Sporting Kansas City had the high of beating the Liga MX leaders Cruz Azul in CONCACAF Champions League the previous Wednesday. In between the two legs, Sporting had their home regular season opener against FC Dallas. Knowing the majority of the resources would be spent on Cruz Azul, no one was really expecting the SKC starting XI out there Saturday. Seemed like for the first 90 minutes, Sporting was doing well with their rag tag bunch of starters and reserves. It may even look like Sporting could get the three points. FC Dallas had another idea.
Sporting KC dominated possession and the attacking side of the game. I thought with the “B” squad Sporting had put out, Dallas would have their way with Sporting but turned out it wasn’t the case. Sporting had 65% of possession and shot constantly albeit not really getting close to going into the back of the net. Then in the 81st minute, Benny Feilhaber connected a perfect corner to Aurelien Collin in the middle of the box right into the right hand side of the net. Going into the 90th minute, Sporting was primed to get the win but history has a way of repeating itself and it happened again.
A rare lapse in concentration on the free kick in the 90th minute caused FC Dallas to get the equalizer. I’m not saying Dallas didn’t earn that goal because it was perfectly timed as well but they did catch Sporting off guard having so many red shirts behind them at the goal. Any one of three FC Dallas players could’ve easily scored that but the honor was bestowed on Matt Hedges for the tying goal and the game ended 1-1. This is the second MLS game in a row that Sporting leaked a goal to deny themselves points. They now have cost themselves three points and sit deep in the table tied for 5th in the East with a single point. Before the season started, I wouldn’t have been surprised to see Sporting in this position because of Champions League but it’s how they got those points that have a lot of fans uneasy. Sporting is just so close and the points are just slipping away.
Anyway, the game everyone in KC is talking about (other than the Manchester City friendly this summer) is the 2nd leg against Cruz Azul on Wednesday. Sporting has a 1-0 aggregate lead but I have my worries because A) They’re playing in Mexico. B) They have been known for leaking goals and denying themselves wins, like in both MLS games. And C) Seth Sinovic is suspended so Sporting will have to go ahead with Josh Gardner most likely starting at left back. Gardner has been rather inconsistent this MLS season and will certainly be tested by Cruz Azul’s attackers. This could work out well. Sporting had to gamble in the first leg having to start Kevin Ellis for the injured Chance Myers and he wound up scoring the leading goal. It’s unknown as to who will start but Myers has hardly played this season so I’m sure Peter Vermes will go with the fitter Ellis or Mechack Jerome for this important game.
I don’t usually go for score predictions but I know this game will likely be rather stressful for every Sporting KC and MLS fan and it’ll be a close game. I don’t know if Sporting can get a win in Mexico, quite honestly they don’t need to in order to advance, but I can realistically see a 2-1 Cruz Azul win and Sporting advances on away goals. The “chrome dome” of Aurelien Collin will prove vital to the result. Not to go all Alexi Lalas on everyone for this game but if Sporting concentrates on set pieces and can get a goal from that and play solid defense, there’s no doubt they can go out against Cruz Azul and go to the semifinal.
