MLS Sporting Kansas City

Sporting KC Unbeaten Run Ends with 2-0 Loss at Vancouver

Published on August 11, 2014 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release


Sporting Kansas City suffered a 2-0 loss at Vancouver on Sunday, snapping an eight-game unbeaten run and five-game road winning streak for the reigning MLS Cup champions. The Whitecaps struck twice in the first half, first on an own goal in the 17th minute and again via Darren Mattocks in the 39th minute.

Despite the defeat, Sporting KC remains in first place in the Eastern Conference and amidst a three-way tie in the Supporters' Shield race will 11 games remaining in the regular season.

The home side threatened early and often in the opening 45 minutes at BC Place. Mattocks did well to turn and unleash a shot in the fourth minute but Aurelien Collin was up to the task to deflect the attempt over the endline.

Sporting Kansas City responded on the opposite end in the 10th minute. Benny Feilhaber, the reigning MLS Player of the Month, whipped his shot toward the far post from 25 yards only to see it curl narrowly wide.

Gruenebaum made his first of three first half saves in the 13th minute, racing off his line and getting his hands to a first-time shot from Erik Hurtado. Gruenebaum injured his right shoulder on the play and would play through the half before exiting at halftime.

The Whitecaps pressure paid off with the game's opening goal in the 17th minute when an entry ball from Morales led to an own goal by right back Igor Juliao. The Brazilian directed his header back toward net for the goalkeeper to collect, however Gruenebaum had come off his line and was unable to recover.

Vancouver's attack made the most of the momentum and would have doubled the lead if not for saves from Gruenebaum in back-to-back minutes. Mattocks' left-footed shot from 15 yards away was smothered in the 30th minute and Morales' free kick was turned away superbly one minute later at the near post.

The scoreline went to 2-0 in the 39th minute as Mattocks scored his sixth goal of the season and fourth in the past five games. Morales led the counter -- en route to earning his ninth assist of the year, second most in MLS -- and found Mattocks in the 2-v-1 situation for his 16th career goal.

Sporting Kansas City entered halftime down by two goals for just the second time this season and needed a goalline clearance from Aurelien Collin in first half stoppage time to prevent the team from trailing by three. Homegrown goalkeeper Jon Kempin started the second half in net for his MLS debut, becoming the 30th different player to appear in an MLS match for Sporting Kansas City in 2014 (most among all teams).

After going without a shot on goal in the first half, Sporting Kansas City tested Whitecaps goalkeeper David Ousted in the opening minute of the second half. Jacob Peterson hit a well-struck effort on target but straight into the arms of Ousted.

In the 64th minute, Graham Zusi's corner kick connected with Aurelien Collin at the top of the six-yard box but the Frenchman was falling away from goal and his header carried inches over the crossbar. The Whitecaps took their turn to threaten on a corner six minutes later as Johnny Leveron's header was goalbound until headed off the line by Feilhaber.

The Sporting KC playmaker made his presence felt on both sides of the ball, bravely getting on the end of a cross from Graham Zusi three minutes later. Ousted reacted alertly, shuffling to his left to hold onto the header.

A stronger second half showing from Sporting Kansas City defensively meant only one save was required from Kempin but it would prove to be a memorable first MLS stop for the Leawood, Kansas native -- who was named the MVP of the 2014 Chipotle MLS Homegrown Game on Monday. The 21-year-old goalkeeper dove strongly to his right to push a Mattocks penalty kick into the post after referee David Gantar awarded the PK in the 84th minute.

The visitors came close to salvaging a consolation goal in the game's closing minutes however were twice turned away in stoppage time as Vancouver earned their first win in over a month and remained unbeaten against Eastern Conference opponents (4-0-5). Feilhaber's initial shot from the top of the area was blocked by Leveron, who then deflected the follow-up attempt from C.J. Sapong to preserve the shutout.

Sporting Kansas City returns home to host three straight MLS matches beginning with Toronto FC at 7 p.m. CT on Saturday, August 16 at Sporting Park. A limited number of tickets are available for the match and can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com.

FAST FACTS

Sporting KC fell 2-0 to the Vancouver Whitecaps at BC Place on Sunday night. The loss snaps a five game road-winning streak for Sporting KC. The loss also snaps an eight-game unbeaten streak in MLS for Sporting KC. Sunday marks the first time that Sporting KC has lost to the Vancouver Whitecaps in the expansion side's four-year history.

Sporting KC is 2-1-2 against Vancouver all-time. Vancouver is undefeated (4-0-5) against Eastern Conference opponents in 2014. Despite the loss, Sporting KC remains in first place in the Eastern Conference and are tied for first in the race for the Supporters Shield (11-6-6). Homegrown goalkeeper Jon Kempin entered the match as a second half substitute after an injury to Andy Gruenebaum. The appearance was Kempin's MLS debut. Vancouver was awarded a penalty kick in the 85th minute of the match for a foul committed by Sporting KC's Aurelien Collin. Kempin earned the save on the ensuing penalty kick. Earlier in the season, referee David Gantar also whistled for two penalty kicks against Sporting Kansas City in a 2-1 loss at Chicago. Sunday's appearance was Collin's 100th of his MLS regular season career. Matt Besler returned to the starting lineup after missing Sporting KC's match last weekend as he served his mandatory one-game suspension against the Philadelphia Union. Sporting KC Manager Peter Vermes has started 28 different players during the 2014 regular season, most in MLS. Through 23 MLS matches in 2014, Sporting KC has fielded 23 different starting lineups. Jorge Claros made his second start for Sporting KC on Sunday joining Mikey Lopez and July's MLS Player of the Month Benny Feilhaber in the midfield. Claros and Vancouver defender Johnny Leveron were teammates at Honduran club Motagua from 2009-12. Sporting KC was without Paulo Nagamura (left ankle sprain) and Eric Kronberg (fractured metacarpal in hand) on Sunday. Besler and Claros led all players with 54 passes each. Graham Zusi led all starters in passing accuracy with 89.47%. Zusi led all players with six chances created and in successful crosses/corners with five. Collin was tied with Vancouver's Leveron for most interceptions with four. Collin led all players with four tackles won. The Whitecaps got on the board in the 17th minute after a Sporting KC own goal. Darren Mattocks scored the Whitecaps second goal. Pedro Morales earned the assist. Morales is tied for second in MLS with nine assists in 2014. Vancouver has the fewest losses in MLS this season with four. Sporting KC dropped their first match this season on Sunday while wearing the team's new secondary kits (4-1-0).

QUOTES

SPORTING KANSAS CITY MANAGER PETER VERMES

Thoughts on the match:

"They were the better team. They wanted the game more. Their guys were hungry, our guys were lackadaisical. We made two mistakes, and the mistakes are one thing, because that happens sometimes in games, and that kind of stuff you've got to be able to live with, but it's our approach in the game. I always say that that's my responsibility, so I'll take responsibility, but at the same time, I'll say that it won't happen next week, I can tell you that."

On whether the number of fouls were caused by his team's physical style:

"That's a misconception. We don't play a physical game, what we do is play aggressive. What happens is, when you play aggressive, especially when you're pressing the ball, things are going to happen. There are going to be fouls, but I don't think, in any way, shape or form, did we foul more than them, or whatever. I don't think that was the case. Again, I think we were late to a lot of stuff today because of our approach."

On whether the All-Star game affected his four starters:

"From a physical perspective, no I don't think so, but obviously, all four of the guys from the All-Star game for sure didn't have their best games today, so that definitely has to have something to do with it, I would assume, because they didn't have any training with us all week."

On Pedro Morales:

"I think he's a good player - I've seen him on video quite a bit. I think he's a very good player, think he's very good going forward, and good in the counter. He can not only find passes, but he's a guy that can score as well. So, he definitely drives their offence from that part of the field."

SPORTING KANSAS CITY DEFENDER MATT BESLER

Thoughts on the match:

"I think that, in the first half, we didn't come out with the correct mentality. We didn't play who we are, we were on the back foot instead of the front foot. We finally got into the game in the second half and created some chances there, but at the end of the day, we were down two goals by that time, and it wasn't good enough."

On whether the abundance of fouls called was a product of Sporting Kansas City's play:

"We played like we normally do. I think we're a physical team. I think the ref, for whatever reason, was calling more fouls than we're used to, but I don't think we were fouling more than we usual, we were playing like we usually do."

On whether the All-Star game had any effect on himself, Zusi, Dwyer, or Collin in terms of fatigue:

"No effect. Anyone that says it affects you - that's just an excuse. Like I said, the mentality wasn't good enough and we didn't play the way we could today."

SPORTING KANSAS CITY GOALKEEPER JON KEMPIN

On whether this was his first time entering a match at halftime:

"Throughout my career, yes, but obviously that was my debut, so not professionally. It's always tough, because you don't get much of a warm-up or notice, but I was definitely very happy to get in."

On whether communicating with the centre backs is the most important part of coming into a game cold.

"Yeah, just getting on the same page. Coming in and getting a feel for how the game is going."

On whether scouting and review of Mattocks helped him stop the second-half penalty kick:

"A little bit, but to be honest, I think the ref blew the whistle a little early, before I was quite ready and I had to make a quick decision, and that's the way I went."

SPORTING KANSAS CITY MIDFIELDER GRAHAM ZUSI

General thoughts on the match

"First half is what killed us. We just came out with the wrong mentality and we didn't play the way we play on a consistent basis. That's what killed us today. They came out and took it to us that first half. Obviously, we were unfortunate on that first goal, but it's as simple as not coming out and fighting. That's what we do so well, and we didn't do it today."

On why they didn't come out strong:

"It happens every now and again. Whether it's preparation or we're too comfortable, there's a reason we didn't bring it."

On the second half:

"We woke up. We had some chances and if one of those goes in early on in the half, then we get ourselves a shot, but at that point, they were up two goals, and were pretty happy just to put 10 guys behind the ball."

VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC HEAD COACH CARL ROBINSON

Thoughts on the early lead:

"It would've been more relaxing if we'd gotten the third goal, to tell you the truth. It's a nice win. It's a good win for us against a very good team. There's a lot of good teams out there, and Kansas City is certainly a very good team, very well organized with a top coach in charge. It was a good test for us, a test that we managed to overcome. I believed we could win the game if we did things right, because of the personnel that we've got .We can cause any teams problems, and we showed that today. It could've been four or five for us on another day, but we'll take the victory."

On the first goal:

"It was a fantastic pass, we talked about getting angled balls, and getting guys in the system we play. We play with two wide guys, and try to get them in when Pedro drops deep. It was a fantastic pass, and just a miscommunication between the fullback and goalkeeper, but we'll take it, we did get lucky on the first goal. Take that out of it though, and I think we fully deserved the victory. It was a good performance against a top team. It would've been nice to get that third goal, because at two-nil, you're never really comfortable. I said to the guys at halftime though, we've been in this position before. We were comfortable leading against Chivas one-nil, we went off and we switched off, so let's just try to learn something today, and let's just try to overcome that little bit of a hurtle. I think the first 20 minutes of the second half we didn't maintain the ball as much as I would've liked, but again, we're a work in progress in relation to that against a good team. We bent a little, but we didn't break, and that was a pleasing thing for the guys."

How the play of Leveron and O'Brian will affect Waston breaking into the lineup:

"He's got to do well in training, he really has. Those two were excellent. I left Carlyle out, and he's been very good. Kendall must be sitting here watching the game today, excited to be part of it. So if I feel it's right I'll put him in, but the two guys were excellent today, and when I look at the game tonight, I'll see what we do when we have a day off tomorrow."

On why he thinks Kansas City is as good as they are:

"I think it's vitally important when you're building football clubs that you have a foundation, and I think it's vital that you have a core group of players, and Kansas City is a perfect example, so are Salt Lake. You don't have to spend over the odds to do it, but it takes time. I was at Toronto from 2007-2010, and I saw an influx of maybe 80 odd players, teammates come and go. I don't want to talk about Toronto too much, but that wasn't a base for success. I think you've got to build somewhere, you've got to start somewhere, and sometimes you need to go backwards before you can go forwards. The good organizations understand that, we've certainly got a good organization here, and one that wants to progress, one that wants to win, but one that wants to produce young players as well. Me being a young coach, working with this young group of players, it really is a privilege, and an honour day in and day out because they give me a role, and I'll never question anything from them."

VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC STRIKER DARREN MATTOCKS

Thoughts on scoring four goals in five games:

"Yeah, it should have been five in five with the [penalty kick], but the most important thing is we got three points against a very good KC team with four All-Stars, and for us to get a clean sheet, I tap the guys on the back. To get three points on two goals, it was a very big thing for us."

Did you think Pedro was going to pass to you there?

"Yeah. I mean, he's a great player and I just put myself in the best position for my teammates and to give them a second option, and he chose it. I think I did well to put it in the back of the net."

Thoughts on the pass to you:

"Yeah, I was trying my best to get in front of him and the pass was a bit behind me and I had to hook it in front of me and stretch a bit but as I said, it was a great finish nonetheless."

Thoughts on closing out the game:

"I think we managed the game. There's going to be games where we're going to need to win one-zero, but I think we did great today managing the game, but we should have gotten a third goal, but as I said, three points, we'll take it."

Thoughts on battle with Aurelien Collin:

"Great battle. Physical guy. Week in and week out, I look forward to those challenges, and that's going to get me better in the long run so I welcome the battle."

VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC GOALKEEPER DAVID OUSTED

Thoughts on the game:

"Great win. Nice to get on the scoreboard in that sense. Really great performance all over, good defensively, and some good goals."

Importance of winning the game:

"It definitely is crunch time right now. Like you said, people are winning next to us, and we need to keep winning like we did today to keep up with people and keep going up the standings. This was a good start but the work doesn't stop here. We've got an even more important game next week in Chivas, and this will be a little bit for nothing if we don't go there and get something out of it."

Thoughts on the defense:

"Yeah, I think we did really well defensively. They had some finishes but everything was almost locked-down and we got them in some good angles, so easy saves for me. That was a nice clean sheet."

Thoughts on the team beating good teams:

"You know I think it's both. I think that says something about this team, and the quality that's in it, but it also says about, we need to mature a little bit. Getting into those tough games, like you said, Chivas away, Chicago away, those games where people are expecting wins, those are not easy games. We need to realize that, and work even harder in those games to get those wins out of it."

Check out the Sporting Kansas City Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Major League Soccer Stories from August 11, 2014


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.

OurSports Central