Wizards looking for home edge
Kansas City only 2-2-1 at CommunityAmerica Ballpark
"It feels smaller; it plays smaller. But there's space out there," said midfielder Sasha Victorine. "You just have to move the ball quicker, and you have to get to that space. We know we can play out there. It's been a while since playing at home [consistently]. We need to get used to having that home-field advantage."
The Wizards' record at home -- two wins and a draw to go with two losses, and six goals for to eight against -- doesn't scream of an advantage.
"It's definitely a tight feeling when you are out there. ... We could make it very difficult for teams to come in there because maybe they are not ready for that," said midfielder Jack Jewsbury. "We just know that you have to roll up your sleeves and battle that day, and that there's going to be a lot of second balls that need to be won. In a game like that, it might not be the prettiest soccer game, but you have to make the most of your chances and win your individual battles."
"I think it takes advantages away," said Kansas City's technical director, Peter Vermes. "When you play on a bigger field, then you have to deal with how well your team moves from east to west, north to south. You have to deal with team speed. Whereas when you go into a smaller place, even a not as good team can come in and be a good team, because if they just fight hard, they are in close spaces all over the field and can get away with that."
To make their home stadium a place opponents fear to come into, the Wizards have to take a cue from the San Jose Earthquakes who, when playing at Spartan Stadium during their first incarnation in MLS, gave the opposition fits.
"We just haven't played there enough. We need to have more time there to get a feel for how to take advantage of it," said Vermes.
That more time began Wednesday when the Wizards practiced at CommunityAmerica Ballpark instead of at their usual Swope Park facility.
"I would love to be in there more," Onalfo said to the Kansas City Star. "We want to make that into a home-field advantage. Between the games being played with baseball, it's very hard to get in there."
Early in the season, the Wizards reeled off two stirring victories -- 2-0 against D.C. United and 3-2 against the Colorado Rapids -- that proved they are capable of playing top-notch attacking soccer at home. Hopefully, Saturday's hosting of Real Salt Lake will bring back that magic and establish CAB as a true home for the Wizards.
Bob Rusert is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
