Minnesota United Vs Sporting KC: 4 things we learned – Magic Mannone secures playoff spot

1. Mannone magic ends SKC playoff hopes

Sporting KC have had a famously unlucky season in terms of injury and suspension. From day one, Peter Vermes’ side has been rocked by absentee after absentee, with the 52-year-old simply unable to name his best side on a semi-regular basis, leading to disjointed performances — their CONCACAF Champions League run at the start of the season didn’t exactly help here.

On Wednesday, their faint hopes of scraping a playoff place were finally snuffed out, although not for the want of trying on this occasion. In all honesty, SKC were fantastic in this match, creating chance after chance, mostly from crosses, while they also counter-attacked at ferocious speed.

But, one way or another, the footballing gods were against them. SKC rattled the bar on a number of occasions, had efforts denied by last-ditch tackles and, most notably, were thwarted by some real heroics in goal from Vito Mannone.

The Italian was equal to almost everything SKC threw at him, making double-saves, reaction stops and cat-like leaps across his goal to keep the ball out. ‘We. Are. Making. The. Playoffs’ was almost etched across his forehead by the end of the match.

Ozzie Alonso got the equaliser and Hassani Dotson scored the late winner but it was Magic Mannone who deserves a huge pat on the back from Adrian Heath. Without him, the Loons would likely have blown another chance to secure their playoff spot here.