FC Kansas City focuses on finishing

When reflecting on FC Kansas City’s week one draw with Sky Blue FC, coach Vlatko Andonovski and forward Lauren Holiday had the same couple words in mind.

The team’s motto for this season is “Finish It” and although it is early, Andonovski and Holiday found themselves looking for a little more bite, or killer instinct, that would have helped them finish that game.

“Our forwards have to have that bite, and that is what we’ve been working on all week,” Andonovski said. “I feel like we will create chances, we just have to get the final touch.”

The Blues created plenty of opportunities with 14 shots, including nine on target in their first game. However, only one of those shots resulted in a goal which came in the 42nd minute from Amy Rodriguez on an assist from Kassey Kallman.

Defensively, they were able to limit Sky Blue FC to only five shots and two on goal. Sky Blue FC tied the score with an unassisted goal in the 48th minute by Katy Freels.

“Our backline is phenomenal, so that is definitely not our issue,” Holiday said. “If they are limiting that many shots, then we have to finish ours.”

Holiday thinks the issue may be mental.

“I think we all have the technique, but we might lull other teams to sleep and might do the same thing to ourselves,” Holiday said. “We get comfortable in our possession and don’t look to score as much as we should.”

FC Kansas City will have another tough test tonight when it faces the Washington Spirit at 5:30 p.m. Saturdayin its first road game of the season.

FC Kansas City won the series 1-0-1 last year and outscored the Spirit 3-1, but Andonovski said it this a very different team after some key off-season acquisitions including Crystal Dunn, who was the top pick in the National Women’s Soccer League College Draft.

“They added six or seven new players and it’s not just that they have new players, but they have good new players,” Andonovski said. “It’s a completely new team and we are very well aware of their potential.”

The Spirit is coming off a 3-1 loss to the Western New York Flash.

This story was originally published April 18, 2014 at 9:55 PM with the headline "FC Kansas City focuses on finishing."