• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Sounders beat Wizards, clinch playoff spot

Oct 10, 2010 - 2:43 AM KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) -- Sanna Nyassi and Alvaro Fernandez each scored a second-half goal, and the Seattle Sounders secured a playoff berth with a 2-1 victory over the Kansas City Wizards on Saturday night.

Counting his two goals in Tuesday's 2-1 victory over Columbus in the U.S. Open Cup title game, Nyassi has scored four times in the last eight days for Seattle (13-9-6).

Kansas City (9-12-6), which got a late penalty-kick goal from Davy Arnaud, lost its third straight and moved to the verge of playoff elimination. The Wizards must win their last three games, two on the road, and hope Colorado loses its final two.

Nyassi put the Sounders up 1-0 in the 66th minute with a heads-up play. Wizards keeper Jimmy Nielsen got a hand on Nyassi's left-footed shot, but Nyassi was in position to collect the ball and put it past Nielsen on the second attempt.

Fernandez, who came on as a substitute in the 75th minute, scored three minutes later to make it 2-0.

Arnaud converted his penalty opportunity in the 85th minute, after Seattle's Jeff Parke fouled Teal Bunbury near the end line. The Wizards missed an opportunity to tie when Kei Kamara's shot hit the post early in stoppage time.