MLS: Ranking the 5 CCL teams
3. Sporting Kansas City
Sporting Kansas City might be the most varied and deepest team in all of MLS. While they lack the upper-echelon individuals that Atlanta United or Toronto FC or Los Angeles FC may boast, as a collective unit, they are cohesive, well-drilled, and greater than the sum of their parts. And their parts are not all bad.
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Attackers like Johnny Russell and Daniel Salloi will create chances and score goals. An excellent midfield featuring Ilie Sanchez and Felipe Guttierez. A stifling defence led by Matt Besler and Graham Zusi. This is a complete team with competent players at every level. The only position they are lacking is up front, lacking that star goalscorer that every great team needs.
In the end, the lack of an out-and-out goalscorer might just be KC’s downfall. Despite Peter Vermes’ protestations, it has been in the past and it is gearing up to be again in 2019. But the rest of the team is solid and the draw is winnable.
If KC can see past Tovula in the Round of 16, they will likely face Toronto FC in the quarter-finals. That is a tie that they can win. Suddenly, they are in the semi-finals, their most likely opponents being Monterrey or Atlanta United. A difficult opponent. But at that stage, anything can happen.