The Kansas City Wizards were eliminated from the 2008 MLS Cup Playoffs Saturday night after a 2-0 loss to the Columbus Crew in central Ohio. After tying the opening match of the two-game, total-goals series last Saturday in Kansas City, Columbus added two more tallies in the second leg to win the series 3-1 on aggregate.

Columbus took an early lead through midfielder Brad Evans in the 7th minute. Holding midfielder Brian Carroll released Evans with a pass over the top of the defense. Evans, in behind the Kansas City defenders, lofted a ball over onrushing goalkeeper Kevin Hartman and into the open net for a 1-0 Crew lead.

Kansas City nearly leveled the match in the 15th minute when a low cross along the ground from Kevin Souter was met by a long run from striker Abe Thompson. Thompson’s shot, however, was smothered by goalkeeper William Hesmer from close range. Seconds into first-half stoppage time, Wizards captain Jimmy Conrad unleashed a low right-footed shot from 18 yards out that went just inches wide after a Claudio Lopez cross was knocked down.

The Crew went ahead 2-0 in the 57th minute. Playmaker Guillermo Barros Schelotto played striker Alejandro Moreno through behind the Wizards defense up the right wing. Moreno carried the ball toward goal, then slid a cross along the ground for left winger Robbie Rogers eight yards from goal. Rogers made no mistake, striking the ball cleanly into the back of the net on the first touch for a 2-0 Columbus lead that the yellow and black would not relinquish.

Kansas City created several chances throughout the remainder of the game, bringing on strikers Michael Kraus and Josh Wolff to help push numbers forward. In the 83rd minute, a short corner kick from Claudio Lopez to Jack Jewsbury resulted in a give-and-go with Lopez striking the ball toward goal from the corner of the penalty area. Lopez’s shot missed wide of the back post, however, as several Wizards players crashed the goal looking for a deflection. Then in the 89th minute, Lopez took a free kick from 22 yards out that was smothered by Hesmer at the near post in what was Kansas City’s final quality scoring opportunity.

Between 50-60 Wizards fans rode a bus from Kansas City to Columbus Crew Stadium and were in full song behind the South goal for much of the evening. Wizards fans also packed a watch party at Barley’s Brewhaus in Shawnee, Kan. to see the team’s final match of 2008. MLS Cup 2008 will be played Sunday, Nov. 23 at 2:30 p.m. CT live on ABC Sports and TelaFutura from The Home Depot Center in Carson, California. The expansion draft for 2009 expansion club Seattle Sounders FC will be held the following week, and the 2009 MLS SuperDraft comes Thursday, Jan. 15, 2009.

Scoring Summary:
CLB – Brad Evans 1 (Brian Carroll 1) 7’
CLB – Robbie Rogers 1 (Alejandro Moreno 2, Guillermo Barros Schelotto 1) 57’

Kansas City Wizards Line-Up: Kevin Hartman; Jonathan Leathers, Jimmy Conrad, Tyson Wahl (Josh Wolff 68), Michael Harrington; Kevin Souter, Jack Jewsbury, Davy Arnaud, Roger Espinoza (Matt Marquess 77); Abe Thompson (Michael Kraus 59), Claudio Lopez

Substitutes not used: Eric Kronberg (GK), Aaron Hohlbein, Kerry Zavagnin, Ivan Trujillo

Columbus Crew Line-Up: William Hesmer, Frankie Hejduk, Chad Marshall (Andy Iro 92+), Danny O’Rourke, Gino Padula (Ezra Hendrickson 92+); Eddie Gaven, Brad Evans, Brian Carroll, Robbie Rogers; Guillermo Barros Schelotto, Alejandro Moreno

Substitutes not used: Andy Gruenebaum (GK), Stefani Miglioranzi, Emmanuel Ekpo, Pat Noonan, Steven Lenhart

Misconduct:
KC -- Davy Arnaud (caution; Tactical Foul) 39
KC -- Tyson Wahl (caution; Tactical Foul) 49
CLB -- Brad Evans (caution; Tactical Foul) 63
CLB -- Robbie Rogers (caution; Reckless Foul) 66
CLB -- Frankie Hejduk (caution; Delaying a Restart) 87
CLB -- Emmanuel Ekpo (caution; Reckless Tackle) 90


Referee: Ricardo Salazar
Assistants: Anthony Vasoli, Nate Clement
4th official: Mark Geiger