Sporting KC: 3 reasons why MLS Cup contention beckons

2. A brilliant central midfield

Very few teams in MLS are able to genuinely and successfully compete in the playoffs with an elite central midfield that can control games, dictate possession, shield the defence, and create chances.

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Last year’s MLS Cup finalists leaned on their superb midfields. Seattle had Cristian Roldan, Gustav Svensson and Nicolas Lodeiro. Toronto FC had Michael Bradley, Jonathan Osorio and Alejandro Pozuelo, with depth to spare, too. Los Angeles FC, for all of the focus on their offensive talents, had the best defensive midfielder in the league allied with two superb two-way box-to-box eights. Sporting KC have this same elite depth in central midfield.

So far this season, Ilie Sanchez has continued in the holding role, while Roger Espinoza has been joined by new signing Gadi Kinda flanking the Spaniard. Kinda has been a revelation, scoring twice already this season. His athleticism and technical skill make him the ideal two-way central midfielder in the heart of SKC’s 4-3-3 formation.

And all this is without Felipe Gutierrez, who is yet to return from injury. The Designated Player will demand a place in the starting XI and could force the great Ilie out. There are very few teams in MLS that could afford to have a player of Ilie’s quality sat on the bench. And yet, that is where Sporting KC are. This central midfield could drive them to true contention.