The Kansas City Wizards are off to a great start. Two games. Two wins. Maximum points, points that will come in handy at the end of the season in the jockeying for playoff seeding and home-field advantage.
But otherwise, as the New England Revolution come to CommunityAmerica Ballpark on Wednesday night, the undefeated start doesn't mean much.
"We're pretty happy with the first two results of the year, but the season is a marathon. It's about being consistent," said third-year defender Tyson Wahl. "The three years I've been here, we've had great starts each year. It's been our challenge to keep that success rolling on throughout the whole season."
In each of the last two seasons, the Wizards have won four of their first five matches yet ended up fighting for their playoff lives at the end both times.
Thus the two matches this week against the two most consistent teams in MLS over the past two seasons -- the visit by the Revolution will be followed by the Houston Dynamo on Saturday -- bring something more than coincidence. Lessons can be taken from the two sides that have squared off in MLS Cup the last two seasons.
"They're two teams that compete extremely hard, and they're hard to play against. It starts with the forward line and through each line through to the goalkeeping position," said Wizards head coach Curt Onalfo. "If you compete hard for 90 minutes and keep concentrating, you're always going to have a chance to win games. That's what they do regardless of who's on the field."
There are no qualms about the Wizards' effort so far this season. A high work rate and some 87th-minute heroics from striker Scott Sealy pulled out a 3-2 win last Saturday over the Colorado Rapids. Following that emotional win with a Wednesday-Saturday set, though, could mean some tired bodies and minds come late in the match on either day.
Fatigue is not a major concern to Onalfo, but he does have some concerns.
"We're making a couple of changes to the lineup [Wednesday], but not so much [based] on fitness ...," he said. "I'm concerned with guys who haven't been with us the entire preseason. If guys have been with us the entire preseason, they'll be fine for these games."
Players still recovering from injuries and the late acquisitions -- forwards Ivan Trujillo and Claudio Lopez -- are the ones who would likely have the biggest obstacles when it comes to fitness and their ability to play strongly for 90 minutes each time out in a busy week.
"We had three weeks of a preseason with [Lopez]. He had been off for a long period of time, so we're just going to monitor him closely over these next two games," said Onalfo.
But that certainly doesn't mean the savvy World Cup veteran won't see the field in both contests.
"I feel these games are really going to help him find his rhythm," Onalfo said. "Then we'll just need a couple of weeks, and I think he'll really be able to make a huge impact for our team consistently throughout the season."
While consistency has been a by-word for the Wizards this season, what haven't been consistent are their performances in the first half compared to the second half. Against the Rapids, the Wizards misfired on their connections and thus gave much of the play and the majority of the chances to Colorado in the first 15 minutes.
Playing your game and "[being] hard to play against" for 90 minutes, like the Revolution and Dynamo, is the key to performing consistently throughout a season, Onalfo said.
"You address it, and hopefully, that makes an impact," he said. "We also know that we have to address the teams that drop numbers behind the ball, which means you have to make the game. Sometimes what you see is more because of how the opponent lines up."
The Wizards are setting up their attitude and their fitness for October and November now.
"Our coaches do a really good job of watching our exertion and making sure we're energized at the right times," said Wahl. "I feel pretty well-rested right now having played on Saturday. Everyone is feeling pretty fresh and ready to go."
Said Onalfo: "Our plan is to come out flying [Wednesday]."
Bob Rusert is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
