Fri Jun 20 13:12:16 2008

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TFC hopes to extend home unbeaten run vs. K.C.

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Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - Toronto FC managed to extend its home unbeaten streak to nine games - including all seven this season - without a few starters last weekend and could return to full strength Saturday against the Kansas City Wizards.

Toronto FC defeated the Colorado Rapids, 3-1, at BMO Field last week to move to third in the Eastern Conference and win for the fifth time in seven home games this season - it has ties in its other two.

Starting goalie Greg Sutton, defender Jim Brennan and midfielders Amado Guevara Maurice Edu were all on international duty last weekend. Guevara (Honduras) and Edu (United States) will be back, and Sutton and Brennan - both Canadians - may return.

Canada plays St. Vincent & Grenadines on Friday in the second leg of its 2010 World Cup qualifying series. Canada won the first leg, 3-0, on the road and if the pair doesn't play for Canada, they should start against the Wizards.

"If they are not involved in the game, then hopefully we can use them in the squad at the weekend," Toronto FC coach John Carver said. "I've got to pick a side that I think can win the game, but I've got to be fair to the lads here as well."

Toronto didn't look like it was missing anyone last week with midfielder Rohan Ricketts enjoying a breakout performance. Ricketts scored two goals in the win.

The English midfielder is overshadowed with Guevara, Edu and Laurent Robert all in midfield, but his strong performances finally resulted in goals last week.

"His performance was the best he's had since he's been here," Carver said.

Considering all the changes, Toronto's Todd Dunivant was very pleased with the team's performance.

"It's another good sign for us," Dunivant said. "We've had some players missing lately ... It shows the depth of this team and that was a big concern for us in the offseason, and you can see we've addressed that."

Kansas City is winless in six straight, a stretch that started on April 26 with a 2-0 loss to Toronto. Guevara scored both goals in that match.

Kansas City is last in the Eastern Conference - eight points behind Toronto FC and 15 points behind the first place New England Revolution. Only the San Jose Earthquakes, an expansion team, have fewer points so far this season.

With just one win in six games on the road this season, K.C. could struggle to break out of its recent funk this week.

The Wizards are also coming off a disappointing 3-0 loss to the Columbus Crew. K.C. was playing at home for the first time in two months last week - and in front of sellout crowd.

After giving up a goal just three minutes into the match - which snapped a 370- minute scoring drought for Columbus - everything fell apart for K.C. Coach Curt Onalfo said the performance was "disappointing."

"I've been through a lot worse things in my life than losing a 3-0 game at home. [But] I never want to lose a game again 3-0 at home," Onalfo said. "It's just a matter of plugging away, continuing to try and solve the issues we have as a group.

"We have a resilient bunch of guys. We have a good bunch of guys. We have a bunch of guys who will rebound fine, but it's a bit of a gut check."