SB Nation Kansas City - Sporting KC Draws With Seattle In Latest MLS Matchhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48935/kc-fave.png2012-06-21T14:02:03-05:00http://kansascity.sbnation.com/rss/stream/28697342012-06-21T14:02:03-05:002012-06-21T14:02:03-05:00Three Thoughts On Sporting KC's Draw With Seattle
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<p>In my preview, I vaguely suggested that <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thebluetestament.com/">Sporting Kansas City</a> might throw a wrench in my plans by playing some reserves. That is exactly what they did, but they didn't leave Seattle empty handed leaving with a draw. <span>Jacob Peterson</span>, in a second straight strong performance, opened the scoring with a curling shot in the eight minute. The lead however was not meant to last as <span>Patrick Ianni</span> lost <span>Michael Harrington</span> and scored a tremendous side-volley. The match did not disappoint as both teams hit the frame, but it devolved into a petty brawl towards the end as some evenly contested draws do. Here's some more thoughts on the match:</p>
<h4>Great Result for <span>Peter Vermes</span>
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<p>Nobody prefers a draw to a win, especially when you take the lead at one point in the match. However, don't mistake a 1-1 draw on the road a failure in this instance. Probably noting the schedule congestion, Vermes rested some key starters for the start of the match and Sporting KC essentially played Seattle to a draw. The insertion of the regular starters in an attempt to steal the game didn't come off as well as it could have, but the energy that <span>Graham Zusi</span> had in his thirty minutes was apparent. In the next few games, Sporting will need to play its reserves and it's a testament to coaching and preparation that they maintained the status quo yesterday.</p>
<h4>A Mixed Bag for the Subs</h4>
<p>Three men made their first starts for Sporting KC. It was a much anticipated appearance for <span>Peterson Joseph</span> who showed some flashes in earlier matches. However, the team was obviously in much better shape with Graham Zusi's insertion to the lineup. He failed to assert himself, but that could be said for the majority of Sporting KC on the offensive end. <span>Michael Thomas</span> was the completely out of left field insertion to the lineup, and for better or worse, he was not a stand out either. Like Julio Cesar often is, he essentially was a space filler as both teams used the wings with aplomb. That being said he didn't make any major mistakes that would condemn him to never seeing the field again. The best start went to <span>Soony Saad</span> who did noting to dissuade the notion that his is not a winger, but almost got a goal when his shot hit the frame. If Teal Bunbury and <span>CJ Sapong</span> are ever both out, don't worry about not having a striker. <span>Lawrence Olum</span> was again steady in the back, but no player looks near as nervous/terrified as he does when he plays.</p>
<h4>Poor Officiating Still Plagues MLS</h4>
<p>The match got out of hand towards the end. To be detached and reasonable, <span>Aurelien Collin</span> should have been sent off for dissent several times, but the referee was kindly not willing to give that second yellow. In the match's entirety, the referee swallowed his whistle and was hesitant to go to pocket. Giving out yellows earlier may have stopped the end match antics which could have resulted in major injury to key players for both sides. The red card for <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110948/alvaro-fernandez">Alvaro Fernandez</a> was deserved, but probably would not have occurred if <span>Roger Espinoza</span> is called for a foul on him seconds earlier and in most leagues booked for his reckless challenge. Good for Sporting KC to maintain their cool and not get anyone red carded or suspended, but sometimes as an fan of soccer you root for the referee to call the game correctly.</p>
https://kansascity.sbnation.com/sporting-kansas-city/2012/6/21/3108241/sporting-kc-draw-with-seattle-soundersJoseph Landis2012-06-21T10:17:35-05:002012-06-21T10:17:35-05:00VIDEO: Sporting KC Highlights From Sounders Match
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<p>For those who missed last night's Sporting KC-Seattle match, the Sounders matched Sporting one for one on goals and finished with 1-1 tie. As several starters rested, it was a good effort from the deepest parts of the roster to pull out a tie on the road, but <span>Peter Vermes</span> did make a concerted effort at the end to win by substituting key players back into the line-up. He'd been resting them because of the team's hectic schedule with five matches over 14 days.</p>
<p>"Before we started this trip, I told the guys we were going to have to go deep into the roster, and everybody is going to have to make an impact," <a href="http://www.kansascity.com/2012/06/20/3668686/sporting-gains-1-1-draw-with-sounders.html" target="_blank">Vermes told the KC Star's Randy Covitz</a>. "So if your name gets called, you're going to have to fill your role.<span style="line-height: 9px;"> </span>Seattle is a very good team, and this is a very difficult place to play. Our guys fought, they battled, and I'm very, very pleased at getting the point in the fashion in which we did it and in short recovery time."</p>
<p>Check below for a few highlights of the game. </p>
<p>Here's Sporting's <span>Jacob Peterson</span> with the game's first goal:</p>
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<p>For the only other goal of the game, here's <span>Patrick Ianni</span> of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.sounderatheart.com/">Seattle Sounders</a> answering with one of his own:</p>
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<p>Sporting KC's <span>Jimmy Nielsen</span> makes a great save with the game tied 1-1 here, although he earned a Yellow Card for his effort:</p>
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<p>Check out complete game highlights at <a href="http://www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2012-06-20-sea-v-kc/highlights?videoID=189409" target="_blank">Sporting KC's official website</a>. </p>
<p><i><b>For more on Sporting KC, check out <a href="http://www.thedailywiz.com/" target="_blank">The Daily Wiz.</a></b></i></p>
https://kansascity.sbnation.com/sporting-kansas-city/2012/6/21/3105708/video-sporting-kc-highlights-from-sounders-matchMatt Conner2012-06-20T12:25:22-05:002012-06-20T12:25:22-05:00Preview: Sporting Kansas City Goes For Three Straight In Seattle
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<img alt="SEATTLE - MAY 21: Roger Levesque #24 of the Seattle Sounders FC battles Roger Espinoza #15 of Sporting Kansas City at Qwest Field on May 21, 2011 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/mwTIXeizAVG5kv-8o9ebk7Dq4jU=/0x91:777x609/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/2798555/GYI0064848610.jpg" />
<figcaption>SEATTLE - MAY 21: Roger Levesque #24 of the Seattle Sounders FC battles Roger Espinoza #15 of Sporting Kansas City at Qwest Field on May 21, 2011 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) | Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The matches are coming quick and each team has a packed schedule, but high hopes for both the MLS and US Open Cup. Do each put out a full strength squad? The attitudes of both franchises say yes, which makes this game all the more exciting. </p> <p>A month with no action leads to a week with triple the action, which I'm sure contains some lurid comparison I would make on a website that I owned. So Sporting KC finds itself riding a wave of positive play up to Seattle to meet a <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.sounderatheart.com/">Seattle Sounders</a> squad that hasn't had such luck outside the US Open Cup. While they haven't lost a US Open Cup match in three years, Seattle is on a five match winless streak, but don't expect any sympathy from a Sporting KC side that has repeated been foiled in the waning moments of matches by Seattle.</p>
<h4>If It Was Only May Again</h4>
<p>A month and a half ago, this may have been the match of the year, much like the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.rslsoapbox.com/">Real Salt Lake</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thebluetestament.com/">Sporting Kansas City</a> match earlier in April was billed. Both teams were on the top of their games and conferences respectively. Since then Sporting KC was mired in a five game winless streak that started in late April and Seattle finds itself in the same place. Each side was blitzed by expansion Montreal as well making the symmetry uncanny. However, the MLS is a long season and it may be that both of these teams are momentarily dethroned. For Sporting KC, this may be a reality, but Seattle's slip has coincided with the ascent of Real Salt Lake, so it may be that like in years past, Seattle can't make up the ground.</p>
<h4>Expect Off-Target Shots</h4>
<p>Sporting KC currently leads the league in shots per game while Seattle sits sixth. This correctly implies that both teams possess firepower and superior offenses. However, Sporting KC and Seattle are 17th and 15th respectively in the percentage of shots they hit on target, which says that they are incredibly wild with their chances. When they do get it on target, both score at an above average rate, but that has variables of goalie play and ease of chances that can be attributed. For example, Sporting's goals last week were well taken but unmarked as well. As for goalie play, ask anyone who plays <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://delete.sbnprivate.com/">Chivas USA</a> how many goals they should have scored against them.</p>
<p>The positive of this is both teams feature high possession games, which lead to more shots, but require them to break down opponents who may be outmatched. It will be interesting to see which side is more pro-active, because it may suit either side to counter-attack in this match, or for us fans just to have an open match, which I warn leads to stoppage time heartbreak as usual.</p>
<h4>Looking to Troll A&M Fans</h4>
<p>This is the hardest road match of the year for Sporting KC. No one in the Eastern Conference can match the experience in Seattle, and no one has the capabilities that this Seattle team does on both ends. This match-up pits two wild-shooting teams with talented midfields up against each other. The possession helps them to have the stingiest defenses in the league as well. It is about as even as a Sporting KC match will look this year, even counting the Real Salt Lake match, which is a tribute to how well these teams are built when healthy.</p>
<p>So, we look for another factor that may tip the scales either way. In this case, each team has tremendous home field advantage, as Seattle is the only team that has ever truly filled their cavernous football stadium and Sporting has Livestrong Sporting Park. Since this match is in Seattle, the 12th Man may tip the scales their way. This may send the A&M fans over here, but remember Paul Allen pays you gobs of money for that anyways.</p>
<h4>Lineup</h4>
<p><span>Kei Kamara</span> returns for <span>Jacob Peterson</span>, other than that same ole, same ole.</p>
<p><span>Jimmy Nielsen</span></p>
<p><span>Chance Myers</span> <span>Aurelien Collin</span> Lawrence Olum <span>Seth Sinovic</span></p>
<p>Julio Cesar</p>
<p>Graham Zusi Roger Espinoza</p>
<p>Kei Kamara CJ Sapong</p>
<p><span>Teal Bunbury</span></p>
<h4>Prediction</h4>
<h5>Seattle 2- Sporting KC 1</h5>
<p>Me of little faith. This isn't a bad match to lose, and there is the possibility that in knowing that Vermes rests some starters. There is also the possibility that Seattle's slide continues and Sporting dominates as they did the league favorites back in April. That is why it says prediction above and not certainty.</p>
https://kansascity.sbnation.com/sporting-kansas-city/2012/6/20/3101570/mls-sporting-kansas-city-seattle-soundersJoseph Landis