Kansas City want to strike first against Toronto

Kamara and the Wizards will hope to strike first when they visit Toronto on Saturday. (Otto Greule Jr./Getty Images)

KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- As the Wizards current winless streak slowly ballooned to nine games, the pressure to perform steadily grew along with it.

In the aftermath of each missed opportunity, the swagger Kansas City started the season with faded little by little, leaving the team searching for a remedy to its slide from early contender to also-ran.

With another tough match Saturday against Toronto FC threatening to make it an even 10 matches without a victory, Kansas City hope that an early goal can help shift the pressure onto Toronto’s shoulders and help restore some of the magic that propelled the Wizards to a quick start.

“That’s the confidence we need,” goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen said. “To get a goal and to protect it instead of always hunting and hunting and hunting.”

And hunt the Wizards have.

After jumping on D.C. United and the Colorado Rapid, the club’s lone victories of 2010, Kansas City have lost five of seven and conceded first in six of those matches. The other? A nil-nil draw against the Galaxy.

The statistics don’t lie. Teams that score first have won nearly 80 percent of the time (61-5-12 overall) this season in MLS and rarely walk away without at least a draw. That stat is something that hasn’t escaped head coach Peter Vermes.

“[An early goal] would let us drive the game,” Vermes said. “You can almost --I don’t want to say sit back--, but you can take a breath and let the other team come. And as they come, then we can really use our weapons.”

In other words, the Wizards could “hunt” when it made sense and let the pressure of an early deficit weight on their opponent’s minds when it’s time to sit back and defend.

Of course, theory and practice are two different things. TFC certainly won’t be easy to breakdown or keep off the scoreboard, and the odds are stacked in its favor.

The Reds are on a six-game unbeaten streak, not to mention the fact that TFC are 4-0-0 at BMO field this season, allowing only two goals while scoring nine.

Kansas City, on the other hand, will be without suspended captain Davy Arnaud and even a draw would give the Wizards their first road result this season.

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“For us, it’s not so much a matter of Toronto being hot and undefeated at home,” midfielder Jack Jewsbury said, “it’s about worrying about what we do, being tough and being aware of their game-changer, [Dwayne] De Rosario.”

But no matter the final result, both sides understand how important the first goal will be --even if they are at opposite ends of the momentum spectrum.

As the statistics show, the result will more than likely ride on it.

“You work hard every week to get a good result on the weekend, and you get a knockdown,” Nielsen said. “We have a great team, we just need the confidence and we need to score the first goal now.”

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Buddle steals the show in 3-1 US win

Galaxy duo Landon Donovan and Edson Buddle celebrate a goal by MLS' leading scorer (Getty Images)

Edson Buddle made the most of a start against Australia by scoring his first two international goals in the USA's final World Cup tuneup match in Roodepoort, South Africa on Saturday. Second-half sub Herculez Gomez also scored in stoppage time as Bob Bradley's squad registered a 3-1 win over their fellow World Cup participants.

The Galaxy forward struck twice in the first half as he took Jozy Altidore's place in the lineup. A right ankle sprain suffered in midweek sidelined Altidore and it was Buddle who kicked off the match alongside Real Salt Lake striker Robbie Findley.

See the PHOTO GALLERY from Saturday's match

The US took a 1-0 lead on the Socceroos after Buddle stripped Aussie midfielder Vincenzo Grella 30 yards from goal just four minutes into the match. The New York native advanced to the top of the box before rifling home a shot which easily beat Australia goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer inside the right post.

Findley nearly doubled the US lead in the 15th minute after beating the Australian offside trap on a through ball from Clint Dempsey. The RSL speedster flew into the box and rounded Schwarzer before firing wide right with the goal at his mercy.

Australia's Tim Cahill momentarily equalized on a dead ball situation in the 19th minute. A corner kick from the right side found Cahill at the back post. The forward beat his Everton teammate Tim Howard with a sliding shot which found its way past defender Steve Cherundolo, who was guarding the back post for the US.

However, Buddle re-established the US lead in the 31st minute when he got on the end of a Cherundolo cross to head home from close range at the far post between two Aussie defenders.

The Australians did generate their fair share of opportunities in the first half with a long distance shot by Luke Wilkshire (30th min), a Josh Kennedy header from close range that finished wide right (34th min) and a Jason Culina shot that was parried away by Howard (35th min).

The Socceroos looked the better side in the second half as they chased for the equalizer. US goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann, who came on at the break for Howard, made key saves on close range shots from Mark Bresciano (59th min) and Scott Chipperfield (63rd min), while also parrying a Nikita Rukavytsya drive (75th min).

The best second-half sequence from the USA came in the 52nd minute as the Americans peppered Schwarzer's net but were unable to score. Landon Donovan sent a through ball to Buddle into the left side of the box. MLS' top scorer crossed the ball to Findley, who struck the crossbar. After a failed clearance by the Aussies, Michael Bradley fired a shot which Schwarzer blocked. Dempsey pounced on the rebound and seemingly scored on a diving header which was called back after the referee whistled Findley for offside.

After coming off the bench to score his first international goal against the Czech Republic last week, Gomez proved again he can fill the role of super-sub with a goal in second-half stoppage time. Donovan delivered the cross from the right and Gomez calmly slotted home for the final 3-1 score.

For the second consecutive match, Oguchi Onyewu was not selected to start in central defense but came on with a half-hour remaining. Clarence Goodson was once again preferred over Onyewu, who is still working his way to full fitness from a knee injury suffered last October. Australian star Harry Kewell did not see action in the match, as he recovers from a groin injury.

The USA will conduct a light training session on Sunday and the team will have an off day on Monday. The squad will then get together again on Tuesday to begin preparing in earnest for next Saturday's World Cup Group C opener against England.

Scoring: USA - Buddle 4' & 31'; AUS - Cahill 19'; USA - Gomez 93'+

USA: Tim Howard (46' Marcus Hahnemann) - Steve Cherundolo, Clarence Goodson (61' Oguchi Onyewu), Jay DeMerit, Carlos Bocanegra (c) (55' Jonathan Bornstein) - Landon Donovan, Ricardo Clark, Michael Bradley, Clint Dempsey (82' Herculez Gomez) - Edson Buddle (79' DaMarcus Beasley), Robbie Findley

AUSTRALIA: Mark Schwarzer - Luke Wilkshire, Lucas Neill (c), Craig Moore, Scott Chipperfield - Richard Garcia (71' Nikita Rukavytsya), Vincenzo Grella, Jason Culina (61' Dario Vidosic), Mark Bresciano - Tim Cahill (46' Carl Valeri), Josh Kennedy

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Houston respect, but don't fear, unbeaten LA

Houston will try to avenge a 2-0 loss at home on April 10 to unbeaten Los Angeles. (Bob Levey/Getty Images)

HOUSTON -- The hottest team in MLS faces off against one of the team’s that may be the hottest under the collar as Los Angeles and the Houston square off Saturday night at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. But although the frustrated Dynamo respect the unbeaten Galaxy, they are far from quaking in their boots.

“They can’t do anything wrong right now. They are playing well and they’ve got younger guys stepping up and doing the job for them,” said defender Mike Chabala, who has not recovered enough from his injury to travel to LA for the game. “They are a good team, but at the same time, they are a team that is beatable.”

They may be beatable, but no side has proven Chabala’s theory correct yet. The defense-first Galaxy, who have conceded a measly two goals in 11 games, remind the Houston Dynamo of their former selves.

“They are a team that reminds me of our team a few years ago; just a good solid team,” noted forward Brian Ching. “Their best attribute is their defense, as it’s winning them a lot of games. They have two goals against them all year, that’s amazing.

“Bruce has them buying into the system and they are doing it well,” continued Ching. “They’re not blowing teams out or winning by huge margins, but they are solid team from back to front and they have a lot of confidence right now.”

Head coach Dominic Kinnear is also well aware of their quality in defense. As a result, he believes that scoring first against them may be the key on Saturday night.

“When they score first, they defend great,” explained Kinnear. “Any time they are under pressure, Donovan Ricketts clears any pressure back to him and he clears it with accuracy a good distance away. They squeeze the field and make it difficult for you. Could the key be scoring first against them? We’ll see, but no one has done it yet.”

Fresh in the Dynamo’s memory would be their 2-0 defeat to the Galaxy at Robertson Stadium. On that night, Houston made two defensive mistakes and LA punished both errors. Other than those mistakes, though, the two sides played neck and neck.

WATCH: MATCH HIGHLIGHTS HOU vs LA, 4/10/10

“They came in here, took advantage of two mistakes that we made and closed the game out,” noted Kinnear. “People have said that maybe we should have beat them, but no one has beat them yet.”

With the team coming off a bad loss in a mid-week game and some cross-country travel, it seems like there are plenty of excuses built-in for a bad showing. But the Dynamo don’t exactly agree.

“When is it a good time to play the best team in the league?” questioned defender Craig Waibel. “Saturday may as well be it.”

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Chivas hoping lightning strikes again vs. NY

Jesus Padilla scored in Chivas USA's 2-0 defeat of NY earlier this year. (Getty Images)

CARSON, Calif. — Last summer, Chivas USA had lost five consecutive MLS matches when the team finally snapped its losing streak by beating the New York Red Bulls 2-0 on August 15.

This season, the Goats will once again be looking to dig themselves out of a hole against the Red Bulls when they face the Eastern Conference foe this Saturday in New York. And with four losses in their last four games, the Red-and-White are in desperate need of points before the impending World Cup break.

“The team is focused,” Chivas USA striker Chukwudi Chijindu said. “We have to get back to doing the little things that made us successful at the start of the season. We need to do our best and work hard to get out this hole.”

The Goats have already faced off against New York once this season, relying on an own-goal from goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul and a 90th minute strike from Jesus Padilla for 2-0 victory over the Red Bulls at The Home Depot Center on April 10.

WATCH: Chivas defeat NY, 2-0

“[That win] gives us a better idea of what we can do to win the game,” said Chijindu. “But that was early in the season, and now they’re at home. They’re going to have more energy and we are going to have to match that.”

Of primary concern for Chivas USA will be containing New York captain Juan Pablo Ángel, whose six goals so far this season tie him for third-most in MLS. Having scored in each of the Red Bulls’ last two games, the Colombian-born striker will likely be brimming with confidence on Saturday.

“Ángel is always an issue,” said Chijindu. “He’s great in the air and an experienced player. They also have a couple other guys that give good service. I think we’re just going to have to neutralize their key guys and do our best to play our game.”

Giving a boost to Chivas USA, however, is the return of Maykel Galindo. The Cuban native had been sidelined with a sprained ankle but returned to action last weekend with a goal against DC United.

“I’m happy to be back working with the group,” said Galindo. “It’s nice to be able to try and help the team as we get through this rough patch. It all depends on us. We know what we have to do to get a result and it’s up to us to do it.”

The trip will be Chivas USA’s first to New York’s brand new Red Bull Arena, and the Goats will certainly be looking to christen their inaugural visit to the new ground with a win.

“I’ve heard it’s a great facility,” said Chijindu. “But a great facility is nothing if you can’t get a victory in it.”

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Galaxy wary of struggling West foes Houston

Omar Gonzalez is ready to face Brian Ching and the Houston Dynamo. (Getty Images)

CARSON, Calif. – The last time the Los Angeles Galaxy played Houston at Home Depot Center, the two clubs were at the top of their game.

At Home Depot Center on Nov. 15, the Galaxy and Dynamo battled for the 2009 Western Conference title and for a berth in MLS Cup ’09.

Now, the only club who looks anything like a title contender is the Galaxy.

Sporting the league’s best record at 9-0-2, the Galaxy will host a depleted and possibly demoralized Houston Dynamo side, at Home Depot Center on Saturday. Fresh off a 2-1 loss at New York, Houston will have had to endure a cross-country flight and will meet up against the league’s toughest defense in a place the Galaxy have not lost since late last season.

Overall, Houston have a 5-7-1 record and have yet to win consecutive games on the season. Despite that, Galaxy coach Bruce Arena said he doesn’t expect anything different from Houston.

“They are always difficult to play against,” Arena said. “They have one of the best forwards in the league in Brian Ching, an excellent ‘keeper in [Pat] Onstad, other experienced and quality players like [Brian] Mullan and [Brad] Davis, and they have some experienced center backs.”

Houston and the Galaxy have already met this year, on April 10 at Robertson Stadium, and the Galaxy throttled Houston 2-0. But to watch tape on how Houston played in that match wouldn’t make too much sense – at least not how their forwards worked together – since Houston did not have Ching in that match.

Ching brings an added dimension to the team.

“They’re a very different team with Ching,” Galaxy defender Omar Gonzalez said. “Ching is a big guy up top and can hold the ball very well.”

Gonzalez did well stopping Houston’s forwards in the first matchup. He drew a foul that led to a red card as Houston’s Luis Angel Landin took a swing at Gonzalez after the two tussled near the end line late in the first half.

The match in general, and perhaps even their loss to the Galaxy in November, could cause Houston to have a little extra bite than they’d normally have.

“We already beat them at [their] home so they’re going to want to come and beat us over here," Gonzalez said. "They’re going to come fired up. I don’t think they’re going to let the game [Wednesday] slow them down. We’ve got to get prepared and get ready for Saturday.”

The Galaxy could rely once more on youngster Tristan Bowen in the attack. Bowen and Michael Stephens accounted for the Galaxy’s offense in that match as the club beat Columbus 2-0 last week.

WATCH: LA defeats Columbus, 2-0

Bowen said there were similarities between both Houston and Columbus.

“It’s going to be a good battle; Houston’s a physical team like Columbus,” Galaxy forward Tristan Bowen said. “But if we do what we need to do, we should be able to get a result out of it.”

Mostly, the Galaxy are cautious about their opponent and are approaching this match with the hopes of continuing both their own strong form as well as continuing to pile on Houston.

“They have a good team and haven’t found their rhythm yet,” Arena said. “[We’re] hopeful they don’t find it on Saturday and we could do a good enough job to put them under pressure to get the three points.”

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The Soap Box: Fire fan pleads for character

The biggest concern for Fire fans this season? A lack of leadership on the field. (David Banks/Getty)

If only Peter Nowak was still a Man in Red. The Fire legend is back in Chicago this weekend as the head coach of the Philadelphia Union, but perhaps he’d be better served anchoring an unsteady Fire midfield still looking to find its form under new coach Carlos de los Cobos.

Section 8 fixture Ben Burton, for one, might be pining for the old days in Chicago. He takes to the Soap Box this week to talk about Nowak’s legacy, the Brian McBride-Collins John tandem and a serious lack of character on the field.

MLSsoccer.com: Peter Nowak’s back in town this weekend. What do you make of his new role in Philadelphia?

BB: We’re actually having a little party for him (Friday night), and he’s gonna come out and say hello to all the old school fans. We still embrace him. He’s our legend. As we’ve been saying lately, “your coach, our legend.”

MLSsoccer.com: Is Peter the greatest player the Fire’s ever had?

BB: That’s a tough one. Lubos Kubik was always my favorite, but Peter was obviously up there with Hristo Stoichkov, and even in recent years, Cuauhtemoc Blanco was very good. Peter was the heart and soul of the team, and even if he wasn’t necessarily the best player, he was the epitome of the team.

MLSsoccer.com: So what’s the epitome of this 2010 team?

BB: Are you sure we can’t just keep talking about the glory years instead of this team?

MLSsoccer.com: We have to move on.

BB: Okay. The coach is trying out some new things, so I’m not so worried right now. You bring a coach in late, you have to let him get used to the players. I’m not happy with the way they’re performing, and I think they need to toughen up and speed up in the midfield. But you give them a break for the World Cup, bring them back and put their nose to the grindstone, as they say, to see if we can make a season out of it.

MLSsoccer.com: What do you make of de los Cobos’ changes?

BB: I’m not worried about the choices he’s made. I’m more worried about the players themselves. He’s given a lot of guys opportunities, and no one’s truly grabbing hold of them. And that’s really disappointing. The only thing that irks me about his choices is that I’d like to see two strikers instead of one, especially if our midfield can’t hold the ball for more than two seconds. It’s a bit of a conundrum.

MLSsoccer.com: So who do you put up top?

BB: Brian McBride and Collins John up top is what I’d like to see. Patrick Nyarko has been really successful on the right, but until he learns how to strike the ball, then he shouldn’t be up top. With Patrick on the right and Justin Mapp on the left, McBride and John up top, you have a decent start. But there’s a gaping hole in the middle just not being filled by anyone.

MLSsoccer.com: What would help?

BB: He’s been hurt, but John Thorrington would help, because he has some speed, and we lack that. And he has tenacity. We don’t have either right now in the midfield. You can’t teach speed, but you certainly can teach a little grit. Someone has to step up and take control.

MLSsoccer.com: What do you make of de los Cobos’ offseason moves?

BB:Krzysztof Krol has been one of our best players. He’s made some mistakes, but he’s successful at going forward, and he’s very good on the ball, for a defender especially. He’s been a bright spot. I’m still waiting to see John produce, because I’ve seen him in training and he has the skills to really be an above average MLS striker. I’m hoping to see him break out. Julio Martinez I’ve been disappointed with, because I thought we finally had a true right winger that we haven’t had in a long time. We’ve had Nyarko there or Chris Rolfe before, but it’s been a long time since we had a great one there. Martinez doesn’t look like he’s the guy.

MLSsoccer.com: Will you guys become a threat to win the Eastern Conference?

BB: I think we’re going to be a playoff-bound team, even if it doesn’t look like it right now. We need a midfield acquisition, and someone has to do it. Maybe with this World Cup break people will watch some good soccer, maybe have a few beers and relax, they’ll come back reinvigorated. But someone has to take control of the team, because we don’t have that sprit out there right now. Someone’s wearing the captain’s armband right now, but there doesn’t really seem to be a captain. Someone has to fill that role.

MLSsoccer.com: Will the Fire make a move to get another Mexican player to fill the hole left by Blanco?

BB: I’d go elsewhere. It’s hard to find a good Mexican player at a good price, because they have a league that they’re successful in already. We already have a Mexican coach, and I don’t want to cater to any one individual nationality. I don’t think that’s the way to go. We should cater to building a successful team. Chicago’s proven they have fans and they’ll come out for a successful team; they’re a good fan base. But there’s just something about this team that has no character. That character could come from the Ukraine, from Russia, I don’t care. But you offer these fans character, people will have something to latch onto and embrace.

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Colombians vouch for newest FCD acquisition

Jair Benitez is praising FCD's acquisition of fellow Colombian Milton Rodriguez. (Bob Levey/Getty)

FRISCO, Tex. -- When FC Dallas head coach Schellas Hyndman was contemplating adding Colombian striker Milton Rodriguez earlier this year, he asked defender Jair Benitez and midfielder David Ferreira for their thoughts on the move.

Both Colombia natives, Benitez and Ferreira knew their countryman well, and offered solid feedback about the team’s potential new arrival.

“I did talk to Jair, who played with him. I talked to David too and asked them how he was as a player,” Hyndman said. “They said he’s a very good player. He has an unbelievable left foot. He’s great on free kicks, shots and finishing. He’s a good man and has got a family.”

Rodriguez arrived in Frisco on Tuesday, attended training on Wednesday and was slated to participate on Thursday.

“I am very excited and very happy to have another Colombian on the team. Hopefully the goals start coming,” Benitez said. “I hope everything works out. There’s unity here with three Colombians on the team.”

Said Ferriera: “He’s a very important player, a very experienced goal scorer. If he can come in here and cement himself as a goal scorer, it will be very good for the team.”

Both starters also talked about their time as Rodriguez’s teammate and how excited they are to play alongside him once again.

“We did play together with Deportivo Cali. He’s known for his heading and a very hard kick,” Benitez said. “Hopefully everything just comes together, he meshes with the group and the goals just start coming for FC Dallas.”

While Benitez spent several seasons as Rodriguez’s teammate at the club level, Ferreira and his new teammate played together on the international stage.

“We have played together on the Colombian national team. We have played against each other in club play,” Ferreira said. “He’s a very good, well-known player and that’s why Coach Schellas (Hyndman) brought him here because the goals have been lacking.”

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