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Klein goes for record as L.A. hosts K.C.

Fri 23rd, May 2008

Carson, CA (Sports Network) - The Kansas City Wizards play the fifth game of a six-game road trip when they face the Los Angeles Galaxy at The Home Depot Center in Major League Soccer action on Saturday night.

"There's only two left. It's an uphill battle but we have to stay strong and make sure we regroup and are a little bit better for our game in L.A. [on Saturday]," Kansas City coach Curt Onalfo said after his team's most recent match, a 1-1 draw at New York.

The Wizards let a couple points slip away late in the draw with the Red Bulls this past Saturday after taking an early 1-0 lead, then going up a man because of the ejection of Dave van den Bergh before Danleigh Borman scored the equalizer late in the second half.

"We came into halftime 1-0 up and the plan for the second half was just manage it and continue to play," Onalfo said. "They made an adjustment and went back to the 4-4-2 and really pushed their two outside guys wide. They also became very, very dangerous on set pieces which really were throw-ins. Our guys didn't do a good enough job dealing with those. We gave them too many chances. Then, we get a red card and I think the game is sealed and we walk out of here with three points. Then, we did a poor job of managing the game in the last 10 minutes. I look for our veteran players in those moments to do a better job on those occasions. I'm very disappointed that we walk away from here with just one point."

The Galaxy, on the other hand, are coming off a 5-1 drubbing of FC Dallas this past Sunday that cost Hoops' coach Steve Morrow his job. Edson Buddle scored a hat trick in the win to lead his team, but it was a total team effort in the dominating effort.

"I think as a team we played excellent and showed that the game plan worked," galaxy coach Ruud Gullit said. "Knowing also how [Dallas] play, I think that some key moments, a key factor for us, was David [Beckham] on the outside. Of course, also important for us, was Alvaro [Pires] came back. In the midfield with a guy like that, and when you can use people in the right positions, it makes it hard for them to play their game. We could play our game and I think the first half was excellent."

Both teams will be gunning for their fourth wins on Saturday night, with identical 3-3-2 records after their first eight league fixtures. The Galaxy are in a better position in the much weaker Western Conference. K.C. is currently second from the bottom in the Eastern table while L.A. is second from the top in the West.

Both teams are relatively healthy with no significant injuries while L.A. forward Carlos Ruiz could make his return after missing the last seven games with a knee injury. He is listed as probable on the team's injury report.

One side plot for the game involves L.A. right back Chris Klein. The veteran hasn't missed a league game in over three seasons and if he gets the start Saturday, which is expected, he will start his 94th consecutive MLS match, breaking the all-time record set by current Wizards goalkeeper Kevin Hartman.

"It's one of the things that you're proud of," Klein told MLSnet.com. "I just thank God for being healthy for this amount of time. You try to stay consistent and try to be a good pro and do your work as best you can."

Where the players come to play and STAY.