When the Colorado Rapids lace up their cleats on Wednesday night, they will be taking the pitch for the third time in six days, with the previous two coming at altitude. As they walk onto LiveStrong Park’s pitch, Sporting KC’s half-a-season-old gem, The Cauldron will be decked out in Sporting Blue and have the volume turned up to 11, for sure. (I’ll be there!) The Eastern Conference’s number one seed will be ready to give its fans a taste of playoff soccer, and hopefully, success.
It was certainly a tale of two seasons. After starting the season with a 10 match road trip, LiveStrong proved to be just what the talented and finally-gelling Sporting lineup needed. Sporting Kansas City took only 3 losses down the stretch run of the MLS season, the last coming on the 17th of September in an away tilt in Salt Lake City.
Manager Peter Vermes’ lineup is a beast. Four-time Save of the Week winner Jimmy Nielsen resides in goal and (we’re all pretty sure he’ll win Rookie of the Year) C.J. Sapong splits time with USMNT call-up Teal Bunbury, DP Omar Bravo and Sierra Leone’s Kei Kamara, up top. Kei might just be the X factor for SKC’s offense in these playoffs. He plays with such physicality and pace, but yet still sometimes has a hard time finishing. When he puts one in the net, Sporting is 9-4-3 over the previous two seasons (3-3-1 this year).
In between the stable of attackers and the once attacked (by a teammate’s bobblehead giveaway) Nielsen in goal, a couple of players have really made the most of their chances this year. Chances. Chance. Oh yeah, Chance Myers. Teamed up with French signee Aurelien Collin and offensive-throw-in-specialist (Seriously, its like getting a perfectly placed corner every time with this guy.) Matt Besler, and crotchety old Julio Cesar; Chance has really solidified the Sporting back line.
No matter how beautiful Chance’s flowing mane of blond might be, however, it pales in comparison to the absolute wonder that is midfielder Graham Zusi’s hair. Its truly mesmerizing, as is his resurgence this year on the pitch. He logged 5 goals and 7 assists in 2300 minutes. And there was a stretch during the summer where he played like an MLS MVP, including a silly rocket of a free kick against FC Dallas in June.
Besler on throw-ins, Zusi on set pieces, Bravo’s creativity, the imposing size and speed of the front line, and the imposing, wriggling tongue of the goalkeeper; all work in concert to produce a team that’s talented and getting/staying hot at the right time. The playoff bracket set up very nicely for PV’s boys, so The Cauldron is pencilling in a date with the absolutely loaded LA Galaxy at the Home Depot Center on Nov 20th.
(image courtesy of sportingkc.com)
