronto FC season
The 2010 MLS season was the fourth season in Toronto FC's existence. The club was looking to make the playoffs for the first time in their history and ultimately fell short...
to the ballpark. The visitors came in a little off form and bogged down from fixture congestion in addition to a mistake make in customs that left the side without their match gear. Both sides looked affected by the extreme heat and played rather sloppy for most of the match. Recently acquired Spanish
Spanish people
The Spanish are citizens of the Kingdom of Spain. Within Spain, there are also a number of vigorous nationalisms and regionalisms, reflecting the country's complex history....
forward Mista had the best chance in the first half when he got through to Jimmy Nielsen
Jimmy Nielsen
Jimmy Nielsen is a Danish professional footballer currently playing for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer....
alone but was spoiled by the right hand of the white puma. Neither club looked very dangerous as combined they totaled 20 shots; only 5 on goal yet rookie Teal Bunbury
Teal Bunbury
Teal Bunbury is a Canadian-born American soccer player who currently plays for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer...
took advantage of a mistake in the back and headed a bouncing ball over Stefan Frei
Stefan Frei
Stefan Frei is a Swiss footballer who currently plays for Toronto FC in Major League Soccer.-Youth and college:...
for the only goal of the match. Ryan Smith was taken off hurt in the first half, but before, he missed a good scoring chance and Birahim Diop
Birahim Diop
Birahim Diop is a Senegalese footballer. He currently plays for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer.-Club career:...
also missed for the home side late in the second half with a chance to send the Canadians home before the whistle, however he mishit the ball and the result was a roller to the keeper. The seven points earned in July were the most of any month to date.
Off the Field
The club released disappointing Colombian
Colombian people
Colombian people are from a multiethnic Spanish speaking nation in South America called Colombia. Colombians are predominantly Roman Catholic and are a mixture of Europeans, Africans, and Amerindians.-Demography:...
center back Pablo Andrés Escobar
Pablo Andrés Escobar
Pablo Andrés Escobar is a Colombian footballer.-Career:Escobar began his career in his native Colombia with Deportes Quindío, and made 67 appearances for the team in the Colombian Categoría Primera A before moving to Deportivo Cali in 2009.He joined the Kansas City Wizards of Major League Soccer...
after rumors of poor effort and development. Escobar was replaced by former Kansas City player Shavar Thomas
Shavar Thomas
Shavar Thomas is a Jamaican footballer who currently plays for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer.-Amateur and college:...
who was reacquired in a trade with Philadelphia on July 2. Jimmy Nielsen
Jimmy Nielsen
Jimmy Nielsen is a Danish professional footballer currently playing for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer....
won his third Save of the Week of the season and second straight with his play at Dallas on July 3 and his fourth just two weeks later thanks to his play versus Columbus. The club continued an attempt at stabilizing their center defense by signing Greek Nick Kounenakis just a few matches after inserting Thomas into the lineup. With Eiður Guðjohnsen
Eiður Guðjohnsen
Eiður Smári Guðjohnsen is an Icelandic footballer who currently plays for AEK Athens F.C. in the Superleague Greece. He has previously played for Premier League club Chelsea and FC Barcelona of Spain, having made his name with Bolton Wanderers. He was the captain of the Iceland national team until...
apparently off the table and staying in England the club turned it's DP focus onto another international striker, Omar Bravo
Omar Bravo
Omar Bravo Tordecillas is a Mexican footballer who currently plays for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer.-Club Deportivo Guadalajara:...
. The Mexican International
Mexico national football team
The Mexican national football team represents Mexico in association football and is governed by the Mexican Football Federation , the governing body for football in Mexico. Mexico's home stadium is the Estadio Azteca and their head coach is José Manuel de la Torre...
is a legendary hero of Club Deportivo Guadalajara (Chivas) as the club's second highest all time goal scorer (106) having played nearly 300 matches over a decade of service. Bravo has scored 15 times for his country, never against the United States, and El Tri has never lost a match in which he has scored- (12-0-1).
Cauldron Man of the Month
Teal Bunbury
Teal Bunbury
Teal Bunbury is a Canadian-born American soccer player who currently plays for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer...
October
The Wizards have managed to stay 3rd in the MLS Eastern Conference with playoff hopes. The team to jump ahead in order to clinch the last wild card spot are the Colorado Rapids. With a game at hand, the Wiz need 6 points from their last two games (vs. NE Rev and vs. SJ Quakes) and Colorado to drop points for a spot in the playoffs.Match results
Preseason
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MLS regular season
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Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
Friendlies
League table
ConferenceOverall
Results summary
Statistics
| No. | Pos. | Name | MLS 2010 Major League Soccer season The 2010 Major League Soccer season was the 98th season of FIFA-sanctioned soccer, the 32nd with a national first-division league, in the United States and Canada, and the 15th in MLS history. It began on March 25 at Seattle's Qwest Field with Seattle Sounders FC defeating the expansion... |
USOC 2010 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup The 2010 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup was the 97th edition of the oldest competition in American soccer, running from June through early October.The tournament proper featured teams from the top five levels of the American Soccer Pyramid... |
Playoffs MLS Cup 2010 The MLS Cup 2010 was the fifteenth edition of the MLS Cup championship game and the final match of the 2010 MLS season. The championship was played at BMO Field in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on Sunday, November 21, 2010... |
Total | Minutes | Discipline | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | League | Total |  |
 |
|||
| 1 | GK |  Jimmy NielsenJimmy Nielsen Jimmy Nielsen is a Danish professional footballer currently playing for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer.... |
18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 1,630 | 1,620 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | DF |  Michael HarringtonMichael Harrington (soccer) Michael Harrington is an American soccer player who currently plays for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer.-College and Amateur:... |
18 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 1,617 | 1,662 | 2 | 0 |
| 3 | DF |  Korede AiyegbusiOlukorede Aiyegbusi Olukorede Afolabi O. O. "Korede" Aiyegbusi is an English footballer who currently plays for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer.-College and amateur:... |
4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 84 | 129 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | MF | Craig Rocastle Craig Rocastle Craig Aaron Rocastle is an English-born Grenadian international footballer.He played for Chelsea, Sheffield Wednesday, Oldham Athletic and Port Vale, also enjoying loan spells with numerous clubs... |
11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 547 | 640 | 4 | 1 |
| 5 | DF | Matt Besler Matt Besler Matt Besler is an American soccer player who currently plays for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer.-College and Youth:... |
8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 418 | 418 | 2 | 0 |
| 6 | DF |  Pablo EscobarPablo Andrés Escobar Pablo Andrés Escobar is a Colombian footballer.-Career:Escobar began his career in his native Colombia with Deportes Quindío, and made 67 appearances for the team in the Colombian Categoría Primera A before moving to Deportivo Cali in 2009.He joined the Kansas City Wizards of Major League Soccer... * |
7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 529 | 609 | 1 | 0 |
| 6 | DF |  Shavar ThomasShavar Thomas Shavar Thomas is a Jamaican footballer who currently plays for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer.-Amateur and college:... |
6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 540 | 540 | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | DF | Chance Myers Chance Myers Chance Myers is an American soccer player who currently plays for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer.-College and Amateur:... |
10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 467 | 557 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | MF |  Stéphane AuvrayStéphane Auvray Stéphane Auvray is a Guadeloupean footballer who currently plays for New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer.He plays as a midfielder and currently serves as captain of the Guadeloupe national team... |
12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 1,037 | 1,061 | 2 | 0 |
| 9 | FW |  Teal BunburyTeal Bunbury Teal Bunbury is a Canadian-born American soccer player who currently plays for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer... |
16 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 3 | 768 | 858 | 2 | 0 |
| 10 | MF |  Santiago HirsigSantiago Hirsig Santiago Hirsig is an Argentine footballer who currently plays for Quilmes in the Argentine Primera División.-Argentina:... * |
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 45 | 45 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | MF | Ryan Smith Ryan Smith (footballer) Ryan Craig Matthew Smith is an English footballer who currently plays for Chivas USA in Major League Soccer.-Arsenal:... |
18 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 1 | 1,420 | 1,420 | 4 | 0 |
| 12 | DF | Jimmy Conrad Jimmy Conrad James "Jimmy" Conrad is a retired American soccer defender who last played for Chivas USA in Major League Soccer.-High School and College:... |
16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 1,382 | 1,472 | 5 | 0 |
| 14 | MF | Jack Jewsbury Jack Jewsbury Jack Jewsbury is an American soccer player who currently plays for Portland Timbers in Major League Soccer.-Youth and College:... |
17 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 1 | |1,250 | 1,250 | 2 | 0 |
| 15 | DF | Aaron Hohlbein Aaron Hohlbein Aaron Hohlbein is an American soccer player who currently plays for Fort Lauderdale Strikers in the North American Soccer League.-College and Amateur:... * |
2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 111 | 111 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | FW | Josh Wolff Josh Wolff Joshua David "Josh" Wolff is an American soccer player currently playing for D.C. United of Major League Soccer.-College:... |
16 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 1 | 1,142 | 1,230 | 1 | 0 |
| 17 | MF |  Roger EspinozaRoger Espinoza Roger Espinoza is a Honduran footballer who currently plays for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer.-Youth and College:Espinoza moved from his native Honduras to Denver, Colorado when he was 12 years old... |
13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 1,112 | 1,112 | 2 | 0 |
| 18 | GK | Eric Kronberg Eric Kronberg Eric Kronberg is an American soccer player who currently plays for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer.-Youth and Amateur:... |
0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | FW |  Sunil Chhetri* |
0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 1 | 0 |
| 20 | FW |  Zoltán HercegfalviZoltán Hercegfalvi Zoltán Hercegfalvi is a Hungarian footballer.-Club:Hercegfalvi joined the youth academy of storied Hungarian team Honvéd at the age of 6, and played all the way through their system before making his first team appearance in 1998... |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | MF |  Igor KostrovIgor Kostrov Igor Kostrov is an Moldovan footballer.-Career:Kostrov began his professional career with FC Dinamo Bender in Moldova before signing with Liga Leumit club Hapoel Be'er Sheva. He signed with Major League Soccer club Kansas City Wizards in February 2010 after being signed by Stuart McErlain-Naylor... * |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | MF | Davy Arnaud Davy Arnaud Davy Arnaud is an American soccer player who currently plays for Montreal Impact in Major League Soccer.-College:Arnaud played college soccer at West Texas A&M University from 1999 to 2001, finishing his career with 31 goals and 11 assists... |
15 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 2 | 1,281 | 1,281 | 2 | 3 |
| 23 | FW |  Kei KamaraKei Kamara Kei Kamara is a Sierra Leonean footballer who currently plays for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer.-Early life:Kamara was born and raised in Kenema, Sierra Leone's third largest city to Temne parents... |
18 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 7 | 1,521 | 1,566 | 4 | 0 |
| 25 | DF | Jonathan Leathers Jonathan Leathers Jonathan Leathers is an American soccer player who currently plays for the Vancouver Whitecaps FC in Major League Soccer.-College and Amateur:... |
5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 194 | 284 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | MF |  Birahim DiopBirahim Diop Birahim Diop is a Senegalese footballer. He currently plays for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer.-Club career:... |
5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 19 | 26 | 0 | 0 |
| 28 | MF | Graham Zusi Graham Zusi Graham Zusi is an American soccer player who currently plays for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer.-College:Zusi played college soccer at the University of Maryland, College Park... |
11 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 379 | 445 | 1 | 0 |
Goalkeepers
| No. | Name | MLS 2010 Major League Soccer season The 2010 Major League Soccer season was the 98th season of FIFA-sanctioned soccer, the 32nd with a national first-division league, in the United States and Canada, and the 15th in MLS history. It began on March 25 at Seattle's Qwest Field with Seattle Sounders FC defeating the expansion... |
USOC 2010 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup The 2010 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup was the 97th edition of the oldest competition in American soccer, running from June through early October.The tournament proper featured teams from the top five levels of the American Soccer Pyramid... |
Playoffs MLS Cup 2010 The MLS Cup 2010 was the fifteenth edition of the MLS Cup championship game and the final match of the 2010 MLS season. The championship was played at BMO Field in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on Sunday, November 21, 2010... |
Total | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | GA | GAA | CS | Apps | GA | GAA | CS | Apps | GA | GAA | CS | Apps | GA | GAA | SHO | ||
| 1 | Jimmy Nielsen Jimmy Nielsen Jimmy Nielsen is a Danish professional footballer currently playing for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer.... |
18 | 21 | 1.16 | 7 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 18 | 21 | 1.16 | 7 |
| 18 | Eric Kronberg Eric Kronberg Eric Kronberg is an American soccer player who currently plays for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer.-Youth and Amateur:... |
- | - | - | - | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
Statistics accurate as of match played August 8, 2010
left club during season*
club leader(s) bolded
Squad
As of August 6, 2010.(loan to Miami FC
Miami FC
Fort Lauderdale Strikers is an American professional association football team based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States. Founded in 2006, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid...
)
(loan to India
India national football team
The Indian national football team is the national football team of India and is governed by the All India Football Federation. It is a member of the Asian Football Confederation. Since 1948, the AIFF has been affiliated with FIFA, the international governing body for football. In 1954, AIFF became...
)
(loan to C.D. Guadalajara
C.D. Guadalajara
Club Deportivo Guadalajara , is a Mexican professional football club based in Guadalajara, Jalisco. Guadalajara plays in the Primera División de México and is the most successful club in Mexican football, having won 11 First Division titles, 7 Campeón de Campeones and 2 Copa México...
)
Formation
Regular starting XI:Nielsen
Jimmy Nielsen
Jimmy Nielsen is a Danish professional footballer currently playing for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer....
}}