They have not won in four matches, but the Kansas City Wizards see no reason to change how they are playing.
"We approach Wednesday just as we have been approaching the last four or five games because we've been playing well," said forward Davy Arnaud about the Wizards' July 4, high noon encounter with D.C. United at Arrowhead Stadium.
Kansas City and D.C. last met at United's RFK Stadium in what was the Wizards' first match of the season and United's first home match. In a downpour, the Wizards executed their then newly adopted attacking philosophy with precision in a 4-2 win.
Since then, through the ups and downs of a season nearing its halfway point, the Wizards have been true to coach Curt Onalfo and his staff's bold insistence.
"It's a commitment to send numbers forward; it's a commitment to try and press and play a little bit farther up the field; it's a willingness to take a little risk," said Onalfo. "If you have an opportunity one-v-one, try to take the guy on. It still has to be right tactically; if it's one against two, then you don't do it. That's a theme we have set since day one, and it's been pretty good so far."
Although the results have faded recently, there is plenty of statistical evidence to support the benefits of the Wizards' attacking style: the Wizards are currently in second place in the competitive Eastern Conference and are tied for the top in goals scored per game. But more importantly, the Wizards have a stronger plan tactically than ever before.
"Our game last year was one-dimensional. We tried to play right up the middle of the field; we didn't have a lot of width," said midfielder Sasha Victorine. "This year we tried to incorporate a lot more variations to it being able to go wide and whip crosses in, also being able to go through the midfield. Our biggest threat ... is the ability to get behind teams. That's the thing we've really looked at, if it's running at guys or putting the ball into space for guys running onto it."
With viable options of playing to the skillful feet and vision of Carlos Marinelli in center midfield, to the flanks for the speedy Arnaud or rookie Michael Harrington, or directly through for the forwards, the Wizards have gotten off a league high 199 shots, with a league high 88 on goal. As in their previous two games, Kansas City had little to show for their abundance of shots at the end of Sunday's 1-1 draw with Toronto FC.
"I'm a positive guy; I'm not going to dwell on the negatives," Onalfo said after the match. "There are things we didn't do well tonight, but we're going to make sure we get those better for Wednesday as much as we can and build on the positive. We're a team that fights hard and right now the ball isn't going into the back of the net as much as we want."
Not only will the Wizards likely need to score more than one against D.C., they will need to keep United's attackers off the board. Their shots have been bulging the twine recently, 12 times in the last four games, helping them to wins in three; United are just behind the Wizards in goals per game.
K.C.'s attacking style demands that its backs be athletic and know how to defend intelligently. Fortunately the backline has held strong, allowing a respectable four goals in the last three games, despite some shuffling. Sunday, Onalfo was forced to replace left back Jose Burciaga, Jr., and center back Aaron Hohlbein at halftime due to injury. Harrington dropped to left back, and Tyson Wahl took Hohlbein's spot. No matter who mans the back four and the midfield, Onalfo has certain expectations.
"We must do a much better job of winning that initial ball and not letting [attackers] get that initial ball and being dangerous," said Onalfo.
The importance of eliminating attacks early will be of special emphasis against United, who sport plenty of attacking options themselves. The four-time MLS Cup champions are led by Brazilian Luciano Emilio, who has scored in four consecutive games, and reigning MLS MVP Christian Gomez.
"If you keep playing well and you keep creating chances, in the long run, you are going to score goals and you're going to win games," said Arnaud. "We know that. But right now, it's frustrating. Not that we're in a bad position in the conference, but we should be in a really good position right now with the way we've been playing."
With the two sides having little reason to back down from their attacking philosophies, the holiday encounter could bring plenty of fireworks, especially when a win by either side puts that team on top in the East.
So on to the attack. As Kansas City forward Scott Sealy said, "That's what people want to see anyway."
Bob Rusert is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
