KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- Win the battles, you win the war. For the Kansas City Wizards -- last place in MLS's Eastern Conference and winless in their last seven -- every match is a fight.
The good news is that the Wizards are coming off an encouraging performance last Saturday amidst the daunting atmosphere that is Toronto FC's BMO Field.
"A game where I was pleased with the fact that every single player won their individual battles," said Kansas City head coach Curt Onalfo of the 0-0 draw. "In MLS, the team that rolls up their sleeves, fights, and wins their battles positions themselves to be successful. Then the soccer can carry over and help you win. ... We won every 50-50 ball; we, more often than not, were first to every second ball. That, over the course of the game, makes a psychological statement to the other team."
The performance was a vast improvement over the Saturday before when the Wizards put in a listless performance in front of a sellout crowd at home (one that drew comparisons to a 7-0 home loss on July 4, 2001 to Chicago in front of nearly 20,000), losing 3-0 to the Columbus Crew. "[The draw at Toronto] positions ourselves ... to walk in confidently knowing that we have to do the exact same thing: we have to fight, win our individual battles, make sure we're putting the other team under pressure, keep sending the numbers forward, create the chances, and this time make sure we put them in the back of the net," Onalfo said.
And the lineup Onalfo will put out will be one that will be focused on attack.
"We may very well put some more attacking players on the field in this game against Real Salt Lake to try and really put them on their heels and have a little bit more of a presence up front," Onalfo said.
Part of the lineup will include a change instituted in Toronto. Ever-versatile Jack Jewsbury, who has played in a variety of spots in the midfield thus far, will take up at right back where his attacking skills can help Kansas City push more numbers up the field and where his understanding with right midfielder Davy Arnaud can flourish. Additionally, Claudio Lopez will likely move away from the front line to attack from the midfield while Scott Sealy and Ivan Trujillo combine up top.
The increase in chances created in Toronto, where the Wizards outshot their opponent 11-7, and the attacking changes will hopefully spur a Wizards offense currently averaging 0.83 goals per game.
"Right now, we're just looking to really break out. We've been consistently good defensively in the last few games," said Jewsbury. "We've created the chances to score a lot of goals; it's just a matter of it coming. Once you get that first one, you get that monkey off your back, hopefully, they'll just start rolling in for us."
Unbeaten in their last five, visiting Real Salt Lake is on a roll and find themselves in second place in the Western Conference. The Wizards are more concerned about a roll of their own though.
"We're not doing as well as we would like, but it's not for the lack of work on the practice field," said Lopez through a translator. "We need to keep working hard and we'll get better. It's essential that we put up a little winning streak. That will give us a boost."
A roll might have to begin without two regular starters, however. Center midfielder Kerry Zavagnin's foot strain will keep him out in favor of Kurt Morsink, and captain Jimmy Conrad is questionable after hurting a foot in training on Wednesday.
"He's struggling a little bit. It's going to be a game-time decision," said Onalfo. "Knowing Jimmy and his mentality, there isn't much that keeps him off the field. The good thing is his foot's not broken."
The Wizards will also be battling to mend their fractured relationship with their fans, using the June 14 letdown as the rallying cry.
"My pregame talk with the team is going to be about redemption and making up. When you have 10,000 fans [a sellout], you have to make sure you go out and perform because we didn't show up the game before," said Onalfo. "A performance you can be proud of is one where you leave everything on the field. ... If you give everything you have, more often than not, we're going to win the game."
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