MLS Sporting Kansas City

Sporting KC Atop CCL Group with 3-1 Win

Published on September 19, 2014 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release


Sporting Kansas City moved atop the Group 2 standings in the 2014-15 CONCACAF Champions League with a 3-1 victory over Costa Rica's Deportivo Saprissa at Sporting Park on Thursday. Antonio Dovale scored twice in the second half and now has three goals in the tournament, while Dom Dwyer converted a first half penalty kick for his 20th goal in all competition this season.

Dwyer gave Sporting Kansas City an early 1-0 lead in the 14th minute. Benny Feilhaber was brought down in the penalty area by Saprissa goalkeeper Dany Alvarez after combining with Dwyer on a give-and-go that unlocked the defense. Referee Fernando Guerrero pointed to the spot and Dwyer sent a powerful shot to his right for his seventh successful penalty kick of the season.

Dwyer, who also scored in last year's edition of the CONCACAF Champions League, has now scored in each of his last four appearances. On Tuesday, the first 10,000 fans inside Sporting Park for Sporting Kansas City's CCL match-up with Real Esteli FC will receive a limited edition poster courtesy of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City to celebrate Dwyer's record-setting season.

The Englishman nearly struck again on two occasions in the minutes following his penalty kick. His header off a Graham Zusi corner kick was directed just wide in the 16th minute and the two connected again three minutes later only for Alvarez to thwart Dwyer with a superb save in the one-on-one situation.

On the opposite end, Sporting KC goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum raced off his line in the 18th minute to challenge Ariel Rodriguez outside the area on a ball played behind the backline by Manfred Russell. Gruenebaum timed his tackle well, however the ball came off Rodriguez last and rolled perilously wide of the empty net.

Sporting Kansas City threatened to double their lead less than 20 minutes into the encounter as Zusi forced a sprawling stop from Alvarez on his long-distance strike from 35 yards out. Nevertheless, it was the visitors who found the coveted equalizer in the 28th minute from the foot of Juan Bustos. Saprissa's long throw into the penalty area fell to Daniel Colindres, who laid the ball back for Bustos to set up a thunderous, left-footed shot inside the far post.

The final scoring opportunity of the first half would come off a corner kick taken by Dovale and headed on frame by Dwyer. Alvarez dove low to his right to push away the shot, though Jorge Claros was first to the loose ball and struck a first-time shot off the post from a tight angle near the endline.

In search of the go-ahead goal, Saprissa nearly surprised the hosts at the start of the second half. Rodriguez, who had scored four goals in his previous two CCL matches, found time and space inside the area but pushed his shot wide of the post.

Sporting KC would take control for the remainder of the fixture on a night when the reigning MLS Cup champions outshot their opposition 17-7 with a 10-2 advantage in shots on goal. Dovale showed a glimpse of the goals to come with a shot aimed inside the near post in the 54th minute that required a full-extension save from Alvarez.

Fifteen minutes later, Dovale found the back of the net with his first of two goals in a seven-minute span. Zusi's cross-field switch connected with Igor Juliao along the right flank and the Brazilian outside back promptly sent the ball looping into the area with his first touch. Dovale took it out of the air with a full volley from just inside the edge of the 18-yard box for the game-winning goal.

Dovale completed his double in the 76th minute with an emphatic finish at the back post. The cross from Dwyer was ever-so-slightly touched by Feilhaber in the center of the goalmouth and came to the waiting Spaniard, who made no mistake in sending his shot into the roof of the net.

Thanks to the second half goals, Sporting KC supporters can receive a buy one, get one snack size wings coupon to be redeemed at area Buffalo Wild Wings locations by texting BWWSKC to 72727. Additionally, Sporting Kansas City supporters can take advantage of 44-cent Monster Tacos at area Jack in the Box locations on Friday as a result of the team's four shots on goal.

Sporting Kansas City's victory marked only the second time in club history that the team scored three goals in a competitive international match and the first such three-goal game since the 2001 Copa Merconorte. Dovale's three goals in international competition are second most by a KC player all-time, tied with Roy Lassister and one behind Chris Brown.

Thursday's win was the first against a Costa Rican opponent in this year's CONCACAF Champions League and leaves the two sides level with four points in the Group 2 standings. Sporting KC holds the head-to-head tiebreaker and will next face Nicaraguan champions Real Esteli on Tuesday at Sporting Park before the rematch with Deportivo Saprissa in Costa Rica on Oct. 23.

A limited number of tickets are available for Tuesday's CCL clash and can be secured online at Ticketmaster.com. The match will be nationally televised on FOX Sports 1 (English) and Univision Deportes Network (Spanish). Sporting Kansas City and Real Esteli FC played to a 1-1 draw in Nicaragua last month.

FAST FACTS Sporting KC defeated Costa Rica's Deportivo Saprissa 3-1 at Sporting Park on Thursday. The match is the first of back-to-back home matches for Sporting KC in CONCACAF Champions League group stage play. Sporting KC's next CCL match is on Tuesday, Sept. 23 against Nicaragua's Real Esteli FC. The first 10,000 fans will receive a limited edition Dom Dwyer poster courtesy of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City.

Dom Dwyer opened the scoring for Sporting KC after Benny Feilhaber drew a penalty kick in the 13th minute. Dwyer has scored on all seven of his penalty kick attempts in 2014 and now has 20 goals in all competition. Dwyer also scored in the 2013/14 edition of the CONCACAF Champions League.

Saprissa midfielder Juan Bustos equalized in the 28th minute. Bustos' goal was assisted by Daniel Colindres. Antonio Dovale scored the game-winner on Thursday in the 69th minute and added his second of the night seven minutes later. Dovale also scored the equalizer in Sporting KC's group stage opener against Real Esteli in Nicaragua last month. With three goals, Dovale moved into a tie with Roy Lassiter for second place on the club's all-time chart for most goals scored in international competitive matches. Dovale is just one goal shy of tying the all-time record currently held by Chris Brown. Dovale's three goals have come in just two CCL matches. Lassiter played in eight international matches for Sporting KC and Brown played in 11. Dovale's first goal on Thursday was assisted by Igor Juliao. Dovale's second goal was assisted by Benny Feilhaber. Sporting KC is 1-0-1 in the 2014-15 CONCACAF Champions League and tied atop the Group 2 standings with Deportivo Saprissa (1-1-1). Sporting KC holds the head-to-head tiebreaker. Thursday's victory marked only the second time in club history that Sporting KC scored three goals in a competitive international match and was the first time since the 2001 Copa Merconorte.

Sporting KC is 8-9-8 all-time in international competition. Sporting KC is 4-3-6 all-time at home international competition. Sporting KC is 1-1-1 all-time against Deportivo Saprissa. Prior to Thursday, Sporting KC and Saprissa met once before in CONCACAF competition. In 2005, Sporting KC fell 2-1 to Saprissa on aggregate after a scoreless first leg in the Champions Cup quarterfinals. Sporting KC is 7-4-5 in the CONCACAF Champions League. Sporting KC has scored 30 goals all-time in international competition and 13 goals at home. Sporting KC has conceded 35 goals all-time in international competition. Sporting KC is the only team from MLS making its second straight appearance in the tournament. Sporting KC has conceded just two goals in four CCL matches at Sporting Park. Since 2001, Sporting KC has lost just one of nine competitive international matches at home. The loss for Saprissa is the lone loss for Costa Rican clubs (3-1-3) in the 2014-15 CCL. Saprissa's Jordan Smith received his second yellow card in group stage on Thursday and is now suspended for the group stage finale against Sporting KC in Costa Rica on Oct. 23.

QUOTES

Sporting KC manager Peter Vermes

On Sporting KC's 3-1 win over Saprissa...

The first thing I'd say is that Saprissa is a very good team. I thought they were excellent in the middle of the park. They were extremely aggressive and it was something that we talked about at halftime because they were winning a lot of second balls and they were biting really well. It was a big thing for us and we needed to open up the game. I thought that we started to have a lot of nice combination play which started wide, and that's how the goals come about. That second goal was an important aspect because it got the momentum going for us.

On Antonio Dovale's performances in CCL...

He's a good soccer player. I don't think it's necessarily this [competition]. He should have scored last week against Chivas USA. I just think he's a good player.

On Aurelien Collin's defensive performance...

I think defensively we're more like who we are. I think that's a big step in the right direction. I said that when we played against New York [Red Bulls]. So I think we're back to who we are from a defensive perspective and that's been very good.

On Toni Dovale's development...

It was important for us in the last game against Chivas USA to try and get him 90 minutes. He hasn't really had 90 minutes with us and that's because of the physical aspect. It's always difficult when we bring in foreign players to our team because there's an adaptation period. For some guys it's different time periods. For him, it's not the soccer; it's the speed of play and the physicality of the game. Saprissa is a very athletic team so this was very much like an MLS team, but more technical.

On Saprissa's performance...

They're a very good team, very well organized. Like I said, working in the middle of the park is a strength of theirs. I think that caused them to win a lot of balls and then go on the counter. Their transition was good at times, but at the same time I thought we did a good job of delaying their game and giving them poor opportunities to get a good chance off.

On Sporting KC's recent improvement...

I think we're in form. I thought the game against New York, like I said - I thought we played very well. I really don't' see it as we're out of form. I actually think we're in very good form. And I think at times it's not bad to have a game here or there that you get your butt kicked because it resets the team and now all of a sudden everyone remembers what you have to do to be successful. And it's a good time of year for us to be in that place.

On getting a result away at Saprissa on Oct. 23...

I'm very familiar with the CONCACAF region from my time as a player. Every game is important. Every roll of the ball is important. And in this type of environment where you're in group play, you have to be prepared for everything. Scoring three goals tonight was a big deal. Giving up one wasn't something we wanted to do but we scored three. Obviously the next result is another big game. And then obviously we have to go into the lion's den and we understand that it's going to be a difficult place to play. Our team is a lot more experienced than we have been in the past, and I think we're up for the challenge.

Sporting KC midfielder Antonio Dovale

On the first of his two goals on the night, a left-footed volley that gave Sporting KC a 2-1 lead...

[Graham] Zusi changed the point of attack and played a long ball to Igor [Juliao]. He (played) a one-touch pass into the box, and I was at the top of the box to score. The ball was pretty difficult to shoot with one touch because it was very high. I just tried to hit the ball as low as I could. I'm very happy to score, but the most important thing is the team did a great job for 90 minutes.

On Saprissa's performance throughout the match...

We tried to win the game the way we usually do. We also have to give a lot of credit to Saprissa. I'm surprised because of the level they played (at) today. They were trying to score from the first moment. There are not many teams that come to Sporting Park and try to win the game. That give them a lot of credit from my point of view.

On his confidence level after scoring three goals in two CCL games...

Today I'm not happy because of my two goals. I'm happy because of the win. After some tough moments and some tough results, the team is again playing the right way. The attitude of coach [Vermes] has been extremely important because when we were going through a tough moment, he just told us to enjoy the moment and have fun. That gave us confidence to keep on going in the same way. Now I think we are in a good position again.

Sporting KC forward Dom Dwyer

On Sporting KC's offensive performance in a 3-1 victory...

It was a good performance and we created lots of chances. We probably should have scored more goals than we did, but maybe we're saving them. Everyone's done a good job looking for me. I just try to make good runs and stay active off the ball, and it's my job to put the chances away.

On the challenge of preparing for CONCACAF Champions League opponents...

Our coaches find plenty of video on them. We're as prepared for these teams as we are for any MLS team. We take the Champions League very seriously and the coaches do a great job preparing us. We were definitely ready tonight. We're always given enough information on the other team to get the job done.

On scoring his seventh penalty in seven attempts this season...

This season I've usually done something different every time. I don't pay too much attention to the keeper. I just pick my spot and hit it hard. Sometimes the goalie has guessed right, but I've been able to place it well enough to beat them anyway. Hopefully that continues.

On Sporting KC's increased confidence after two straight wins...

We've been playing well the last couple games now. We're feeling really good about ourselves, and now we're looking forward to Tuesday. Whenever you score goals and win, you're going to feel really good. Hopefully we'll get another three points on Tuesday and then head back to MLS with plenty of confidence.

Saprissa manager Ronald Gonzalez

On Saprissa's 3-1 defeat to Sporting KC...

It's a very physical team and at times, especially in the second half, it became difficult for us to contain them. It's a game of opportunities and a game of chances. And for us and we had our chances, but we weren't able to take advantage. In the end, that was costly for us in terms of the result.

On the chances created between both teams...

It was a game of back and forth. It was difficult at first in terms of defense, but with the opportunities that were created, it was possible to take advantage of them. In the end, they opened up in the back and Kansas City was able to take advantage of them.

On the two teams' rematch in Costa Rica on Oct. 23...

It's not important what happens to us tonight. What it's going to come down to is the match between Kansas City and Saprissa in Costa Rica. We have to go get that game. We have to go after it and make sure we do well. According to my understanding, it doesn't really matter what happens in the other group games in terms of outcome of the group. It comes down to a direct duel between Saprissa and Kansas City, so the (group) comes down to that game.

On Saprissa's preparation for a home game against Sporting KC on Oct. 23...

We'll do much of same in terms of what we'll do before our next game against Kansas City. We have a couple games in the league, and we hope to play and get some rhythm going forward. I assure you that the next game with Kansas City will be completely different down in Costa Rica.

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