Sporting Kansas City Return To Form In Win Over Chivas USA (VIDEO)

Sep 12, 2014; Carson, CA, USA; Sporting KC celebrates after midfielder Antonio Dovale (9) scored during the first half against the Chivas USA at StubHub Center. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

It just takes a weak opponent like Wilmer Cabrera’s Chivas USA to get the collective confidence of Peter Vermes’s Sporting Kansas City back up and running. On Friday night at StubHub Center in Carson, Calif., the defending MLS Cup Champions returned to their scoring form in a comprehensive 4-0 shutout victory over Chivas USA. The win is especially important, as it may as well be a warmup for the CONCACAF Champions League gauntlet that lies ahead next week.

Here are six things we learned, followed by player ratings, for the match between Chivas USA and Sporting Kansas City.

1. A quiet start to the match

Early on in the first half, Sporting Kansas City were looking to provide some pressure, but Chivas USA had the first chance of the evening in the fourth minute with a set piece that was cleared by Dom Dwyer. A through ball from Toni Dovale in the fifth minute for Graham Zusi was called back for offsides. Paulo Nagamura should have done better on another through ball from Toni. Marvin Chavez was cautioned in the 12th minute for a foul on Benny Feilhaber.

2. Dom Dwyer falls short in first half

A shot from Dwyer in the 16th minute from the left side of Sporting’s attacking third was collected by Dan Kennedy. Akira Kaji had to slow things down. Leandro Barrera tried a cross in the 19th minute but there was no one on the right side to collect the pass.

A chance for Dovale in the 26th minute was cleared after one too many touches. A header from Dwyer in the 27th minute sailed wide left. Another shot from Dwyer in the 28th minute lacked the pace. Igor Juliao got caught in a collision with Tony Lochhead in the 30th minute but would be able to return to action moments later.

3. Dwyer breaks through historically, Benny adds insurance

A long delivery from Juliau in the 34th minute was collected by Kennedy. The closing minutes of the first half were marked by poor passing and a ball possession battle. Barrera’s next cross sailed out on the full in the 37th minute for a goal kick. Lawrence Olum was shaken up in the 38th minute due to a knee issue but would be feeling the effects of that injury for a bit. Finally, after several close calls, Dwyer finally broke through in the 40th minute on a breakway for his 19th goal of the season, the best by a Sporting Kansas City player in a single season in club history.

Felix Borja had a chance in the 44th minute but it was saved by Andy Gruenebaum. Late in the half. Benny Feilhaber took advantage of a miss from Dovale in the second minute of first half injury time to give Sporting a 2-0 lead over Chivas.

Team Statistics
Chivas USA on left side, Sporting Kansas City on right side

2 Shots 7
1 Shots on Target 3
0 Shots off Target 2
1 Blocked Shots 2
3 Corners 1
10 Crosses 9
0 Offsides 3
8 Fouls 11
1 Yellow Cards 0
0 Red Cards 0
147 Total Passes 236
61 % Passing Accuracy 77 %
39.1 % Possession 60.9 %
28 Duels Won 28
3 Tackles Won 8
1 Saves 1
15 Clearances 13

4. San Zusi strikes again!

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Early on in the first half, a corner from Sporting in the 47th minute was cleared, an indication that the visitors were not content with just a two-goal lead. A through ball for Don Dwyer in the 49th minute was intercepted by Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, although even if it was intercepted it would have been called back regardless due to offsides. A blistering shot from Graham Zusi in the 52nd minute made it 3-0 Sporting, and the rout was on. The goal was Zusi’s fourth of the season.

5. More close calls as cards pile up

Another shot from Barrera missed on the left side in the 53rd minute, his third miss from that side of the attacking third, adding to his sorry evening at the Hub. A shot from Reo-Coker in the 55th minute missed wide right. Another big shot from Dwyer in the 56th minute was saved by Dwyer. Barrera’s next attempt second later had the same result as his last three attempts mentioned in this postmatch report.

Nagamura came in for Mikey Lopez in the 61st minute of play. Meanwhile, Marvin Chavez came out for Matthew Dunn. Eric Avila made a meal of his first opportunity in the 62nd minute. Dwyer had another opportunity for a brace in the 63rd minute but it missed just wide left. Lawrence Olum was cautioned in the 67th minute for a foul. Olum would sit out the next game due to yellow card accumulation.

Seconds later, Lopez was cautioned for another rough challenge. Donny Toia came in for Barrera in the 69th minute while Soony Saad came in for Zusi. Bobby Burling conceded a dangerous set piece from just outside the box in the 71st minute. Feilhaber’s ensuing attempt just sailed over the bar. In the 74th minute, Eriq Zavaleta came in for Borja.

6. Claudio Bieler slams the door shut

Andy Gruenebaum made another diving save in the 76th minute, which was a rarity given that Sporting were on attack for most of the match. Saad’s first match in the same minute sailed high and out. Claudio Bieler came in for Dwyer in the 77th minute. He nearly cashed in a minute later but Dan Kennedy was there to clean up.

Sporting seemed to be a bit hard done by the officiating late. Dovale was complaining about an injury to his face from Toia in the 83rd minute but would not get any sympathy from the man in the middle. Lopez was clamoring for a penalty in the 86th minute but it seemed the hosts were gaining some sympathy. Regardless, Bieler made the referee pay for those two missed calls with Sporting’s fourth in the 87th minute to make it 4-0 to the visitors. It was their first clean sheet since June 27 against Portland.

Team Statistics

Chivas USA in red, Sporting Kansas City in blue

Chivas USA Player Ratings

Dan Kennedy 3, Akira Kaji 3, Bobby Burning 3, Jhon Kennedy Hurtago 3, Tony Lochhead 3, Eric Avila 4, Leandro Barrera 5, Nathan Sturgis 3, Nigel Reo-Coker 5, Felix Borja 3, Marvin Chavez 3.5, Matthew Dunn 3, Donny Toia 2, Eriq Zavaleta NR

Sporting Kansas City Player Ratings

Andy Gruenebaum 6, Aurelien Collin 6, Igor Juliao 7, Matt Besler 6, Seth Sinovic 6, Benny Feilhaber 8, Lawrence Olum 6.5, Paulo Nagamura 6, Dominic Dwyer 10, Graham Zusi 9, Toni Dovale 6, Mikey Lopez 4.5, Soony Saad 4, Claudio BIeler 7