KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Fortunes can fluctuate quickly in Major League Soccer. Four weeks ago, the Wizards were 3-8-3 and appeared headed toward another disappointing season, poorly timed in the buildup to the opening of their new stadium in 2011.
Now, a four-game unbeaten streak has the Wizards just six points removed from the eighth and final playoff spot with 12 games to go. Suddenly, they have plenty of reasons to believe they can do much more than just stay in the postseason conversation as they prepare to travel to San Jose this weekend.
“It’s been done time and time again,” manager Peter Vermes said of the club's chances of climbing into a playoff position and even making a deep postseason run.
Most recently, Real Salt Lake squeaked into the postseason nine months ago and proceeded to race to an improbable MLS Cup championship. The season before that, the New York Red Bulls played the Cinderella, going from the final playoff spot to the title game.
To bring matters even closer to home, Vermes was a member of one of MLS' first comeback stories. The Wizards manager played on the 1997 Colorado Rapids team that qualified for the playoffs on the last day of the season before embarking on a far-fetched run to the final. And there is an coincidental twist for Vermes in the way the Rapids got there.
“Kansas City was our nemesis in the group,” Vermes said. “We played them four times that season, and they outscored us 15-2 in four games. Then we came here [in the playoffs], and we shut them out 3-0. Go back home, beat them 3-2 and we’re off to the next round.”
Colorado’s magnificent run ended at the hands of D.C. United, but for Vermes, it all goes to show that no team is down and out until the final whistle blows on the season – something he believes his players have understood this year even when the rough times made it difficult to see the long-term potential.
“The thing I love about the group is that we’ve stayed very focused on us, our game and trying to get better with the way we play,” Vermes said. “The guys have been pretty confident around it. With that being said, it takes guys being resolute and strong-minded to stick with that because you can easily lose your confidence when you aren’t getting results.”
And while the team’s confidence certainly suffered during a brutal stretch of results in May and June, the swagger and determination that defined the Wizards early start is beginning to work its way back into the players. Back in the playoff picture after some uncertain times, Vermes’ side has a chance to defy the odds and join the ranks of the many MLS long shots that went from also rans to pivotal players in the season’s final acts.
It won’t be easy by any means, but the Wizards are fortunate to have only four games remaining against current playoff sides even if they must play seven of 12 on the road. For now, records aside, the team is focused on the challenge that awaits. Even if it’s not always smooth sailing from here on out.
“There are going to be some more up and downs through the season,” Vermes said, “but we’ve got to continue to be focused on the prize ahead of us.”
