The Kansas City Wizards are Kansas City, Missouri's Major League Soccer (MLS) club. The Wizards won the MLS Cup in 2000, and the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in 2004. They are owned by Lamar Hunt, who also owns the Kansas City Chiefs, F.C. Dallas and the Columbus Crew. Hunt recently announced his plans to sell the team after the 2005 season. They were known as the Kansas City Wiz in 1996. Their home field is Arrowhead Stadium, which they share with the Chiefs.

Honors

Major Titles

• MLS Cup 1 (2000)
• MLS Supporters' Shield 1 (2000)
• US Open Cup 1 (2004)

Minor Titles

• Division Champions 3 (1997, 2000, 2004)
• Conference Champions 2 (2000, 2004)

Current roster

Notable players

• Mark Chung (1996-1998)
• Chris Henderson (1998-2000)
• Mo Johnston (1996-2001)
• Chris Klein (1998-)
• Tony Meola (1999-2004) League and MLS Cup MVP in 2000
• Miklos Molnar (2000)
• Preki (1996-2000, 2002-) Two-time league MVP
• Peter Vermes (2000-2002)
• Josh Wolff (2003-)
• Kerry Zavagnin (2000-)

Coaches

• Ron Newman (1996-1999)
• Ken Fogarty (1999; three games)
• Bob Gansler (1999-present) 2000 MLS Coach of the Year

General managers

• Tim Latta
• Doug Newman (1997-1999)
• Curt Johnson (1999-)

MLS Cup

• 1996 3rd seed in West, 5th overall Semifinal loss to Los Angeles Galaxy (1-2, 2-3 (SO))
• 1997 1st seed in West, 2nd overall Quarterfinal loss to Colorado Rapids
• 1998 6th seed in West, Failed to qualify
• 1999 11th seed overall, Failed to qualify
• 2000 1st seed overall, Winners 1-0 vs. Chicago Fire
• 2001 8th seed overall, Quarterfinal 6-3 loss to Miami Fusion (0-2, 3-0, 1-2)
• 2002 8th seed overall, Quarterfinal 6-3 loss to Los Angeles Galaxy (2-3, 4-1, 2-5)
• 2003 2nd seed in West Semifinal, 2-3 OT loss to San Jose Earthquakes
• 2004 1st seed in West Final, 2-3 loss to DC United

US Open Cup

• 1996 Quarterfinal, 3-2 loss to Colorado Rapids
• 1997 3rd Round, 2-1 loss to San Franciso Bay Seals
• 1998 3rd Round, 3-1 loss to Nashville Metros
• 1999 did not compete
• 2000 2nd Round, 0-0 (7-6pk) loss to Chicago Sockers
• 2001 3rd Round, 1-0 loss to Chicago Fire
• 2002 Semifinal, 3-2 OT loss to Columbus Crew
• 2003 4th Round, 3-2 loss to Colorado Rapids
• 2004 Winners, 1-0 vs. Chicago Fire

International competition

Copa MercoNorte

The Wizards were invited to participate in the 2001 Copa Merconorte , where they competed in Group C against Sporting Cristal of Peru, Santos Laguna of Mexico, and Barcelona of Ecuador.

The August 8 road match against Mexican Champions Santos Laguna resulted in controversy when the officiating crew from Trinidad and Tobago failed to arrive. A team of Mexican referees was brought to the stadium. The Wizards filed a formal protest, despite which play commenced, resulting in two questionable penalty kicks awarded for fouls outside the box, and the questionable ejection of Nick Garcia in the 35th minute.

Results

• Sporting Cristal 2-1 Kansas City Wizards (1 August, Arrowhead Stadium); Goals: Onandi Lowe 7' (KC), Erick Torres 31' (SC), Gastón Córdoba 79' (SC)
• Santos Laguna 4-2 Kansas City Wizards (Torreón, Mexico) (8 August); Goals: Héctor Altamirano 28' PK (SL), Robson Luiz 36' (SL), Matt McKeon 53' (KC), Eduardo Lillingston 83' PK (SL), Carlos Augusto Gomes 84' (SL), Roy Lassiter 88' (KC)
• Barcelona 2-3 Kansas City Wizards; Goals: Carlos Alfaro Moreno 13' (BAR), (31') Roy Lassiter 31' (KC), (46') Chris Brown 46' (KC), Chris Brown 50' (KC), Fricson George 76' (BAR)
• Sporting Cristal 2-1 Kansas City Wizards (12 September); Goals: Luis Bonnet (SC) 23', 2-0 (25') Luis Bonnet (SC) 25', Onandi Lowe (KC) 40'
• Kansas City Wizards 1-1 Barcelona (17 October); Goals: Roy Lassiter 32' (KC), Clovis Bento 41' (BAR)
• Kansas City Wizards 0-1 Santos Laguna (21 November): Goals: Eduardo Lillingston 12' (SL)

CONCACAF Champions Cup

2002

Having won the 2000 MLS Championship, Kansas City qualified for one of four spots allocated to US teams in the 2002 CONCACAF Champions Cup. (note: the US is now allocated two spots in the Champions Cup).

Kansas City defeated W Connection of Trinidad and Tobago and Santos Laguna before being knocked out by Monarcas Morelia of Mexico.

Results

• First Round First Leg: (3 March) W Connection 0-1 Kansas City Wizards: Goals: Francisco Gomez 85' (KC)
• First Round Second Leg: (16 March) Kansas City Wizards 2-0 W Connection; Goals: Mike Burns 52' (KC), Preki 53' (KC)
• Quarterfinals First Leg: (14 April) Santos Laguna 2-1 Kansas City Wizards: Goals: Eduardo Lillingston 2', 35' (SL), Gary Glasgow 81' (KC)
• Quarterfinals Second Leg: (24 April) Kansas City 2-0 Santos Laguna; Goals: Carey Talley 33' (KC), Chris Brown 71' (KC)
• Semifinals First Leg: (7 August) Morelia 6-1 Kansas City Wizards; Goals: Alex Fernandes 50', 75', 83' PK (MOR), Hernán Buján 57' (MOR), Adolfo Bautista 62' (MOR), Javier Saavedra 73' (MOR), Dario Fabbro 85' (KC)
• Semifinals Second Leg: (28 August) Kansas City Wizards 1-1 Morelia; Goals: Chris Brown 68' (KC), José Noriega 36' PK (MOR)

2005

After making the 2004 MLS Cup, the Wizards qualified for the 2005 CONCACAF Champions Cup; they were eliminated by Deportivo Saprissa of Costa Rica in the first round.

• First Round First Leg: (9 March) Kansas City Wizards 0-0 Deportivo Saprissa
• First Round Second Leg: (18 March) Deportivo Saprissa 2-1 (OT) Kansas City Wizards

Average Attendance

• 1996: 12,878
• 1997: 9,058
• 1998: 8,073
• 1999: 8,183
• 2000: 9,112
• 2001: 10,954
• 2002: 12,255
• 2003: 15,573
• 2004: 14,819
• All-Time: 11,211

External links

• Official Homepage
• Wizard Fan Reference Center
• Heart of America Soccer Foundation