The Kansas City Wizards (5-5-6) and the Chicago Fire (7-5-4) will enter Sunday night’s Eastern Conference matchup at Community America Ballpark with a similar mindset.  Both clubs have not lost a match in league play in over a month with the Wizards riding a five game unbeaten streak and the Fire holding a four game run of games without a defeat.

However, despite these undefeated streaks, neither side has played spectacular soccer, and both teams certainly feel frustration over missed opportunities. The Fire have had two scoreless draws at home to Salt Lake and San Jose as well as a 2-2 draw at Columbus after jumping out to a 2-0 lead.

The Wizards have scraped together one goal victories over Real Salt Lake and New York along with three draws on the road, including last Thursday’s game in Columbus.  After giving up several early goals to Columbus in their first two matches against the Crew, Kansas City jumped out to an early lead of their own with two early goals, including rookie Roger Espinoza’s first professional goal.

However, as quickly as the Wizards held a two goal lead, Columbus stormed back and grabbed a first half lead of their own through the play of Guillermo Barros Schelotto as the Argentine playmaker scored on a free kick, set up Alejandro Moreno for a chance where he scored off his own rebound, and finally delivered the pinpoint corner kick for Chad Marshall to head home. 

The stage was set for another maddening evening of soccer for the Wizards, but the visitors were able to grab a point when substitute Josh Wolff made a triumphant return to the club after two years at 1860 Munich when he tapped in Jack Jewsbury’s perfect centering pass.

For a team that has been struggling for any sort of offensive spark, Wolff’s return has given the Wizards and their fans cause for excitement.  The Kansas City attack became much more dynamic after Wolff’s insertion into the match, and despite having little time playing together, Wolff and Claudio Lopez seemingly had a good understanding in the Wizards front line.

However, there are two questions involving Wolff’s presence in the lineup.  Wolff’s fitness is still an issue at this point, and it may take a few more games before he is comfortable going a full ninety minutes.  Also, as talented as both Wolff and Lopez are, neither of them are true “fox-in-the-box” forwards as both have a tendency to roam around the park to create chances for others. 

With the Wizards deploying poachers like Ivan Trujillo and the recently traded Scott Sealy through most of the season, they will have to make adjustments to their tactics with Wolff and Lopez on the field together.

The questions for Kansas City pale in comparison to the big news coming from Chicago.  According to multiple reports, the impasse between the Fire and Toronto FC over the rights for Brian McBride has come to an end.  Chicago will reportedly send Chad Barrett, allocation money, and a 2009 first round draft pick to acquire the allocation needed to sign the American international returning from several excellent seasons in the English Premiership.

With McBride set to play in the Olympics and with Barrett heading north of the border, the Fire will have to improvise up top for their next few games.  This could mean either Andy Herron or Tomasz Frankowski will get a chance to play up top with Chris Rolfe in a 4-4-2.  However, Chicago boss Dennis Hamlett has shown a tendency at times to employ a 4-5-1, which would move Rolfe to the right wing, leaving Frankowski or Herron alone up top.

Both Hamlett and Wizards head coach Curt Onalfo had their eye on Thursday’s MLS All-Star game as the stars of both clubs featured in the match.  Chicago’s Cuauhtemoc Blanco played the opening 45 minutes, and despite leaving the match at halftime, the Mexican star earned man of the match honors with a goal and an assist.  Meanwhile, Kansas City’s Jimmy Conrad manned the middle of the MLS backline for the entire 90 minutes.

While both players will have a short rest for Sunday’s game, both will likely feature heavily in this game.  Despite his 35 year old legs, Blanco has played every minute of every league game this season, and it is doubtful that the prideful number 10 won’t continue that streak against the Wizards.  Similarly, Conrad, the Wizards captain, has played through injuries this season and has shown his willingness to play 90 minutes on short rest in 2008. 

Earlier this month, Conrad played in the second half and all of stoppage time in the Wizards loss to the Seattle Sounders on penalties, and then two days later played the entire game in a 2-1 victory over New York, including a goal of his own from a first half corner kick.

The attacks of both sides will fall under the microscope for this game.  Kansas City’s attack is still in flux with Sealy’s departure and with Wolff still lacking match fitness.  Chicago has struggled to finish chances in recent games, and without Barrett someone else will have to take that role. 

Although the team that scores first has a major advantage in any soccer game, the opening goal in Sunday’s match could be paramount with both clubs seeking to find a new offensive identity.  In the first meeting between the two sides in May, Jewsbury’s early goal held for the Wizards at Toyota Park despite massive pressure from the home side throughout the match, and a similar scenario could be in store on Sunday.

With the Wizards trailing third place Chicago by four points in the Eastern Conference, they will certainly hope that they can gain the same result as they did in their first encounter.