Sporting Kansas City: Frustrated and in first place in West
How many MLS clubs can say this? First place for Sporting Kansas City after a tough match against Columbus Crew SC. And they’re still dissatisfied.
Sporting Kansas City players and supporters still griped a bit even though their team stands in first place in MLS Western Conference. The complaints started following a tough home draw recently against their strongest rival yet, Columbus Crew SC.
A frustrating 0-0 draw for two points-collecting teams, yes. Yet home G Tim Melia and Columbus G Zack Steffan had brilliant performances with three saves apiece. And supporters believe they saw a great MLS Championship game – preview at least – at regular-season prices.
Steffan’s 415 minutes-run of scoreless soccer sets a team record.
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Kansas City featured a 4-3-3 formation against Columbus’ 4-2-3-1. Both teams played in and out of their formations perfectly well.
It only added to the frustration when Columbus went down to 10 players in the second half. Still, neither team could score a goal.
Halftime talk must have clinched the draw
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SKC Manager Peter Vermes credited Columbus with increased ferocity following their red card and losing a player. In one goalmouth scramble, Melia had to concede a penalty kick opportunity. Columbus didn’t make good on it.
Without revealing details, Columbus head coach Gregg Berhalter confirmed he gave an incredibly inspiring halftime talk with a game plan to ramp up the intensity for the second half.
The home team’s performance got them so close to the 2018 Supporters Shield. Yet Columbus Crew SC kept their grasp coming up short for the entire game.
If this same game got played again…
Forget Columbus Crew SC’s ferocity for a moment. It only adds to SKC’s frustration that all indicators say, were the game played again, Sporting Kansas City would win it.
The Audi Player Index follows a wide variety of on-ball player actions during every MLS game. Those actions’ positive or negative impact on the team gets calculated.
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By this index, Sporting Kansas City got rated 3,685 to Columbus Crew SC’s 2,540. SKC won, at least by this rating.
Supporters of both teams say stop looking at the rating. Because this game gets played again anyway – for the MLS Championship.