Sporting KC Cruises To 2-0 Win Over Toronto FC

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Standings: Sporting KC Moves Into Second Place After Win

While the rest of the league got hot and played extra matches, Sporting KC fell a bit in the Eastern Conference standings. With two straight wins, they have made up one of those spots. There isn't much to be concerned about as Sporting KC still has three games in hand against league leading DC United and one against second and third place. Although the standings do not show it, SKC still has a slight lead in points per match over Real Salt Lake, which leaves them in pole position to get the Supporter's Shield.

While D.C United has certainly looked good, the outside threat looming is the Houston Dynamo, who may have a 2011 Sporting KC feel to their team after opening BBVA Compass Stadium and doubling their season point total in short order.

Here are the Eastern Conference standings after Sunday's action:

Eastern Conference results for June 12-18

Saturday, June 16, 2012

Philadelphia 0 - 1 D.C. United PPL Park
Montreal 4 - 1 Seattle Saputo Stadium
New England 0 - 0 Columbus Gillette Stadium
Houston 2 - 1 FC Dallas BBVA Compass Stadium
Sporting KC 2 - 0 Toronto FC Livestrong Sporting Park

Sunday, June 17, 2012

Chicago 3 - 1 New York Toyota Park

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Player Ratings For Sporting KC-Toronto Match

Jimmy Nielsen -7
Typical Jimmy coming up big on a breakaway by Danny Koevermans. His passing was good and overall was great in goal, never put of position for the few Toronto chances. Good karma points for kissing the ball that hit both uprights as well on his lone time beaten tonight.

Chance Myers -6
He was instrumental in setting up the first goal, getting Peterson the pass in the area to cross to Sapong. He also had a key intervention on a back post cross, but he was beaten a few times in the second half allowing crosses from the left.

Aurelien Collin -6
Great in the air all game, sometimes below par on the ground. Ryan Johnson beat him for an early cross, that Peterson was in position to clear away. He was also one of the players holding Eric Avila onside for the shot that hit each post, but give him credit for beating Koevermans to the rebound no matter how awkward it was.

Lawrence Olum -6
Like I said in my thoughts on the match, he performed well enough. His distribution under pressure wasn't pretty, but otherwise he was good. Along with the rest of the back line played Avila onside for the near goal. One time he did lose Koevermans on a cross but Nielsen and Sinovic covered for him.

Seth Sinovic -7
Not much to say about his match tonight. He played much higher up than Chance Myers and had several good defensive moments and one-twos with Espinoza. He also took some throw-ins given the lack of long thrown ins from Matt Besler's absence. No dangerous crosses on the night, but perhaps it's unfair to rate his performance ho-hum as he has just been playing at such a high level.

Julio Cesar Santos -8
Could have had three goals tonight, but we'll let it slide after that wonderful goal on Zusi's corner. With the lack of high pressure, he often dropped into central defense on offense as Sinovic pushed forward and Olum pressed wide.

Graham Zusi -7
Another game, another set piece delivery for a goal. His glancing block, which the ref did not credit him with to KC's gain, kept the clean sheet and allowed the game to never get tight. He would have been a man of the match consideration, but he missed a free header that was asking to be buried to increase the lead to three.

Roger Espinoza -5
Espinoza had a rough return, struggling with his passing. When it was right, it was perfect, but he had several awful passes. To his credit, he did come back on defense and steal back the ball after his worst turnover. His presence as a nuisance in midfield changes Sporting KC's whole dynamic and even below his best of the year helped the team immensely.

Jacob Peterson -8
Peterson had his best night for Sporting KC, assisting on the first goal and generally being active on the offensive end. He even managed a perfect intervention on a cross that prevented Toronto from scoring their first goal. If he takes a touch and gets a better shot off on his lone chance it could have been a dream performance. Alas, instead it ended with him going off with a leg injury, but it appeared a sub was being made at that point anyways. Let's hope it was nothing given the current depth problems.

CJ Sapong -7
It must be scary for the rest of the league as Sapong starts to learn moves to add to his arsenal of hold-up play and uncanny positioning on crosses. There were some moments of youthful exuberance, especially a long shot that should have been a pass to Bunbury making a run towards goal, but overall he has shown both an ability to play defense and get forward as a nuisance that would do Kei Kamara proud.

Teal Bunbury -7
Sometimes when he doesn't get on the score sheet, Teal just doesn't seem to be there. Tonight, he was active and save a couple of poor first touches, he was the danger man for Sporting KC all night. Where Sapong and he linked up, the team was especially dangerous, and his wise decision to leave Peterson's cross for Sapong froze the defense and helped make the first goal so easy. He should have had an assist on Zusi's missed header.

Subs

Soony Saad -5 Got one chance that he headed way off target and wasn't nearly as helpful in defense as Peterson. Saad isn't the best on the wing and would look better in Bunbury's place, but Peterson's knock required that he come in as a winger.

Peterson Joseph -N/A Did get on the field long enough to commit a foul.

Konrad Warzycha -N/A Getting any first team minutes is a coup for Konrad, getting a garbage time sub for Graham Zusi. He's lining up as a potential backup at many positions, but probably not this season save injury.