April 26, 2008 MLS Toronto FC vs Kansas City Wizards preview story (from MLSnet.com)

04/25/2008 2:38PM
Wizards continue road trip against TFC
Kansas City look to capitalize on six-game road trip with another win
By Bob Rusert / MLSnet.com Staff

KANSAS CITY -- Going from the fire to the frying pan accurately describes the first two games of the Kansas City Wizards current six-game road expedition. The good news for the team is: so far so good.

The Wizards made a fourth-minute goal by Jack Jewsbury stand up with a strong (and sometimes fortunate) defensive performance at Toyota Park against the Chicago Fire last Sunday. This Saturday, Kansas City will head back to the scene of a 2007 crime -- the taking of Toronto FC's first home contest in club history. On April 28, 2007, in the 81st minute of a tight match, Eddie Johnson scored to give the Wizards the 1-0 victory in front of a standing-room only crowd at BMO Field.

Toronto finished the season with six wins and seven draws in 30 games, but that was last year. Currently, Toronto FC is riding a two-game winning streak that has pulled them to the .500 mark for the first time in their history at 2-2. And that all-important 12th man, perhaps the best in MLS, is stronger than ever.

"They're a much-improved team from last year," said Wizards midfielder Sasha Victorine. "Playing them in their stadium is always hard. Last year, we went there, and they had been on a losing streak, and it was still tough to get a win there."

Even for the Wizards, who share the top spot in MLS after New England's 1-0 win against FC Dallas Thursday evening, the challenge is a big one. Scoring early, as the Wizards did in Chicago, could do much to quiet the boisterous Toronto FC fans. Scoring early could also open up counterattacking opportunities as the home side pushes forward to gain the equalizer. The Wizards didn't create much in the second half of the Chicago game.

"We scored early in the match and sometimes you start defending a little too early into it," said Kansas City goalkeeper Kevin Hartman. "That might have been a little bit of the case, but we were able to hold on for 86 additional minutes to get the three points."

With attacking options like Argentineans Claudio Lopez and Carlos Marinelli and Trinidad & Tobago international Scott Sealy, as well as Jewsbury, who leads the club with two goals along with defender Jimmy Conrad, the Wizards have enough attacking verve to take it to a team. Three goals against Colorado in the second week of the season and two against D.C. United have shown the tendencies of an attack-minded coach like Curt Onalfo.

Yet three shutouts in five games reveal the defense is perhaps more in tune at this point of the season.

"We set a goal to try to get two shutouts every six games ... we'll see if we can continue that pace. It would be great if we did," said Hartman.

However a victory in Toronto is achieved, it will mean an ideal continuation of the Wizards' road adventure coming on the heels of the win at Chicago.

"The best part about [the Chicago win] was that it was the first game of our six-game road swing, so it allows us to play with a little bit of confidence on the road," said Hartman. "It shows that we can win on the road. We have five straight more opportunities to do it."

Saturday is also another opportunity to spoil the party at Toronto FC's BMO Field.

"We know it's going to be a tough task. But we're trying to take these road games one at a time and focus on the matter at hand," Victorine said. "We'll get our game plan set up and be confident going in."

Bob Rusert is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.

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