It’s often said home is where the heart is. For the Kansas City Wizards, home is also where the results are in 2010.
A year after posting an atrocious home record, the Wizards have collected seven points from their first three matches at CommunityAmerica Ballpark this season, posting three shutouts in the process and reinventing themselves in front of their fans.
Kansas City are betting their current run at CAB continues on Saturday night when they take on the Chicago Fire in an Eastern Conference clash.
"We take a lot of pride in making CommunityAmerica Ballpark a fortress,” defender Jimmy Conrad said. “I think we got away from that a little bit last year, maybe lost our way and teams got a little bit comfortable coming in and finding a way to play."
So far, opponents have been anything but comfortable playing in CAB’s cramped confines. Manager Peter Vermes has emphasized a high-pressure approach from the top down, which – combined with the size of the field – has left D.C. United, the Rapids and the Galaxy frustrated from the opening whistle and goalless when the final whistle blows.
Ironically, Kansas City have never beaten Chicago at CAB. The Fire already discussed the effects the field will have on the game earlier this week, but this is a different Wizards team with a completely different mindset about playing at home.
"We want to play our game,” Vermes said, “and we want to take the game to anybody that we play here. I know everybody is concerned about it being a small field. It is small, but everyone has to deal with it."
Simply put, space is at a premium in Kansas City. The Wizards practice every day on a field at their training complex that matches the exact dimensions at CAB. It’s a luxury that allows them to become accustomed to the lightning-quick transitions from offense to defense and the lack of time or space on the ball.
And in spite of its dreadful road form – three losses by a combined score of six to one – Kansas City’s most recent performance at CAB was especially encouraging. The Wizards stifled a previously rolling Galaxy team in a 0-0 draw. Los Angeles have won every other game they’ve played this season, but never looked truly threatening at CAB.
"Just watching, you could tell that LA was very disinterested in trying to create space,” Conrad said. “There just isn't a lot of space to create. We want to make sure that's how people feel. We want that body language on the field."
The team also wants to force its name back into the national consciousness. Labeled an early-season darling after consecutive victories to open the season, a heartbreaking loss in Seattle and the draw with Los Angeles, Kansas City responded by dropping consecutive games on the road against Houston and D.C.
"We went from being a team everyone was talking about to a team that nobody is talking about again," Conrad said.
The first step in regaining that notoriety and, most importantly, moving up the Eastern Conference standings, is taking care of business against Chicago. Another result would go a long way towards cementing CAB’s reputation as a tough place to play. A victory, and three points, would go even further.
"As a team playing at home, we're always going to go for the win,” forward Ryan Smith said. “It's major. We need to win this game."
