FC Wichita set for home match against conference-leading Corinthians

With 14 games in the regular season, every game is crucial for FC Wichita. But with undefeated Corinthians FC of San Antonio coming to the Stryker Soccer Complex on Friday, there’s a bit more emphasis on the game at hand for Wichita.

But coach Larry Inlow doesn’t want to get the team out of its rhythm, and understandably so. With four wins in its last five games, FC Wichita (5-2) is in second place in the National Premier Soccer League South Central Conference, behind Corinthians (7-0-1).

“We’re walking a fine line between understanding the importance of the game … and overemphasizing the importance of the game so much that the younger players on the team feel apprehensive, or tight, or nervous,” Inlow said. “We’re sticking to our game plan, we’re sticking to our formation.”

Save for a complete shift in tides late in the season, Corinthians could just about wrap South Central Conference and a playoff appearance with a win on Friday. If it gets the three points, the San Antonio side would be up at least eight points on any other team in the conference. If FC Wichita gets the win, the club would be within four points of Corinthians, with one less game played.

With a contest of this magnitude, bunkering wouldn’t come as a surprise from the home side. But Wichita is planning much of the opposite. FC Wichita has scored seven goals in the last two games; Corinthians has notched three or more goals in six of its eight games.

“I know that they’re a very offensive-minded team,” Inlow said. “Both teams are going to be looking to come in and dominate possession, put their stamp on the game early on.

“Hopefully at the end of the day we’ll end up on top.”

Note — Veteran midfielder Matt Clare, FC Wichita’s scoring leader with seven goals and five assists this season, has signed an indoor contract with the San Diego Sockers. Clare spent the past two indoor seasons in Wichita, and was the B-52s’ leading scorer last season with 35 goals and 13 assists.

This story was originally published June 18, 2015 at 7:23 PM with the headline "FC Wichita set for home match against conference-leading Corinthians."