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Wizards-Earthquakes Preview

Aug 13, 2010 - 5:57 PM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

Kansas City (5-8-5) at San Jose (6-6-5), 10:00 p.m. EDT

The Kansas City Wizards have turned their season around since a season-high three-game losing streak. The San Jose Earthquakes would like to follow suit.

The Wizards look to extend their unbeaten streak to five Saturday when they'll try to win their first game visiting the Earthquakes in nearly a decade.

Six points out of the final playoff spot, Kansas City (5-8-5) has ground to make up with two months left in the season. The Wizards are coming off a 1-all draw against defending MLS Cup champion Real Salt Lake on Aug. 7, and are 2-0-2 since July 10.

"The thing I love about the group is that we've stayed very focused on us, our game and trying to get better with the way we play," coach Peter Vermes told the Wizards' official website.

If Kansas City earns a point at Buck Shaw Stadium, it will match the club's longest unbeaten streak since a 3-0-2 run from Oct. 5-Nov. 1, 2008. The Wizards, however, are 0-7-4 visiting the Earthquakes since a 3-0 victory Aug. 16, 2000.

A win or tie by San Jose (6-6-5) would match the second-longest home unbeaten streak against an opponent in league history, but the Earthquakes are 0-2-2 at home since May 8.

San Jose los its second straight game, 1-0 at Colorado on Aug. 7. Playing without midfielder Andre Luiz (torn knee ligament) and defenders Ike Opara (broken left foot) and Steven Beitashour (fractured right hand), the Earthquakes couldn't rally from an own-goal by goalkeeper Jon Busch in the 25th minute.

San Jose also lost defenders Bobby Burling and Ramiro Corrales to knee injuries.

"We've lost our way a little bit," coach Frank Yallop told the Earthquakes' official website. "Injuries don't help, I'm not going to harp on them, but you lose a few key guys and it tends to take a while to get it moving again.

"But it's a big game Saturday against Kansas City and we have another home game (against Los Angeles on Aug. 21) after that, so we're looking forward to the game Saturday and hopefully we can get three points."

San Jose has eight goals during its 1-4-4 slide and will look for a boost from forward Ryan Johnson, who is expected to play after his call-up Wednesday from the Jamaican national team.

Wizards defender Shavar Thomas logged 89 minutes in Jamaica's 3-1 victory over Trinidad and Tobago and is also expected to play Saturday.

Jamaican midfielder Khari Stephenson could make his Earthquakes debut after signing Wednesday. Stephenson last appeared in MLS with Kansas City, helping the Wizards advance to the MLS Cup final in 2004.

Wizards leading scorer Kei Kamara, who found the back of the net for the first time in nearly two months last Saturday, scored twice in 11 matches for San Jose in 2008.

The Wizards are 1-1-2 on the road since losing their first four matches away from home.