When the Columbus Crew played the Kansas City Wizards in the April 1 season opener at Arrowhead Stadium, Sigi Schmid's club did not appear to match Kansas City in any aspect of the game.
The Wizards' 3-1 victory reflected that appearance, but that was four weeks ago and a few things have changed.
Whether enough has changed for the Crew to get pick up three points this Saturday when they meet Kansas City at Crew Stadium remains to be seen.
The Wizards are coming off a one-goal loss at FC Dallas where the winning goal was scored in second-half stoppage time. Columbus defeated the Los Angeles Galaxy last week with a stoppage-time winner of their own in Schmid's first trip to L.A. coaching against the Galaxy.
"Nothing serves a team better than a win," Wizards coach Bob Gansler said. "When you have a road win it's times two. That's what Columbus enjoyed last week. The fact that it was in coach Schmid's old stomping ground might make it times three. I am sure that they will be fueled by that."
With a victory at Houston on April 8 already in the books, the Wizards do not have to wonder if they can take their game on the road and win with it. The Wizards just have to remember that it's a physical battle on the field as well, something they needed to do a better job of Sunday at FC Dallas.
"I feel we have the wherewithal to go into any stadium and get a result," Gansler said. "We not only have to play well, but we have to battle well."
Both FC Dallas goals were of the type that are correctable, Wizards defender Jimmy Conrad said. When a team scores against the Wizards, they should be made to earn it, he said.
"Obviously, we came off a bit of a shocker and gave up some goals that we are not necessarily happy with," Conrad said. "We're looking to correct that as well. People are going to score. Just make them the greatest goals you've ever seen."
On the other of the field, the Wizards have seen seven goals scored by seven different players. Not only does an opponent not know who might strike next for the Wizards, any Wizards player who has not yet scored a goal is only one behind the team leaders.
Other than Nick Garcia's injured right ring finger, the Wizards are a healthy bunch. Garcia, who suffered the injury Sunday in a collision with FC Dallas forward Roberto Mina, will not play Saturday.
The Crew will be without midfielder Danny Szetela and defender Marcos Gonzalez, both of whom played in the season opener, as well as Jacob Thomas, who had since moved into the starting lineup.
Someone other than Szetela will be around to cause problems for Wizards midfielder Sasha Victorine.
"I think it just gives them another defensive guy in the middle of the field who can help clog things up," Victorine said. "Hopefully, without him there we can make use of that and make some more opportunities."
But the Crew will have defender Frankie Hejduk available. Hejduk, who did not play in the season opener, does not just have speed, he has it for 90 minutes.
"We all know what energy level he plays at," Gansler said. "We have to contend with that and we have to match that."
The Crew's victory in Los Angeles is a clear signal that this time around the Wizards will not have as easily as they did in the season opener. Victorine, who played under Schmid for five seasons at Los Angeles, is in a good position to see Schmid's influence taking hold.
"They are a better team than they were at the beginning of the season," Victorine said. "I think they are starting to believe in the system they are playing under Sigi."
But the Wizards appear to believe just as much in Gansler's coaching and the system under which they play. It will take more than the loss at FC Dallas to shake that confidence.
"We lost and we feel that we should win," Victorine said. "We feel we should win every game we play. I think that's the attitude that, hopefully, is going to carry us to the championship."
Robert Whitman is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
