SB Nation Kansas City - Kei Kamara Goal Enough To Keep Sporting KC Perfect https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48935/kc-fave.png2012-04-08T13:42:10-05:00http://kansascity.sbnation.com/rss/stream/26964002012-04-08T13:42:10-05:002012-04-08T13:42:10-05:00And The Celebrations Continue To Marvel
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<p>Here’s something I missed completely during the game. After Kamara’s goal, the team had the typical celebration…in slow motion. It’s one thing to be the best, it’s another to do it with this much personality.</p>
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https://kansascity.sbnation.com/sporting-kansas-city/2012/4/8/2934511/and-the-celebrations-continue-to-marvelJoseph Landis2012-04-08T13:31:54-05:002012-04-08T13:31:54-05:00SKC Man of the Match and Player Ratings For LA Game
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<p><b>Man of the Match: <span>Kei Kamara</span>-8</b><br> He is simply the hottest player in <span class="caps">MLS</span> at the moment, even including the strike duo in New York. The confidence shows in everything he does, and the goal was expertly taken. I would prefer he puts away that second chance, but the pace and power to discard <span>A.J. DeLaGarza</span> was so impressive. Again as the game concluded, he killed it with the ball at his feet in the right corner, and provoked a card perhaps unfairly that killed a minute and a half.</p>
<p><b>Other players:</b></p>
<p><b><span>Jimmy Nielsen</span>-6</b><br> Didn’t have to do much, and was positioned right to make LA’s few chances go astray.</p>
<p><b><span>Chance Myers</span>-6</b><br> Got beaten a couple of times by between him and Collin, but was solid in defense. Great one-time shot made Saunders make excellent save.</p>
<p><b><span>Aurelien Collin</span>-7</b><br> He was dominant in the back clearing the ball away from <span>Robbie Keane</span>. Perhaps a different referee calls him for fouls in some of those instances, this one did not, so Collin gets the nod.</p>
<p><b><span>Matt Besler</span>-6</b><br> Had something come of his errant clearance that ended up with <span>Chad Barrett</span>, I may have rated him worse. Another game without solid chances for the opponent and dangerous throws is another good game for Besler.</p>
<p><b><span>Seth Sinovic</span>-7</b><br> The lack of <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110934/landon-donovan">Landon Donovan</a> in the first half can be attributed both to his defense and how far he played up the pitch. He put in a few dangerous crosses, none to any result but solid nonetheless.</p>
<p><b><span>Julio Cesar Santos</span>-8</b><br> A lot of times I forget he’s on the field, either due to how well the other midfielders shield him (ironic, since he’s in the game to shield the defense). Today, he both had more time on the ball to good use and he was confident in making tackles that regained possession for Sporting. He was the key to the huge gap in possession, as LA had no ball winner of his equal yesterday.</p>
<p><b><span>Graham Zusi</span>-7</b><br> I said I underrate him because he has been so consistent. In this game, I made sure not to despite being the least impressive of the midfielders in my eyes. His early free kicks were a tad heavy, but still dangerous and he did well keeping possession when the game was tied and late with Kamara to kill time.</p>
<p><b><span>Roger Espinoza</span>-8</b><br> Sometimes when I watch Espinoza, I see the player I control in <span class="caps">FIFA</span> games, running full speed to the spot where he expects the ball and then going right on by the ball. Sometimes, that constant pace and chaos pays off and today it seemed more controlled. He provided Convey to set up the first goal and with Zusi and Julio Cesar locked down the midfield.</p>
<p><b><span>Bobby Convey</span>-7</b><br> Much better from Convey than last game. We expect him to do what he did on assisting Kamara, but expected it from the left not cutting in from the right.</p>
<p><b><span>CJ Sapong</span>-7</b><br> <span>Taylor Twellman</span> apparently thinks much like I do, and spent most of the game raining down praise on Sapong’s willingness to hold up the ball with his back to goal. He did that fantastically, and helped keep the game calm for <span class="caps">SKC</span>. I would love for him to get more chances, but the decoy role on the goal was enough for today.</p>
<p><b>Subs</b><br> <b><span>Jacob Peterson</span>-6</b><br> It doesn’t seem as much changes when this switch is made. Peterson always seems to get a chance or two that doesn’t amount to much. Then again, I could say much worse things about a constant sub.<br> <span>Paulo Nagamura</span>-6<br> Nothing went bad after he left, but Sporting didn’t control the game as much. Perhaps this is due more to the game’s nature than Nagamura himself, just noting.</p>
<p><b><span>Teal Bunbury</span>-n/a</b><br> He wasn’t in the game long enough, but almost got a goal anyways with his chance to end the game that Saunders saved.</p>
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<p><i>A Note On ratings<br> Everyone is a 5 to start. If I’m watching a game on TV from home, I’m taking notes on each player, and the team as a whole. If a player isn’t making any obvious contributions but the team is succeeding, then the player is doing his job. He would get a boost for good team performance or a drop for poor team performance. So there may be losses with lots of 4’s and wins with lots of 6’s. To get a 9 or 10, you will have to be devastatingly good and to get a 1 or 2 disastrously bad.</i></p>
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<p><i> </i></p>
<p><i>For other opinions and news on <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thebluetestament.com/">Sporting Kansas City</a>, visit <a href="http://www.thedailywiz.com/" target="new">The Daily Wiz</a>.</i></p>
https://kansascity.sbnation.com/sporting-kansas-city/2012/4/8/2934487/skc-man-of-the-match-and-player-ratings-for-la-gameJoseph Landis2012-04-08T11:23:06-05:002012-04-08T11:23:06-05:00Kamara Goal Enough To Keep Sporting KC Perfect
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lagconfidential.com/">LA Galaxy</a> are not the team they were at the end of last season, but today's performance still will keep <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thebluetestament.com/">Sporting Kansas City</a> happy. For the second straight week, Sporting KC didn't allow a shot on target and took their best chance clinically to post a 1-0 victory. <span>Kei Kamara</span> scored in the 40th minute on a header across goal off <span>Bobby Convey's</span> cross, and despite several more chances for Sporting the scoring ended there.</p>
<p>This didn't seem to be the way the game was going to go, as <span>Mike Magee</span> had the first golden opportunity of the match in the 6th minute.shooting across the goal's face but putting it just wide. After that moment, the game was all Sporting. In addition to not ever getting a shot on frame, LA didn't garner a corner until the 62nd minute, and their third best shot could have be seen as a pass. Magee would come close again in the 44th minute from range, but it went safely away for a goal kick.</p>
<p>For the Sporting KC offense, the game was dominated in the middle and not quite finished in the final third. Sporting KC again peppered the goal with shots, but <span>Josh Saunders</span> was up to the task. Sporting's first open chance came from <span>Chance Myers</span> who took a one-time shot with his left foot that Saunders poked away from the bottom corner. They would get on the board in the 40th minute. <span>Roger Espinoza</span> laid the ball off to Bobby Convey on the right flank, and Convey cut inside waiting for the cross to come open. With so much attention being paid to <span>CJ Sapong</span> in the middle, <span>Sean Franklin</span> lost Kamara on the left edge of the six yard box and Convey hit him for a free header. Kamara didn't waste it, taking the shot to the far post out of Saunder's reach. At the end of the first half the numbers told the story, five shots on goal, five corners, one goal, and 68% possession.</p>
<p>The second half was a more dull affair. Sporting had several more chances and LA few, but the possession balanced out and Sporting defended deeper and counter-attacked. Kamara almost got LA again in the 55th minute, but went near post on a breakaway giving Saunders an easy save. LA's best chance of the half came on a misplay by <span>Matt Besler</span>, but <span>Chad Barrett's</span> shot seemed unsure and drifted well wide of the post. <span>Teal Bunbury</span>, a late sub for Sapong would get the last chance on a breakaway well into stoppage time, but Saunders parried away his attempt to lob the keeper.</p>
<p>The results of the match couldn't be clearer. Sporting KC continued it's unbeaten start, moving to 5-0-0 atop the Eastern Conference. LA Galaxy stayed at 1-4-0 at the bottom of the West. It may be too easy for a passing of the torch, but compared to the last two games Sporting KC was brilliant in midfield. The choppy play of the last two games was replaced by smooth ball movement and dribbling, and the results were seen in possession and attempts advantages against a team who are not exactly what their record entails.</p>
<p>This sets up what may be the most anticipated matchup of the early season between the frontrunners of each conference as <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.rslsoapbox.com/">Real Salt Lake</a> comes to Livestrong Sporting Park next Saturday night. Whereas the early season competition has been scoffed at, and may still be if you judge LA by their record, there is no denying that RSL and Sporting KC are the cream of the crop at the moment.</p>
https://kansascity.sbnation.com/sporting-kansas-city/2012/4/8/2934217/kamara-goal-enough-to-keep-sporting-kc-perfectJoseph Landis2012-04-06T12:17:54-05:002012-04-06T12:17:54-05:00Sporting KC Hosts Struggling LA Galaxy
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<img alt="CARSON, CA - MARCH 14: Galaxy season wrapped up in one picture..(Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/7kkPmFuyPuknOrp7JvSN2mO7fUk=/0x199:452x500/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/6008145/141353649.jpg" />
<figcaption>CARSON, CA - MARCH 14: Galaxy season wrapped up in one picture..(Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images) | Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>While Sporting KC rides high, undefeated and atop the Eastern Conference, LA takes up the bottom of the west and is facing a litany of questions, mostly in defense. Which team comes to Livestrong Sporting Park on Saturday, the struggling last place Galaxy or the defending champions?</p> <p>The Internet as always is full of whispers, in <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thebluetestament.com/">Sporting Kansas City's</a> case they all seem to be saying "call me back when you've played somebody." Well, this week's opponent certainly qualifies as a somebody. The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lagconfidential.com/">LA Galaxy</a> are the defending champions and boast three designated players in <span>David Beckham</span>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110934/landon-donovan">Landon Donovan</a>, and <span>Robbie Keane</span>.Offensively, they still are one of the league's best, although they do have occasional troubles linking between midfielders and forwards. I say occasional because we all know what Beckham and Donovan can do with free kicks and corners.</p>
<p>However, there are certainly detractors who would put an asterisk on this game as well, since the loss of <span>Omar Gonzalez</span> has left a hole in the central defense that hasn't been fixed yet in the young season. So for the purposes of this preview, I must ask you to believe these are the Galaxy of last year, but still acknowledge that it's possible that this is no fluke. The Galaxy might be the worst defensive team in the Western Conference and that may not be changing any time soon.</p>
<p>For Sporting KC, they must acknowledge that this is just another game. The playing field is so level that there isn't a gap between the best team in MLS and the wild-card teams. Last year, the LA Galaxy were the first team in a long while to establish that separation from the pack, but this year is a different story. This is not a rivalry game either, but you can bet the emotions will be running on high early and the start may be awkward at best. Right now, Sporting is the best team in MLS, and here's a chance to define how good they are.</p>
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<h4>The LA Defense Struggles</h4>
<p>The assumption I made is that LA is having trouble replacing Omar Gonzalez. That is part of it, but there is so much more to the problem than that. It seems Gonzalez was the linchpin of the defense, but not only is he gone so is veteran goalkeeper <span>Donovan Ricketts</span>. While this didn't hinder LA last year, Saunders had Gonzalez ahead of him marshaling the defense. Without any veteran leadership in the middle of the field and so many offensively minded players, LA has appeared disjointed between midfield and defense. Beckham has done a great deal of their holding in midfield, but without Donovan was needed to provide some offense last week to dire results. New England tore them apart for it.. That being said the center back play still leaves more to be desired, and <span>A.J. DeLaGarza</span> needs to step up and take over that leadership role.</p>
<p>On the positive side, <span>Todd Dunivant</span> may be the best left back in MLS, and the biggest challenge to the rampaging duo of <span>Kei Kamara</span> and <span>Chance Myers</span>. No two players are playing nearly as in sync as the Sporting right winger and back, so Dunivant will be facing the brunt of the Sporting attack. Unlike the last two foes, Dunivant may have the ability to thwart it, but probably not completely. Look for another breakthrough down the right anyways.</p>
<h4><br></h4>
<h4>The Consistent <span>Graham Zusi</span>
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<p>I've been slow to name Zusi as a man of the match all year. There are two reasons for this. First, he shouldn't be man of the match every time, the standard for his performance should go up with his ceiling being raised. Second, we've spent so much time attacking on the wings, that you miss some of the midfield contributions. For the Royals fans here, think of how Carlos Beltran played center field, and how he made difficult catches look simple. Zusi is playing like that right now, and I just seem to be underplaying it. It's just a trick on the eyes, and doesn't seem as obvious as the burly, forceful maneuvering of <span>CJ Sapong</span> and Kei Kamara.</p>
<p>The energy in midfield was evident and the instinct displayed on last week's assist off his own miss is now to the point that I have perhaps taken it for granted. In a match against two of the better set piece takers in MLS, Zusi now has a chance to demonstrate on national TV, how far he has come in the past year, and perhaps he can out-Beckham Beckham himself.</p>
<h4>The Staple Question: Who starts up top?</h4>
<p>This is probably the last time I ask this question, because once they are both in good form; it's irrelevant and just a style emphasis for <span>Peter Vermes</span>. The problems with LA's defense pose selection problems for Sporting KC. The lineup again may not change, why mess with a winning product. LA struggles with crosses may point to a big day for CJ Sapong. Certainly, you would start Sapong again to take advantage of this, but they also struggle with speed. To attack them vertically, <span>Teal Bunbury</span> would be a better choice just for his speed, not a knock on Sapong's athleticism at all. In honesty, this is a first-world problem and an embarrassment of riches. That we have two backups that haven't seen the field but we are completely comfortable dictates that this is one position where the worries are short and the options aplenty. I'm sure most of us wished all choices in life were this hard but this rewarding,</p>
<h4>Predictions</h4>
<p>Because I'm going to be ballsy, I could see Bunbury starting</p>
<p>Neilsen-Myers-Collin-Besler-Sinovic-Cesar-Zusi-Espinoza-Kamara-Convey-Bunbury</p>
<h4>Sporting KC 2 LA Galaxy 1</h4>
<p>I don't see either defense keeping a clean sheet, but depending on breaks I could see Sporting KC scoring anywhere from 1-4 goals. Until LA figures it out, I'm betting against their defense.</p>
https://kansascity.sbnation.com/sporting-kansas-city/2012/4/6/2930440/sporting-kc-hosts-struggling-la-galaxyJoseph Landis