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MLS: 5 teams who fell short of expectations in 2019

By Matt Coles

CINCINNATI, OH - AUGUST 25: Andrew Gutman #96 of FC Cincinnati controls the ball during the game against the Columbus Crew SC at Nippert Stadium on August 25, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH - AUGUST 25: Andrew Gutman #96 of FC Cincinnati controls the ball during the game against the Columbus Crew SC at Nippert Stadium on August 25, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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ST PAUL, MINNESOTA – SEPTEMBER 25: Sporting Kansas City celebrates after Botond Barath #2 scored a goal against Minnesota United in the first half of the game at Allianz Field on September 25, 2019 in St Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
ST PAUL, MINNESOTA – SEPTEMBER 25: Sporting Kansas City celebrates after Botond Barath #2 scored a goal against Minnesota United in the first half of the game at Allianz Field on September 25, 2019 in St Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) /

Sporting KC

From finishing top of the Western Conference in 2018 to missing out on the playoffs by ten points in 2019, Sporting KC went completely the wrong way this campaign. From their 34 games last season, SKC had a record of 18-8-8 to top the West by three points ahead of Seattle. While the Sounders have stayed in second, the side from Kansas City have not. They slipped to 11th place, just four points above the Conference’s bottom side, Vancouver.

They lost the likes of Ike Opara, Khiry Shelton, Diego Rubio and Brad Evans through either transfers or retirement, but having brought in the likes of Benny Feilhaber, Rodney Wallace and Erik Hurtado, the side should have been able to push for the playoff places once again. SKC also came through pre-season unbeaten, having won seven of their ten clashes, and they made it through to the semi-finals of the CONCACAF Champions League before shipping ten goals to Monterrey over the space of 180 minutes.

Sporting’s poor performance did not just restrict itself to league action either, as they were defeated 4-1 by Minnesota United in the fourth round of the U.S. Open Cup, their first fixture in the competition. They showed glimpses of hope throughout the campaign, including three straight wins in August, but that was followed by four straight defeats, including conceding seven to the Galaxy. SKC have been there before, but will they be able to recover from this terrible 2019 performance and fight their way back into playoff contention next year?

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