U-Sector – The Original Toronto FC Supporters Group

Mid-season in Middle America

Friday, July 30, 2010

Is there any opponent that embodies the dregs of the MLS mid-season more than the Kansas City Wizards?

No disrespect to the great states of Missouri or Kansas, nor any to either Kansas City, but the Wizards are the definition of ‘meh’: A non-descript, unglamourous team in the middle of the continental U.S., far removed from any other team in the league, without any real stars, sporting a terrible record and playing in a minor league baseball park.

In other words, the Wizards are perhaps the most dangerous team for Toronto FC to face right now.

Amid the emotional highs of a Champions League series versus a Honduran side filled with returning World Cup veterans — and after having watched their captain score a goal against mighty Manchester United in front of 70,000 a couple of days ago — you could forgive the TFC players if they find it tough to be motivated against Kansas City, a team below the Reds in the standings.

That said, the Wizards are a team on the rise. They, too, can claim an emotional high off the backs of a Man United exhibition, as a 10-man Kansas side embarrassed an admittedly second-string Red Devils team 2-1 in front of 52,000 in Missouri last week. Prior to that, the Wizards have put together a string of decent, albeit not great, performances in the league following a horrendous first couple of months.

Young Canadian target man Teal Bunbury has found his place in the KC side lately, spear-heading a rejuvenated Wizards attack. The 19-year-old Hamilton native (and son of Canadian legend Alex Bunbury) was even praised by Sir Alex Ferguson for giving his charges fits during last week’s friendly, words that will no doubt inspire the rookie striker in coming weeks.

In the back, goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen has been nothing short of superb for KC, proving himself a magnificent shot-stopper that justified coach Peter Vermes’ decision to allow stalwart netminder Kevin Hartman to move on to Dallas over the off-season.

The rest of Kansas’ lineup features a collection of MLS journeymen and young hopefuls, but it would be ill-advised to write off the Wizards as fodder for TFC’s march to the playoffs.

First off, Toronto couldn’t dispose of the Wizards at BMO Field in early June, settling for a 0-0 draw against a KC team that was even less sure of its place in the league as it is now. That draw could be pointed to as the catalyst for the current doldrums the Reds find themselves in, as it was the first visible crack in the so-called home “fortress” that TFC had up to that point spent fortifying with wins over anyone and everyone who dared set foot on the new grass.

Now, the game is on the Wizards’ turf, a bandbox of a temporary stadium with a pitch to match. The small field size may actually help Toronto, however, as the Reds don’t seem to have any width to their game whatsoever. (There are positives to be found everywhere, I suppose.)

While Kansas’ record is pretty awful overall, TFC must keep in mind that three of its opponent’s four total wins this year have come at CommunityAmerica Ballpark. Hopefully that doesn’t mean Toronto will play bunkerball, though, as that strategy has proven to be a dangerous game of fate temptation (see: Philadelphia away).

No, TFC should come out with all cylinders firing, much as they did against Motagua Tuesday night. Sure, the goals didn’t pour in for the Reds in that midweek clash, but much like the law, in soccer possession is nine-tenths of the game, and one has to think that the goals will follow at some point.

They have to, right?

Posted by Rudi Schuller

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Just for shits and giggles, take a look at Kansas City forward Kei Kamara’s incredible missed goal from earlier in the season:

I’m pretty sure I’ve already included this clip in the last KC pre-game post, but damn if this ain’t worth a second look.