Sporting KC Ties LA Galaxy 0-0 at StubHub Center
June 3, 2016 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release
Sporting Kansas City battled LA Galaxy to a 0-0 draw Thursday night at StubHub Center, snapping the club's two-game losing skid ahead of the Copa America Centenario break.
LA Galaxy entered the contest leading MLS with 27 goals, including 18 in six games at StubHub Center. However, Sporting Kansas City held the hosts to a single shot the entire game, their fewest in a regular season match in club history. Center back Ike Opara anchored the stout defensive effort, making his 50th career regular season start, while Tim Melia notched Sporting Kansas City's first shutout in 11 games dating back to April 9.
The result keeps both teams where they started the evening in the Western Conference standings - Sporting Kansas City (5-8-3, 18 points) in eighth and LA Galaxy (5-2-6, 21 points) in fifth).
Manager Peter Vermes made two changes to the Sporting KC lineup from last Friday's 1-0 home defeat to D.C. United. Benny Feilhaber returned to the fold as a holding midfielder, while Connor Hallisey earned his first start since April 27 as part of a three-man attack alongside Dom Dwyer and Jacob Peterson.
While Bruce Arena's Galaxy side mustered zero shots in the first 45 minutes, Sporting Kansas City tallied six attempts of their own before halftime and nearly went ahead in the 40th minute. Captain Roger Espinoza played centrally to Paulo Nagamura, who slipped a perfectly weighted one-touch pass behind the defense to Dom Dwyer. The Englishman let the ball roll onto his left side before pulling a low strike narrowly wide of goalkeeper Brian Rowe's lefthand post.
Jimmy Medranda provided a spark from the left back position, showcasing his excellent technical ability over the course of the second half. The 22-year-old Colombian struck two venomous volleys on frame with his patented left boot, the first in the 49th minute and the second in the 68th, but both efforts were saved by Rowe.
LA's lone shot attempt came in the 68th minute, an innocuous strike from Mike Magee that was blocked by Opara on the edge of the penalty area. At the other end, Medranda continued to ask questions of the Galaxy defense. His cross from the left wing found Chance Myers at the far post in the 76th minute, but the header sailed above the woodwork.
Feilhaber was at the focal point of Sporting Kansas City's next scoring opportunity, firing on goal from a near-impossible angle along the right endline. Rowe was forced to palm the effort over the crossbar and out of play, and the visitors nearly cashed in on the ensuing corner kick. Feilhaber delivered it low to Medranda, who flashed a teasing ball across the face of goal that went untouched and just wide of the post. Thursday marked just the third scoreless draw between the clubs in 57 regular season meetings all-time.
The 2016 MLS season now enters a two-week break as the 2016 Copa America Centenario takes center stage. Besler and Zusi are with the U.S. Men's National Team for Friday's tournament opener against Colombia in Santa Clara, California, while Mustivar and Haiti begin play Saturday against Peru in Seattle. No Other Pub in the Kansas City Power & Light District (1370 Grand Blvd.) will host watch parties for every match during the Copa America, offering complimentary appetizers to fans who sign up and order pitchers of beer.
Sporting Kansas City will return to the field June 15 when the club begins its defense of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup at Minnesota United FC of the North American Soccer League. The game will kick off at 7 p.m. CT and away ticket information can be found at skcawaytickets.com.
FAST FACTS
Here's an in-depth look at Sporting KC's scoreless draw against LA Galaxy on Thursday night, diving into the major stats, records and milestones.
Sporting KC Team Facts
Sporting KC held the Galaxy to one shot the entire game. One shot is the Galaxy's fewest in an MLS match (including postseason) in club history. Their previous low was two on Aug. 20, 2003 at Chicago and two on Aug. 5, 2007 at Toronto.
There were two changes to the Sporting KC lineup on Thursday as Benny Feilhaber and Connor Hallisey returned to the XI.
Sporting KC is 4-1-2 in their secondary kits this season.
Sporting KC Player Facts
Sporting KC was without Matt Besler and Graham Zusi, who are with the United States Men's National Team as they kick off the Copa America Centenario on Friday against Colombia.
Sporting KC midfielder Brad Davis and defender Nuno Coelho missed tonight's match with thigh strains.
Defender Ike Opara made his 50th career start in the MLS regular season.
LA Galaxy Team Facts
LA Galaxy is 39-5-14 at home in the regular season since 2013, scoring 135 goals and allowing just 46.
LA Galaxy has lost just once in its last 11 MLS home games versus Sporting KC (6-1-4).
LA Galaxy entered Thursday leading MLS with 2.25 goals per game.
The shutout snapped an eight-game skid without a clean sheet for the Galaxy.
Thursday marked the first time during the Opta era (2011-present) that LA has been held without a shot in a half of an MLS home game (including postseason).
LA Galaxy Players Facts
Giovani dos Santos is the only MLS player with at least five goals and five assists in fewer than 10 games (nine) in 2016.
LA Galaxy were without forwards Gyasi Zardes (United States) and Robbie Keane (Republic of Ireland), who are on international duty.
Midfielder Steven Gerrard also missed the match due to a hamstring strain.
General Facts
Sporting KC now enter a two-week Copa America Centenario break before returning to the pitch to begin their 2016 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup campaign at Minnesota United on June 15.
QUOTES
Sporting KC Manager Peter Vermes
On the team's defensive performance...
I thought our game was just very good. I thought the guys stayed really organized. I thought we had some very good counter-attacks out of that organization. I think just all-in-all I thought we had some chances to win it. I thought our organization and our defending was tremendous. It was unfortunate we couldn't stick one in, but we almost could have taken the three points. But it was a good game for us.
On shutting out the opponent with the most goals during the 2016 season...
I'd say it this way - with as many different players as we had to put in the lineup and with not having continuity with a group of guys over number of games, for them to come in and perform the way they did was admirable for sure.
On whether Ike Opara will be out with a serious injury...
He's fine. He's fine. He likes to make it a little dramatic sometimes, but he's fine.
On Kevin Ellis' absence tonight...
Kevin hurt his groin - but a different part of his groin - the day that we were leaving.
On Brad Davis' absence and whether he can be expected back any time soon...
That was a hamstring. I think he'll be back this upcoming week, but he just couldn't go this weekend.
On controlling the tempo...
I think we were just very organized. I think we were hard to break down tonight, and I think because of that, we actually created some chances on the other side. I don't know the statistics yet and how many shots were on goal, but I think we were very stingy in that area of the game. So it was excellent. It's a really good step forward from a defensive perspective. We didn't give anything away. I think we were tough to play against and I think we were hard to break down, and like I said, I think what came out of that was a lot of really good counter-attacking opportunities. There were a couple situations when we could have won - we had some good action in the first half when Dom [Dwyer] broke through, and we're going to get a few more of those for sure.
Major League Soccer Stories from June 3, 2016
- MLS Disciplinary Committee Suspends Octavio Rivero and Kendall Waston - Vancouver Whitecaps FC
- Philadelphia Union Affiliate YSC Academy Graduates 13 Students - Philadelphia Union
- Philadelphia Union Midfielder Chris Pontius Voted MLS Player of the Week - MLS
- Union's Chris Pontius Named MLS Player of the Week - Philadelphia Union
- Previewing the Opening Copa America Matchups for the USA & Panama - San Jose Earthquakes
- 'Caps Trio Set to Take on the World 's Best at Copa America Centenario - Vancouver Whitecaps FC
- New York Red Bulls Forward Bradley Wright-Phillips Voted Etihad Airways MLS Player of the Month - New York Red Bulls
- New York Red Bulls Forward Bradley Wright-Phillips Voted Etihad Airways MLS Player of the Month - MLS
- Manneh Voted Whitecaps FC Player of the Month - Vancouver Whitecaps FC
- Timbers to Visit Medford for Annual 'Rose City Road Trip,' Presented by Providence Health & Services - Portland Timbers
- Chicago Fire Copa Connections: Pavel Pardo - Chicago Fire FC
- FC Dallas Outlasts Rain, Draws Houston 1-1 - FC Dallas
- Dynamo Draw 1-1 at FC Dallas in Rain-Delayed Match - Houston Dynamo FC
- Sporting KC Ties LA Galaxy 0-0 at StubHub Center - Sporting Kansas City
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.
