Buoyed by a well-rounded performance in their last regular season game and a season-long self belief that has seen them through a post all-star break slump, the Kansas City Wizards are ready to make the most of their playoff opportunity. That chance will come Saturday night as they play host Chivas USA at Arrowhead Stadium in the first leg of their Western Conference Semifinal Series.
Odds are the Wizards trademark high-pressure, quick to go forward philosophy will create many goal-scoring opportunities. Yet the rate of finishing those chances will ultimately determine K.C.'s fate. Forward Scott Sealy can't wait to begin.
"I haven't played against Chivas this year," said the Trinidad and Tobago international. "Personally, watching them in the two games we played against Chivas, I felt that this was a defense that I can exploit. I think it's a great matchup."
Sealy's excitement also stems from his form of late -- five goals in four games. The rest likely comes from his strike partnership with Eddie Johnson. Their combined speed, skill and instincts often pay off well for the Wizards. Ideally, for the club, it pays off early and often Saturday.
"If things go your way -- if you can get an early goal and then defend well and get another one on a counter -- all a sudden you put yourself into a really good situation going into the game on the road," said Kansas City head coach Curt Onalfo.
Figure in that Chivas will be missing Ante Razov, their second-leading scorer, and that some other key components -- leading scorer Maykel Galindo and midfield leader Jesse Marsch -- could be hampered by injury, and the Wizards can hear opportunity knocking all the louder.
"We're starting to hit our stride a little, so playing against a nicked up Chivas side will be to our advantage," said Sealy.
A win in their home leg could be considered a must as Chivas USA dropped only one home contest during the regular season. Furthermore, they allowed only an astounding eight goals at The Home Depot Center in those 15 home games. Chivas are more forgiving on the road as they finished with a 5-6-4 road record and a minus-2 goal differential.
"We're going to come out sharp and score some goals," Sealy said.
The Wizards are a team that has many offensive weapons in Sealy and Johnson, as well as midfielders Davy Arnaud and Sasha Victorine, and a team capable of defensively shutting off any opponent's attacking flow with a veteran core down the middle through to goalkeeper Kevin Hartman.
"I don't think teams really want to play a team like us right now," said right back Jack Jewsbury. "They know that we're a dangerous team, and once we hit our stride, they don't want to be in the middle of that."
Bob Rusert is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
