Try the Barbecue, Piojo

Pete Grathoff of the KC Star checked in today with an article on Claudio "El Piojo" Lopez and his adaptation to live in Kansas City and MLS. Good piece from Pete with some good quotes from Lopez, through interpreter stud Arcelio Zepeda. Click here or on the pic below to read the article.

Wizards Remain Undefeated in Cup Play

After collecting the exhibition Saturn Cup and New Mexico Cup, we moved to 2-0 in Open Cup matches. One was a play-in game, but a win is a win. We now play the Seattle Sounders next Tuesday at Qwest Field. Check kcwizards.com for a full recap.

Scoring Summary:
CAR – Santiago Fusilier (Ryan Solle) 44
CAR – Matthew Watson (Dan Antuniak) 58
KC – Ivan Trujillo (Michael Harrington) 68
KC – Claudio Lopez (penalty kick) 82
KC – Ivan Trujillo (Claudio Lopez) 94
KC – Ryan Pore (penalty kick) 119

Highlights from tonight:

Harrington's cut before serving to Trujillo for the first goal.

Lopez's left-footed rocket underneath the bar on the first penalty kick.

Espinoza's darting runs out of central midfield, one leading to a penalty kick.

Trujillo's finishing on the third goal.

Lopez's picture-perfect through ball that Trujillo ran onto for the match-winner.

Lopez's second picture-perfect through ball that put Pore through for the second penalty.

Pore's right-footed blast into the very lowest right corner for the second PK.

Lopez signing every autograph and taking many pictures with fans after the game.

Conrad's friend Will Daniel, story still coming.

Congrats Jimmy/Check Out Claudio

Jimmy Conrad is being recognized tonight by the Kansas City Sport Commission for his fine looks and overall outstandingness with a "Special Achievement in Professional Athletics" award at the PROPS (Party Recognizing Outstanding People in Sports) this evening. The event will air live on Metro Sports. The event takes place tonight at Sprint Center and will air on Metro Sports tape delayed over the next few weeks. Check out Sportkc.org for details. Read the Star article about the event here.

Also, Claudio Lopez was featured yesterday on Fox Sports Noticias in a preview of the Argentina-Brazil WC qualifier that ended up tying 0-0. Find the video on this page. Claudio appears from the 4:34-5:23 mark.

Game Day # 9

So we just lost 3-1 (2-1 plus a late, late, late bomb from Becks with Hartman in the other penalty area) in Los Angeles. We looked like world beaters in the first half; LA did so in the second half. Aftermath? Well, we're in 6th place in the powerful East. We'd sit just three points out of first in the West.

Lopez's strike was brilliant. He made McDonald look like the rookie he is and absolutely buried a shot inside the far post. Cronin stood no chance.

LA's own stars showed up. Donovan converted the PK with ease and assisted on Buddle's goal. Beckham played well all game; sent Donovan the ball that led to the PK; helped LA string passes together before the second goal and buried his 60-yard blast with Hartman somewhere behind him. What did he think about our boys after the match?

"It was a hard fought match. The first half wasn’t very good. The second half showed the character of our team. I give all the credit to K.C. They are the best team we have played in MLS so far."

That's pretty good stuff coming from a man with his experience. Hopefully his words will hold true and we'll start stringing together several wins. Looks like we have a new fan out west. Thanks for the kind words, Mr. BendIt.

Conrad had over 150 friends and family in attendance. As you know, Jimmy was born in CA, played soccer ball at UCLA and began his MLS career in San Jose. It was a homecoming of big proportions.

As you also know, Hartman, Victorine and Myers played at UCLA as well. Wahl and Kronberg grew up in Cali and went to Cal-Berkely. All had friends/family at the game.

Piojo on TV/All-Star team?

Claudio El Piojo Lopez starred in a commercial running now on Time Warner Cable commercials. Check out the spot below then vote for him (and the 11 other Wizards eligible) for the 2008 Pepsi MLS All-Star Game.

Intra-Squad/David Cook

Jenny Matthews just gave a shout out to her Starting 11 Girls while talking on the air to David Cook, who is still currently in studio. Don't forget to head out to Swope at 10:30 for an intra-squad scrimmage on our bye week. Practices have been intense this week, and today's match should be no different.

**Updated**

Also, take a look at Martin Rogers' ranking of best players in MLS, where our own Claudio Lopez falls at 12th. Think he should be higher than that? Read the article and let Martin know.

Piojo Stars on The Offside Rules

Cartoonist and footie fan Brian Barkey featured Piojo in his streamer shower at the weekend in Columbus. View the original link here at The Offside Rules.


Also, with the off weekend coming up, the coaching staff wants to implement a serious game atmosphere this Friday. Beginning at 10:30 a.m., we will play an intra-squad scrimmage on the fields at Swope. As always, it is open to the public, and all are encouraged to attend.

Almost Forgot-Lopez Story

Oops, almost forgot to post this. Glenn Davis, writing for the Houston Chronicle, caught up with Piojo and Coach Onalfo this week for a great article that appeared online today. Check it out here, and let us know if you agree with his comments below. Claudio's pass into space for Jewsbury Sunday was truly magnificent.

Back From Hibernation

Woah, sorry folks. Hillcrest Road had its first prolonged hiatus. I must say; I didn't like it. We're back, however, and ready to kick off the next stretch of games. Four matches in 15 days left everyone on staff a bit tired, but after Sunday and Monday to recharge, it's time to get back after it.

As many of you have seen, the Reserves beat Memphis 5-0 Sunday at Swope. It was a great match that we utterly dominated. The first four goals came in the opening 27 minutes and we tacked one on after halftime. Colombano had 2, and Trujill0, McMahen and Pore added one each. The boys from Memphis got a quick tour of the training facility. They were pretty impressed, taking pictures and asking questions of the players.

We face Chicago this Sunday in another nationally televised game on TelaFutura. The match-up features former Club America stars Claudio Lopez and Cuauhtemoc Blanco. Those two had some pretty good days with America while Piojo played there from 2004-2006. Together they won the Clausura in 2005 and the CONCACAF Champions' Cup in 2006. Check out an incredible goal scored by Lopez and assisted by Blanco here:



At the 33 second mark, you can actually see all three former Club America players currently in MLS. Lopez and Blanco embrace, then Duilio Davino (FC Dallas) joins in the celebration. Good stuff.

Lopez up for Sierra Mist Goal of the Week

In the words of our friend from Kazakhstan, VERY NICE. El Piojo debuts with a goal, a near-assist and a Sierra Mist Goal of the Week nomination. To vote for Piojo, click here.

See the goal here:


Or here:

The shot


The celebration

WIZARDS WIN 2-0

Goals by Trujillo and Lopez. More to come soon.

**Updated**

By soon, I meant about three hours. Nice.

So, the game was great. Everything about the night (except maybe the weather) was great for Kansas City soccer. The boys looked wonderful in their all-blue jerseys, the stadium proved to be a loud one (Holy smokes! To all you Hillcrest Road readers in the Cauldron, that was amazing. That place was packed in and you were standing and yelling. I'm very glad I was not Zach Wells after those goals. Wow.) and we definitely showed up to play.

I won't bore you with a game re-cap; you can check your TiVo'd copies of the match on Metro Sports for that. I will, however, offer some tidbits and the quote sheet from tonight.

Tidbits:
We managed a win with SIX players listed as out on the injury report. Among them? Davy Arnaud - usual starter; Chance Myers - would have started; Roger Espinoza - was fighting for significant playing time with solid pre-season camp. Good work guys. (Yes, I know that D.C. was without Jaime Moreno and didn't start Fred. Still.)

Ivan Trujillo would have scored a second. Replays show he was very onside on the goal that was disallowed. Overall, our forwards were very dangerous and fun to watch.

Jimmy Conrad anchored a back line that included no one of more than three years experience. Wahl - 3rd year; Harrington - 2nd year; Leathers - first MLS match. All four did very well for themselves, and Harrington even created the first goal with a great back-post cross.

Claudio Lopez is the real deal. He nearly created a goal with a cheeky chip in the 3rd minute, nearly scored one with a left-footed rocket in the 37th, then sealed the game with his perfectly timed run and classy chip. He looked very strong in 89 minutes tonight.

Kevin Hartman extended league records in wins (128 now) and shutouts (68 now). He's pretty good, isn't he?

If any of you had poor experiences at the ballpark, we apologize and promise that the situation will be improved. It was our first game at the stadium and, by all accounts, things went off very smoothly. We have certainly learned from game one and will always look to improve ourselves in game two. This blog post, for instance, will come earlier than 2 a.m. next time. Each member of our staff strives to provide the highest level of customer service possible. It is what OnGoal demands and what you fans deserve. Thanks to those of you that came out. It's a great feeling to sit in a sold-out stadium. Remember to buy your tickets early if you're not a season ticket holder. Walk-up tickets are a thing of the past in Kansas City.

Ok, I'm done here. Now for the quotes. This will also appear at MLSnet.com later:

KANSAS CITY WIZARDS HEAD COACH CURT ONALFO
On the game
“I thought we started slow, but we ended the first half very strong. We came out the better team in the second half and got the goals we needed to win.”

KANSAS CITY WIZARDS FORWARD IVAN TRUJILLO
On scoring in his MLS debut
“Jack Jewsbury played the ball into me, and I came in sliding and got my right leg to it. I put it off to the right where the ‘keeper couldn’t get to it. I was very excited and happy to score in my first game. I dedicated the match to my family and friends back in Colombia. I’m very excited about starting my time here with a goal.”

KANSAS CITY WIZARDS DEFENDER MICHAEL HARRINGTON
On starting the scoring play
“Coach always encourages us to join in the attack when we can. I was able to get up the line there and beat my man to get the ball on my right foot. I sent a cross in for Jack; he played a first-time ball to Ivan who finished with the first touch. It’s great to start off the season with a win over a good D.C. United team. We’ve still got three games in the next two weeks. Now we’re focused on playing well against Colorado next Saturday.”

KANSAS CITY WIZARDS MIDFIELDER KERRY ZAVAGNIN
On the atmosphere at CommunityAmerica Ballpark
“We were certainly excited going into the game, and the crowd made a huge difference for us. The atmosphere was more fun for the fans than in years past here in Kansas City. This intimate environment is great for us. We felt the fans presence throughout the match, and they no doubt played a part in our performance tonight.”

KANSAS CITY WIZARDS DEFENDER JONATHAN LEATHERS
On starting in his first professional match
“I found out yesterday that I would get to start. It was very exciting, and I was really nervous about the game as well. It took me about ten minutes to settle down, but all the guys around me gave me confidence and told me that I was doing fine.”

D.C. UNITED MIDFIELDER SANTINO QUARANTA
On team philosophy
“We wanted to come out strong and win the game in the first half. Obviously, the first 15 minutes of each half are crucial. We let a goal up in the first five minutes of the second half, and it killed us. Our mindset wasn’t good coming out of halftime, and it hurt us.”

On team chemistry
“I don’t think it’s struggling with chemistry, we’ve been together two months now and that’s long enough to iron things out. It just wasn’t good enough tonight, but we’ll regroup for Tuesday.”

D.C. UNITED DEFENDER MARC BURCH
On the game
“We came out there and played hard. They got lucky on a few and we were unlucky on a couple. I don’t think it was a distraction, but we do have another game in two days so we’ve got to get ready for that.”

On the Kansas City goals
“They had a couple of good minutes where they had a little bit of possession and chipped two balls in. I don’t think there are any problems; nothing we can’t solve. I think we looked good as a unit. They didn’t have anything in the first half, and they had two chances in the second half.”

On next Tuesday’s CONCACAF Champions Cup match against Pachuca
“It would be nice to have a little bit of legs going down there at high altitude, playing a really important game. Not to say this one wasn’t important, but it’s a really important game we have down there.”

D.C. UNITED GOALKEEPER ZACH WELLS
On the game
“I thought both teams were pretty organized. Most of the first half was just feeling each other out, not a lot of pretty soccer. Like I said before, it was just a couple of lapses and we were punished for it.”

On the team coming together
“We’re all learning to play with each other and it’s going to take a little bit of time. We’re just got to stay organized defensively, make sure that teams are earning their goals and that we’re capitalizing on our chances at the other end.”

Game Day #1

Hello all, I meant to check in earlier, but with all that's included in playing at a new stadium, I haven't yet had a chance. The field looks great; the signage is up; some fans (for both teams) are in the parking lot. It's officially game day.

Some things to notice when you're at the stadium today:
1. ALL THE BLUE. We have done our best to make the stadium as blue and fan-friendly as possible. The flags on top of the newly installed bleachers are a great touch. Major props to our ops team including David Ficklin, Chris Wyche, Adam Meloan, Dan Drelich (superDan) and graphics guru Chad Reynolds. Well done all.

2. THE LOPEZ BACKDROP. Over what is called "the batters' eye" by baseball folks, we have draped a HUGE picture of El Piojo. It's a bit of an advertisement as well, but it looks pretty sharp.

3. THE GRASS. Holy cow, Jerad Minnick and his crew are outstanding. In a very short amount of time, they took a baseball field and turned it into a soccer pitch. The mowed-in lines look beautiful. This field will look wonderful on TV.

4. THE FOOD. We've talked about it on here several times, but our concessions menu is incredible. Stop at the nearest concession stand and try out the wares. We had a tasting at media day on Wednesday. I'm not lying; everything I had was outstanding.

5. THE TEAM. We've got some new players, and we've lost some familiar faces, but we are confident that things will go well on the pitch. Unfortunately Chance Myers will be out of action today due to a foot injury, but new faces such as Claudio Lopez and Ivan Trujillo will likely make their first appearances in front of the home faithful.

It should be a fun one! I'll be back just after 6 to post the lineups.

Lopez P-1 Approved/Other

Just received word that Designated Player Claudio Lopez has received his P-1 Visa approval and will be eligible for selection this Saturday against D.C. United. With Lopez available, Saturday's match will likely feature a strong Argentine flavor. Each team features three Argentines. Kansas City will boast Lopez, playmaker Carlos Marinelli and forward Eloy Colombano. D.C. employs playmaker and Designated Player Marcelo Gallardo, defender Gonzalo Peralta and forward Franco Niell.



In other news, check out the KCW preview posted yesterday on American Soccer News if you haven't already.

Jerseys Now On Sale/Zavagnin QnA

It's been a busy day in Wizards blogville again. Fresh after posting a few shots of Claudio El Piojo Lopez in Wizards attire, we're back to inform you that Lopez #7 jerseys are now on sale. Actually, any Wizards jersey is now available for purchase. Replica jerseys (home and away) begin at $70 and are fully customizable. Youth sizes begin at $50.

Any name and number combination can be applied to a jersey for an additional $20. Buy a Lopez #7 jersey, a Conrad #12 jersey, a Conrad #84 jersey or a YOURNAME #YOURNUMBER jersey for $90 dollars. To order a jersey, call the Wizards front office at 913.387.3400. Orders can be mailed, picked up at our front office at 8900 State Line Road in Leawood or at merch stands on gamedays at CAB.

Take a look at some Lopez and Conrad jerseys already printed up. Also, below, take a look at how much some other sports teams are charging for customization. WOW.

$60 + plus jersey cost? SAY WHAT?

Hillcrest Road/kcwizards.com caught up with Kerry Zavagnin today after training for a 10-question session about his hobbies, his alma mater and his rookie teammates. Read the QnA here.

Pics From Practice/Photo Shoot

Piojo smiles for the camera during a Kansas City Wizards version of glamour shots. By all accounts (including his own), Claudio is very excited to be in Kansas City. During the media session today, Claudio even took a good-natured jab at teammate and captain Jimmy Conrad. "Jimmy isn't as funny as he thinks," Piojo said in response to a question about his new teammate. "I am funnier." Everyone laughed. Jimmy wasn't around to hear.

Behind the scenes of Lopez's shoot this afternoon. Check out that still-action shot of the ball heading out of the frame.

Ivan Trujillo poses wearing Kansas City blue. Ivan was great today with media members, getting a few laughs through the translator.

Action shot from today at practice. If you look closely enough, you can see the sweat coming off of Jack's head. A full photo gallery from today's session will be available later today at kcwizards.com. Special thank you to photographer Scott Pribyl for all his help and talent!

Training Today/Media Frenzy

Greetings Hillcrest loyalists, hopefully you're enjoying this chilly March day in KC. The guys got after it today after posing for a team picture. Practice was pretty standard. The goalkeepers trained on their own while the field players did a passing drill (three teams total with two teams on the inside and a third team around the field for wall-pass purposes). Eventually the guys joined together to play the same drill, this time with 'keepers.

After practice, Piojo and Ivan Trujillo were available for media. It was somewhat of a circus (in a good way), as nearly all our major media outlets were in attendance. Piojo and Ivan spoke to English-speaking reporters through a translator then had a word with KC Univision. Check the newscasts tonight and look for a report in the Star tomorrow. Coach, Piojo, Ivan, Jimmy and Hartman each spoke to reporters.

After the impromptu press conference, Piojo and Ivan posed for some pictures similar to what the rest of the guys did last month. We'll post a few of those in a little bit.

Don't forget about Thursday's event. We plan on having a good time with everyone.

Lopez Still Getting The Love

Frank Dell'Apa of the Boston Globe and Soccernet.com called Lopez one of the best DP signings since the rule was enacted prior to last season. To read the complete article, click here. The story is currently on the front of the U.S. section at Soccernet with a great picture from his days at America. See that here.

He also tells a nice story about a young Lopez and the near-miss he suffered with original club Racing back in 1994. Excerpt:

In the final weeks of Argentina's 1994 Apertura season, Racing Club was poised to win the championship. Many of the 60,000-plus Racing supporters at Estadio Juan Domingo Peron in Avellaneda were in a celebratory mood on a warm Friday night in late February, some scaling a 25-foot fence behind the goal to lead the cheering.

The Racing team, which included a 19-year-old forward named Claudio Javier Lopez, had momentum and motivation, plus a 1-0 halftime lead over Ferro Carril Oeste. But the action was just starting. Maybe it was coincidence, or maybe someone was trying to give Racing another advantage, but the lights in the visiting team's locker room went out, so Ferro spent halftime on the field, amid the din and pyrotechnics. And when Mariano Dalla Libera extended the lead to 2-0 early in the second half, Racing's title seemed secure.

Dalla Libera started the party by ripping off his shirt and twirling it, whipping up the crowd.

But that action by Dalla Libera -- who had long ago earned the nickname "El Loco" -- was the beginning of the end of Racing's season; he received his second caution (shirt removal had only recently become a yellow-card offense), Racing lost its inspirational playmaker and Ferro calmly rallied to tie. Racing supporters attempted to confront the officiating crew, waiting outside the locker room for an hour after the game, failing in their attempt only because they were diverted by a gunshot.

After the reporters from Clarin had filed their stories by cell phone, I joined them at a parrillada for a dinner which began well past midnight, returning to my hotel about 4 a.m.

Lopez and his Racing teammates probably had difficulty sleeping after that match, which did, indeed, cost them the title -- they finished a point behind first place River Plate.

Good story and good stuff.

Piojo Lopez Stars on ESPN Deportes Radio

Yesterday, Piojo was gracious enough to call in to ESPN Deportes Radio from his hotel in Argentina. He was on the phone with Jorge Ramos y su banda for more than half an hour. The interview was completely in Spanish and was VERY well received. It is currently "Top Cast" on espndeportesradio.com's Podcast page. Listen in to the Podcast here. See espndeportesradio.com here.

Upcoming Events/One More Vid

Hey everyone, just wanted to post a reminder about some of our upcoming events. We are getting very excited as the preseason winds down and we prepare for the home opener! 2008 will be a great year for the Wizards. As the Cauldron says, Wizards 'til I Die!

TONIGHT. Download your Wizards schedule to your Outlook calendar now. Click here for the file and instructions.

Thursday, March 20 Meet and Greet and Dave & Buster's. The event will start at 5:30 p.m. for season ticket holders and open to the general public at 6:30 p.m.

Fans will be able to compete against and with players at various arcade games and compete for prizes. Mark your calendars for March 20; further details will be announced soon. All available players will attend the event.

Saturday, March 22 in Norman, Oklahoma. The first team will play Real Salt Lake at 6 p.m. in the final preseason tune-up. The Reserves will then play SMU at 8 p.m. We'd love to see some Wizards folks travel down for the trip. I know Downthebyline will be on hand. For tickets, go here.

Wednesday, March 26 at CoummunityAmerica Ballpark. We will hold media day out at CAB. Any media members reading up on us, don't forget to RSVP to Dave Borchardt to reserve your place and ensure you receive our special Wizards gift packs. They're going to be great!

Thursday, March 27 - Saturday, March 29 Indoor Cash Cup. Compete in men's and coed divisions for cash prizes at the KC Soccerdome. Signing up for the tournament gets you tickets to the opener. More info here.


Last Piojo video for a while. Here's one from a Club America fan wishing Claudio the best after he departed the club prior to last season. Very good stuff; I dig the music, and I can't wait to see some America fans coming out to see one of their own in action in Kansas City. It turns out we play some pretty good soccer too.

Coyote Named/More YouTube

And so it ends. Erin Lawless/Andie Anderson/Kate Hudson takes the day and names the coyote. Our four-legged (well, it's actually two-legged) goose-deterring friend will forever be known as Crawl (Krull) the Warrior King. According to the goose droppings in the area, however, his name should be Princess Sofia.

I'm still not sick of watching Piojo score very pretty goals, so we're going to post a couple more. Enjoy:



Now see the same goal Joga Bonito style:



And another from this year: