we had to work for every goal."
Toronto proved stubborn as it held steady in the back despite the Wizards' nine first-half shots. The Wizards wanted to get off to a good start, and Johnson's goal provided the boost.
"We did that and we did it under some very difficult circumstances. It was a very slick field. When the field is that slick it is difficult to play the style of soccer we want to play," Wizards head coach Curt Onalfo said. "You have to give our guys credit -- they played the way they are supposed to play for the majority of the game."
It wasn't until midfielder Kerry Zavagnin's 55th-minute goal that the Wizards could even consider the night near done.
"It wasn't easy. We knew that if we got the second goal, we [might] have an easier time. Once we did get that second goal, it was a little bit easier to get a third and put the game away," Zavagnin said.
Once the third goal came through second-year forward Yura Movsisyan's first MLS goal, the Wizards could reap their reward and enjoy a complete performance, a reward that came with perseverance on the night, but also one that began with a concerted effort throughout the preseason to be more of a team.
"One thing that we've done this year as opposed to last year or the year before is that we've really started working hard for each other," Zavagnin said.
Another good sign was the effort of Carlos Marinelli. While Onalfo said he still isn't match fit, the Wizards boss said he brought a lot to the game.
"I thought he was excellent. He is a great passer of the ball. He worked defensively when he needed to, but you could see that he has a good understanding with Davy (Arnaud) and Eddie (Johnson) about how we want to attack," Onalfo said. "It was an excellent first start for Carlos."
Good things spread quickly when a team has a working camaraderie, and Movsisyan was a proud benefactor.
"It feels great. I know it took awhile. It's great to score and win at home," the Armenian native said of his first professional goal. "I didn't really feel like it was going in. Once it deflected, I thought it was going out. But once I saw the ball in the net, there it was. Hopefully more to come."
More victories will certainly build the Wizards' spirit -- that's just what they have planned for Saturday's trip to Toronto's BMO Field for the rematch in the home-and-home series this week.
"It's a good time. We're 2-1 in the league; we'd like to be 3-1 come Saturday night," Zavagnin said. "We knew coming into tonight that Toronto was going to be a tough team despite their first two losses. With us having our fifth game in 15 days, we are obviously going to be physically worn and we will be going against a team looking to redeem what happened tonight."
Bob Rusert is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
