KANSAS CITY - Reality is not lost on the Kansas City Wizards. After failing to gain more than a total of one point in their last three home games, they find themselves in a precarious position.
If the MetroStars score three or more points more than the Wizards in the matches remaining (five for the MetroStars and four for K.C.), Kansas City is likely not be invited to the MLS Cup Playoffs.
Conversely, if they can gain three more points than the Chicago Fire or five more than D.C. United, Kansas City can end up in second place in the Eastern Conference.
And a seven-year MLS veteran and member of MLS Best XI a year ago, central midfielder Kerry Zavagnin is literally and figuratively at the core of achieving the mission.
"I enjoy this time of year. The importance of the games as we come down to the last four in the regular season, you almost look at each one as a playoff game," he said. "[Fighting for a playoff spot] is a position I don't think we've been in here too much in Kansas City."
Zavagnin's own struggle through the season mirrors the struggle of the 2004 MLS Cup runners-up to consistently play a complete game.
"It was difficult to get back to the form that I was at last year because I had come into the season pretty worn down and was tossing back between the national team and the Wizards, and for a good portion of the preseason and into the early part of the regular season I had been sick and that's not the right way to get off to a good start," he said.
"Without the early success, it affected me a little bit. I just kept plugging away and slowly but surely I'm returning to the kind of form I want to be in. However, I'm not totally pleased 100 percent with where I'm at. But that's to be expected because I always want more," Zavagnin said.
If the Wizards are going to get more out of themselves, the first examination must be of the attack, including rookie Scott Sealy, whose scoring touch has gone cold in the last four matches.
"I don't know if the other guys think about me not scoring, but I definitely think about me not scoring. It's always on the mind, but as a forward the most important thing is that you get chances. And I think I've been getting chances. I just haven't been able to get them on frame," Sealy said.
That's been a parallel problem for the team as a whole: in their last three home games, the Wizards hit 45 shots, 13 on goal, and scored only two goals.
"I think it's just matter of time before I get a couple of bounces my way," Sealy said.
The Wizards have certainly been creating chances, a part of the game in which Sealy has recently become more adept.
"The beginning of season I don't think I was doing those things as well, and I wasn't really scoring. That was probably the reason I wasn't in the lineup as much," the 24-year- old striker said. "Now coach [Bob Gansler] knows that I could score goals, but I think a different aspect of my game is starting to take over. I'm able to help people find good spots and get people in good scoring positions. I'm maybe not scoring all the goals, but I think I'm playing my part on the field."
The Home Depot Center field will give Sealy and his strike partner Josh Wolff plenty of room to roam and get behind the Galaxy's defense, but it will also mean there is more room for the K.C. players to cover the Galaxy. That could result in what has become self-administered poison for the Wizards - giving up restarts in their own end. The last three goals they have allowed have come from restarts.
"We've been emphasizing the defensive end, being organized and being committed and being aggressive on our restarts. But all the rest of the emphasis has been on scoring and creating goals," said assistant coach Brian Bliss of this week's training. "If you look back at our last three games, we defended off the run of play pretty well. We've just been lackadaisical in our restarts."
Unlike the Wizards, the Galaxy have clinched a playoff spot despite a 4-1 loss to FC Dallas at Pizza Hut Park on Wednesday night. Yet Chris Albright and coach Steve Sampson spoke of ending the season strongly earlier this week to earn home-field advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
"We have to understand the situation that we're under. Usually this team responds well when our backs are against the wall. I don't know if we've collectively looked to see where we're at as a team right now and how dire our need is for a win at this point," Zavagnin said.
"This team, and this organization, has always responded in a positive way when we found ourselves in a must-win game or our backs were against the wall. So I'm pretty confident as the stakes get higher and higher, that we're going to have a positive response."
To that end, newly acquired forward Antti Sumiala will likely travel with the Wizards as they look to add a finishing touch to the side.
"Everywhere he's gone he's been able to put the ball in the back of the net. For us, we want him to contribute when called upon," said Bliss. "Nothing against Pat McGinnis or Ryan Pore, it's just that when you get down to the stretch of the season and you need points to make the playoffs and once you get in the playoffs ... a kid that age is not expected to do that. We feel Sumiala can play, and when given the opportunity, can score some."
The tactical viewpoints and the mentality talk are both important, but they are only means to the desired end - a playoff spot. And getting one step closer, however achieved, is the clear mission for the Kansas City Wizards in Los Angeles.
"You can't look any farther than this game in L.A. on Sunday. We need this game," Zavagnin said. "It'd be great to get three. Is the season over if we get one? No. But we do understand that it's now or never."
Robert Rusert is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
