What We Learned: FC Dallas @ Sporting Kansas City

Sporting Kansas City took on FC Dallas in matchday two this past weekend. We recap the match and analyze the key takeaways from the game.

It was pragmatic. It was ugly. It was effective. FC Dallas announced their intentions to smash and grab a point when they revealed a starting lineup with several key pieces resting in anticipation of their upcoming CONCACAF Champions League Semifinal.

The pressure was on Sporting Kansas City to break them down and get the points, but were unable to so as they ended up with their second 0-0 draw to start the year. There is still plenty to takeaway from the game despite the scoreline, here are a few things we learned.

Sporting KC’s attack is talented, but not yet coherent.

The additions of players like Gerso Fernandes and Latif Blessing excited fans around Kansas City. At times they have shown flashes of brilliance, but have also shown growing pains. Acclimating to a new team is difficult, there were multiple times Gerso tried to connect with Dom Dwyer or Benny Feilhaber and the final pass wasn’t there.

Blessing was active throughout, but missed high on his opportunity to grab a debut goal. The two are also getting introduced to MLS play, a style much different than the two are used to. Especially Gerso, who looks to still be figuring out the officiating in this video.

For Sporting to be successful they will need production from players other than Dwyer. There are positive signs, but eventually those will need to become goals and more points.

Oscar Pareja’s homegrown movement continues to succeed

Praise has been thrown to Oscar Pareja, and rightly so, for his ability to develop homegrown players. He looks to have another good one in Paxton Pomykal. The 17-year-old was active in his 80 minutes on the pitch, and looked very much like he belonged on the pitch despite his age.

He was one of three homegrown players to see the field for FC Dallas Saturday and showed they have plenty of depth to work with. In the long summer months of the MLS season, his development could be huge for FC Dallas picking up points in games just like this one.

Graham Zusi is playing well at right back, but that isn’t what’s best for SKC.

Sporting KC hasn’t allowed a goal in 180 minutes, which is all well and good, but they also need some scoring. Zusi has acclimated well to an organized backline, but the Sporting attack looks to miss him more. It makes sense for the USMNT to give Zusi a look at right back because of the log jam at midfield.

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Why is Peter Vermes so intent on it? Saad Abdul-Salaam and Igor Juliao are both players who have had success at the position. Meanwhile, Jimmy Medranda has been inauspicious in his two starts filling Zusi’s old right wing role. Scrapping having Zusi on the backline and back in his old position might be best. Not because he isn’t performing well, but because he is needed elsewhere.