For the Kansas City Wizards, the excitement of beginning the new season and playing for the first time in a new home stadium is interlocked with the intensity of their mission. Defeating visiting D.C. United on Saturday night would be a big step in achieving the Wizards' goal of finishing in the top two of the Eastern Conference.
"We're extremely excited about the new season. We know we have a very difficult challenge ahead of us playing against D.C. United who won the conference last season," Kansas City head coach Curt Onalfo said. "Having said that, we feel that we're very well prepared tactically, technically, and physically, and we will go into the season very motivated."
What more motivation could be there be in the first week of the season? The match is a chance to establish a winning tradition at CommunityAmerica Ballpark and a chance to establish an early advantage over a D.C. United team that has already shown its quality in defeating Harbour View of Jamaica 6-1 on aggregate in the first round of CONCACAF Champions' Cup.
"There are so many reasons why we need to perform well [Saturday] regardless of whom we're playing. ... It's important for any team to get off to a new start, [and] we're playing in a new place," said midfielder Kerry Zavagnin. "We're going to try and really create an environment where it's difficult for opposing teams to come in and get any points from us."
While D.C. moved onto the semifinals of the continental tournament, the Wizards prepared for the season by winning five and drawing two in an eight-game trip to Argentina and by defeating Real Salt Lake 1-0 last Saturday evening in Oklahoma.
"[Saturday's win] was a very good defensive effort. We could have been more dangerous at times. [But] the times we were able to keep possession and control the rhythm of the game we looked very good. There were a lot of positives ..." Onalfo said. "We have to improve each game [though], so we have things that we're working on from that game as we move into the game against D.C. United."
Much of Kansas City's focus concentrates on containing United's offensive punch with some knockout strikes of their own.
"They always play us tough at home. We have to match their intensity and make sure we combat it with the same sort of attack moving forward. We want to ... be aggressive in our approach and take the game to them as much as possible," said Onalfo.
In last season's opener, Eddie Johnson (who has since moved on to England's Fulham) provided a goal and two assists in the Wizards 4-2 win at D.C.'s RFK Stadium. Johnson accounted for a full third of the Wizards goals during the season, but this year, the attack will be much more balanced.
"There is not going to be too much emphasis on one guy. ... [Eddie] was the main focus of the coaching staff [last year]. It wasn't an ideal situation," said striker Scott Sealy. "The more guys we have involved in attacking and defending is going to make us a successful team. This year there's going to be a free-flowing attack where we don't focus on playing one way."
Onalfo sounds nearly like a fan when providing reasons for all in attendance to be excited for the contest that will play out in what could be termed an early season showdown, especially from the perspective of the Wizards' season goals. Clearly he believes his team is ready to prove they are worthy of contention.
"Certainly Carlos [Marinelli] has had a very good preseason. We have four forwards who are playing very, very well in [Ivan] Trujillo, Sealy, [Claudio] Lopez, and [Eloy] Colombano. Only two can play at once, but you'll likely see all of them in the game at some point," Onalfo said.
"Jimmy [Conrad] has had a very good preseason. Kevin Hartman is ready to have a very good year as well. Having young players like [second-year player Michael] Harrington and [top SuperDraft pick Chance] Myers ready to step up too is good."
A sell-out crowd is expected, so fans better grab what's left. According to Sealy, they could provide the difference.
"With the fans being right there and being able to motivate you when they need to or to get down on the other team when you need that extra push, it's always good. At the same time, if you're not playing well and they are talking about you, you can probably hear it too," he said. "Hopefully, every game is sold out and the fans can really push us over the edge in these home games."
Bob Rusert is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
