Sometimes, the necessity to return to the form of the past is to just hope everything will be fine. Without any major changes to the script, Sporting Kansas City got back to their winning ways with an old script CJ Sapong and Kei Kamara providing offense and a solid defensive performance from the entire team. There were some bumps in the road. Seth Sinovic left with a cut in his hand that required twenty stitches, but his replacement Michael Harrington filled in well, even assisting the second goal. Then, a familiar second half lapse in defense made the game tight until the end. However, a tight win beats a draw or loss in any aspect.
Kei Kamara Shines
The difference between the seven-game winning streak and the four-game winless stretch was on display again today. Kei Kamara's performance was the catalyst that had been missing in those games, and the interplay down the wings especially evident on the first goal. While we still haven't returned to the early season form of Chance Myers and Kamara, today was a good step forward.
CJ The Winger
There is always a give and take on both sides of playing CJ Sapong, Teal Bunbury, and Kei Kamara up top. The best part is the two goals that occurred in the first half. There is always going to be more offensive danger from those three, but the downside is it sacrifices defense in some regards and width on the attack. CJ did an acceptable job of staying back and defending in the second half, but at a loss for his attacking skill in the first half. The absence of Bobby Convey will press the team as CJ will never be a true two-way winger, but it may also be exciting to see this attack. For all of the early season success, it has come on the defense's skill stopping opponents. If Sporting KC starts scoring on a rate with New York and DC, then their defense shows a clear gap in quality between the top teams in the Eastern Conference.
A Familiar Problem
The goal allowed by Sporting is a similar refrain in this young season. A team that thrives on pressure seems to allow a lot of their goals by relaxing that pressure. At worst by pressuring on the goal Collin gets blown by, but Nielsen still lies in between and the goal. Instead, Collin backs off and the shot opens up and suddenly the game is much tighter. San Jose controlled the game until a bad call and the subsequent reversal woke up the crowd and gave Sporting KC the boost to play out the game.
Now for Sporting KC, it's a US Open Cup game tomorrow and three weeks until we see MLS play again, so I hope everyone likes International Soccer