Sporting KC Atop East with 2-1 Win in Columbus
July 17, 2014 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release
Sporting Kansas City won their fourth consecutive road match, a new single-season club record, in dramatic fashion on Wednesday with Benny Feilhaber's goal in the final minute of second-half stoppage time securing a 2-1 victory at the Columbus Crew. C.J. Sapong opened the scoring for Sporting Kansas City, who re-claim first place in the Eastern Conference with the team's sixth road win of the season.
Without Graham Zusi -- named an MLS All-Star earlier today along with captain Matt Besler -- in the lineup, Feilhaber was the fulcrum in the Sporting KC midfield and assumed responsibility for the team's set piece chances. The World Cup veteran created numerous chances from dead ball situations in the opening 45 minutes.
At the seven-minute mark, his corner found Olum at the top of the six-yard box and the Kenyan international forced a save from Crew goalkeeper Steve Clark to push the header over the crossbar. Five minutes later, Feilhaber's free kick from the left flank skipped off Wil Trapp near the top of the penalty area and carried inches wide of the far post.
Sapong, making his first MLS start since the team's home opener in March, nearly opened the scoring in the 28th minute. Olum kept the play alive and Sapong's sliding shot was deflected by Crew captain Michael Parkhurst before being cleared in front of the goalline by Trapp.
The former MLS Rookie of the Year buried his next opportunity, hammering home a header off a Feilhaber corner kick in the 42nd minute. The goal, his first of the year and 19th regular season strike of his career, ties him with Teal Bunbury for 10th most in club history.
Feilhaber claimed his team-leading fifth assist of the season and 20th of his MLS career (including postseason) on the play, while Sapong became the 11th different goal scorer for Sporting Kansas City this season. The reigning MLS Cup champions also improved to 9-0-4 when scoring first in 2014 and 17-0-2 in MLS competition all-time when Sapong scores thanks to the team's sixth headed goal of the season.
Momentum swung in favor of the home side early in the second half when Aurelien Collin was sent off in the 55th minute by referee Edvin Jurisevic -- who incorrectly showed Collin red on his MLS debut in 2011 -- after an aerial collision with Adam Bedell. The 6'7" rookie then earned the Crew's first shot on goal of the game in the 61st minute, but Andy Gruenebaum -- playing against his former club for the first time since being acquired prior to the 2014 season -- was up to the task and turned away the near post attempt.
Columbus capitalized on the man advantage and drew level in the 69th minute through an own goal credited to Igor Juliao. The Brazilian outside back was goalside of Federico Higuain as the cross came in from Chad Barson and the clearance attempt ended in the back of the net following contact with Higuain.
The Crew, now winless in their last six against Sporting KC, continued to push forward for the go-ahead goal. Higuain sent his effort narrowly wide in the 80th minute and Gruenebaum made his second save of the match on Bedell in the 87th minute.
The mid-week match came to life in the closing minutes, beginning with the game's second ejection in the 89th minute. Trapp was sent off for the second time this season against Sporting KC after being booked twice in the final 40 minutes on Wednesday.
In the third of three minutes of stoppage time, Juliao worked his way up the right touchline and cut the ball back toward the top of the penalty area. Jacob Peterson did well to re-direct the pass with a slight touch en route and set up Feilhaber for a first-time shot off the underside of the crossbar that stands as the club's latest game-winning goal of the season.
As a result of the second half away goal on Wednesday, all fans can text BWWSKC to 72727 to receive a buy one, get one free snack size wing order at all Kansas City area Buffalo Wild Wings locations.
Sporting Kansas City now returns home to host the LA Galaxy at 5 p.m. CT on Saturday, July 19 at Sporting Park live on ESPN2, WatchESPN and ESPN Deportes. A limited number of tickets are available to purchase via Ticketmaster.com and the first 5,000 fans will receive a Sporting KC cooler bag courtesy of Providence Medical Center.
FAST FACTS
Sporting KC defeated the Columbus Crew 2-1 on Wednesday night on goals from C.J. Sapong and Benny Feilhaber. With the win, Sporting KC (9-5-5, 32 pts.) surpasses D.C. United (9-5-4, 31 pts.) for
sole possession of first place in the Eastern Conference. The win on Wednesday marks the first time in club history that Sporting KC has won four straight MLS road games in the same season. Sporting KC has won six road matches in 2014, most in MLS. Since 2011, no team has more regular season road wins (26) than Sporting KC.
Forward C.J. Sapong earned his first MLS start since March 15 on Wednesday, joining Dom Dwyer and Soony Saad in the attack. Sapong scored the first goal of the match in the 42nd minute of play. The goal was Sporting KC's second off a corner kick in the 2014 season and first since the home opener on March 15.
Benny Feilhaber tallied the assist on Sapong's goal, his team-leading fifth assist in 2014. Feilhaber now has 18 assists in his MLS career during the regular season -- half of which have come in a KC uniform during the MLS regular season. The goal was Sapong's first of the season but 19th of his MLS career, tying him with Teal Bunbury for 10th most in club history. Sporting KC is undefeated all-time (17-0-2) when Sapong scores in MLS competition. Sporting KC is also undefeated when scoring first (9-0-4) and when leading at halftime (6-0-1) in MLS matches in the 2014 season. With Sapong's header on Wednesday, the team's six headed goals are tied for second most in MLS this season (behind only New York with eight). Aurelien Collin was shown a straight red card on Wednesday in the 55th minute by Edvin Jurisevic, who also issued a red card to Collin on his MLS debut in 2011 which was later rescinded.
Columbus equalized with the man advantage in the 69th minute on an own goal credited to Igor Juliao. It marked the team's first own goal allowed in 2014.
The own goal snapped a streak 376 minutes since Sporting KC last conceded a goal in MLS to Columbus. Sporting KC scored eight goals in that time. The Crew's Wil Trapp was shown a second yellow card in the game's 89th minute. The ejection was Trapp's second in as many matches against Sporting KC. Sporting KC has received five red cards during the 2014 season, while the team's opponents have received seven.
Sporting KC's Benny Feilhaber tallied the game-winner in second half stoppage time (93+). Feilhaber's strike is the latest game-winning goal of the season for Sporting KC. The team has scored nine goals in the 76th minute or later in 2014. In the all-time series against Columbus, Sporting KC has scored 25 of the team's 79 goals in the 76th minute or later.
The goal is Feilhaber's second of the season and first since March 29th in Sporting KC's 3-2 victory over the Colorado Rapids at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. The goal is Feilhaber's 10th in MLS regular season play -- half of which have come in a Sporting KC uniform during the MLS regular season. Jacob Peterson and Igor Juliao each earned an assist on the play. Peterson now has 14 assists in his MLS career and four with Sporting KC during the regular season. The assist is Juliao's first of his Major League Soccer career. Feilhaber led all players with four chances created on Wednesday.
Matt Besler led all players with three interceptions on Wednesday. Sporting KC midfielder Mikey Lopez made his MLS debut for Sporting KC on Wednesday, joining Lawrence Olum and Feilhaber in the midfield. Lopez becomes the 27th different player to appear in an MLS match for Sporting KC in 2014, tied with Chivas USA for most of any club. Of those 27 players, 11 were 23 years of age or younger at the start of the 2014 season.
Through 19 games this MLS regular season, Sporting KC has featured 19 different starting lineups. Sporting KC is 7-1-1 in 2014 when Lawrence Olum starts and 12-3-3 over the last two years with Olum in the starting XI. Sporting KC is 3-0-1 in 2014 when Soony Saad starts and 12-3-4 over the last two years with Saad in the starting XI.
Andy Gruenebaum played for Columbus from 2006-13, making 82 MLS appearances (including postseason). Wednesday marked Gruenebaum's second start for his hometown club (2-0-0).
The Columbus Crew are winless in seven games (0-3-4) and have one victory in their last 16 matches after starting 3-0-0. Sporting KC is 24-21-6 all-time against the Crew (79 goals scored, 78 goals allowed). Sporting KC has a 11-12-4 record in Columbus. Sporting KC has won 238 MLS regular season matches, surpassing the Columbus Crew for sole possession of third most in League history. Sporting KC (56.91%) and Columbus Crew (55.89%) rank first and second in average possession, respectively. Sporting KC ranks first in chances created from set plays (44) in 2014, 11 more than any other team. Sporting KC ranks third in shots per game (13.95) in 2014 and first in fewest shots allowed per game (9.11) this year.
QUOTES
SPORTING KANSAS CITY MANAGER PETER VERMES
On the impact the red cards had:
Well, they always change games, especially ones that are not deserved. They change games all the time. That's why when you pull the card out you have to be sure that it is a red card.
On if the Crew was in position to score before the red card was issued:
They weren't. I thought we did a great job in the first half to shut everything down. They were having a difficult time playing out of the back, which I think we frustrated them and caused a lot of turnovers, especially in their half of the field. In the second half, we started the same way. The red card changed things. I thought we were doing a good job of still staying organized and not giving too much away. They got their goal, which I could say if you go look at it, it could be a foul on Higuain for pushing a guy from behind but he doesn't call it. The game changes then obviously we are pretty aggressive, in that moment when we win the ball and there was a second yellow to their guy and he's out. We stepped the aggressiveness back up again to go after them to try to get the goal. It was a really heads up play and the way we scored the goal with all of the guys running up to the box and the ball being dropped to the top of the box.
On stoppage time:
Stoppage time is a very difficult discussion. I think it would be very easy to just attribute 30 seconds to certain things that occur in a game. Then when the number comes out the fans will have an idea as to why they came up with that number. I would be a huge proponent of that moving that way. It's arbitrary. On the field you are wondering how they came up with that number. For me, I don't like the way it is calculated currently.
On Dom Dwyer's performance:
Sometimes he can make stuff on his own and other times he needs some help. I think he's still a difficult player to play against. He puts the other team under a lot of pressure defensively. He's not always going to get goal scoring opportunities. He did a really good job. He was very good defensively and forced the game some ways, which helped us defensively.
SPORTING KANSAS CITY GOALKEEPER ANDY GRUENEBAUM
On playing in Columbus:
Weirdest feeling. The first half started and I just wanted that first shot to come and it never really did in the first half. I just wanted something to happen to get me into the game and get some confidence. We did a great job defensively; limiting anything they did in the first half. I had to wait until the second to get something moving. The fans were unbelievable to welcome me back. It means a lot, it really does.
On the late win:
We've been doing it, a few times. Last game we pulled out one late. It just feels good not giving up until the end and to be able to string something together out of nothing sometimes. We've been very successful as of late.
On the Columbus Crew:
The Crew is playing a very exciting brand of soccer. You see them pushing the game. They are always going to be dangerous, obviously. I was definitely extra motivated tonight, and I'm really upset that Pipa made that run and it got in.
SPORTING KANSAS CITY MIDFIELDER BENNY FEILHABER
On his late goal:
Igor made a really good play down the line as soon as he was able to turn his guy and make a run towards the end line. Me and Jake [Jacob Peterson] and a couple other guys started making our way to the top of the box. I was calling for it in Portuguese for him. I think he heard me as well, he chopped it back perfectly for me. I don't think Jake knew it was coming but luckily he even cushioned it for me. I just tried to make good contact and aim towards that back post.
On playing a man down:
They are a good team playing out of the back and I thought we did a good job in the first half disrupting that. Obviously, with a man down, it makes it extremely difficult to continue playing like that. So our style had to change. We had to give them more space in the back and they were able to really dictate the pace of the game.
On consistency:
This might be my best consistent form I have been in, probably my whole career. I think I have had a lot of high moments and low moments in my career. I've worked really hard since I've gotten to Kansas City. It's not really about me wanting it; it's about it being forced upon me because you're not going to play if you're not doing the things that Peter asks of you here. It's really important and it's helped me get that consistency.
COLUMBUS CREW SPORTING DIRECTOR AND HEAD COACH GREGG BERHALTER
On the tough result:
We're not victims in this whole thing. The way we perform we didn't deserve to win that game and it wasn't a pretty soccer game all around. The whole thing wasn't pretty. Our job is to come out here and entertain the fans and play attractive soccer and we didn't do that we didn't live up to our end of the bargain tonight. It was hesitancy, it was guys not moving and it's too bad because especially when they got the red card we could have gotten more out of that and we didn't.
On how to address the players:
It's still mixed. We're not saying we need to win the championship. We expect a certain level of performance. When we have that level of performance we get a result and a night like tonight as the tide turned and they get the red card we should get a result. We're disappointed but like I said, we're not the victims here. We didn't play well enough to win that game and that's a shame because it's a home game, it's against an Eastern Conference rival and we want to put ourselves in position to win that game.
On the starting line-up:
What we wanted to do was use our wide guys a little bit higher and draw Pipa [Higuain] more in the middle and created an advantage in the middle. Through the lack of movement we weren't successful in doing that. When you're standing you aren't successful in creating space. I didn't think that was successful and we needed to change things up so we brought Adam [Bedell] in. I think he had a good effect in the game. There was a lot more urgency in the second half and I was much more pleased with the performance in the second half than in the first.
On backline's performance:
I thought they did a good job on Dwyer. He is a handful and I thought they did a good job. Most of their chances came from dead ball situations. They took their time and set it up. I'm not sure how much effective playing time was in this game but it wasn't pretty. That's a tactic; they won the game so I'm not going to complain about it. It wasn't an overall attractive game. To answer your question I think the backline did well. They hadn't been playing together in two months. I think a little bit of rust in their communications and build-up but that's fine. I think they did a good job.
On timing of goals:
It got hectic towards the end of the game with Wil being sent off. That play, not clearing the ball, getting beat on the side there's a lot of things to look at I'm not sure it's lack of focus in this case.
On quick turnaround:
I don't know if it is a good or bad thing. I think we need to get our confidence back as a group. You could see in the first half that guys weren't confident and that's what needs to improve. When they are playing their best they can be a very competitive team. I think we just need to get the guys confident and that's part of our job. We need to build them up and get them to where they need to be for Saturday.
On Federico Higuain:
He's doing good. He was out for a while and he's putting two 90 minute shifts in. If there is one guy you can't fault it's him. He's out there pounding away and he's not 100% fit and he's still going after it.
COLUMBUS CREW GOALKEEPER STEVE CLARK
On feeling in locker room after loss:
Coach told us and I think it is true, we don't have to feel sorry for ourselves. We put ourselves in that situation today.
On learning from tonight's game:
We need to take a look at ourselves in the mirror, start playing with confidence and start sticking together as a team. Like I said, we don't have anyone to blame but ourselves. We played a very good time but obviously we didn't show that tonight.
On bringing confidence to the field:
I think you just play one ball at a time. They press really well so they can make it difficult at there for everyone. You have to play one ball at a time and I think that it is most important, as Greg said, not to feel bad for ourselves, it's time to more on and we need to continue to work together.
On what he saw of Sporting KC's winning goal:
Not much. He smashed it. I saw it hit the post and go in.
COLUMBUS CREW MIDFIELDER ETHAN FINLAY
On tonight's match:
It is incredibly frustrating, obviously with the late goal and losing the two points. I don't think that we would have been satisfied with a tie tonight but we definitely didn't earn the win. It is a very frustrating performance.
On the focus on the field:
The first half was one of our poorest of the year. And that is tough to say coming off of a bad performance in New York. Second half I thought we came on and worked hard and tried to get back in the game. We kind of bit the bullet in the last minute of the game with the late goal.
On looking forward to next game:
Yeah, you can dwell on this game too much. You had two bad results. Obviously, we didn't learn from the first result but we are going to win on Saturday. We are going to come and put a good step forward and start winning some games.
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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
