They desperately needed to pick up some points with only a handful of games left in the MLS regular season…
Yet Sporting Kansas City couldn’t get out of its own way Friday against the visiting New England Revolution, losing 3-2. The loss was the fifth in the club’s last six games, and KC’s once-vaunted defense was again highly suspect.
With only four games remaining, it is entirely possible that Sporting – a team that has been in 1st or 2nd place for virtually the entire season – could miss the playoffs.
KC is currently sitting at 45 points, third in the East, with Columbus at number four with 43 points and New York at five with 41. As we know, the top 5 in each conference get in.
However lurking just outside of the top 5 in the East is Toronto at 40 points, Philly at 36, and Houston at 36. Both Toronto and Houston have a game in hand as well.
If Kansas City wants to avoid a devastating end to the season – and it would be just that if they don’t qualify, regardless of all the injuries and national team call-ups – they need to get back to some semblance of the form they enjoyed, what, only four months ago?
As I mentioned, against New England, Sporting’s defense got tested big-time, but couldn’t answer the bell. The visitors’ first goal was a decent combination play that resulted in a one-time finish. But then 10 minutes later the flood gates opened when Revs defender Jose Goncalves gathered the ball in his own half and charged straight up the middle of the pitch 60 yards before he beat KC keeper Eric Kronberg.
It might sound obvious, but that just can’t happen.
Someone has to step up and stop the ball. And if you’re the last man back and can’t commit, then you have to delay long enough to allow help to come. And face it, 60 yards should give a defender plenty of time to delay.
To its credit, Sporting fought back in the second half, scoring two goals of its own. But then the defense faltered again, allowing Jermaine Jones way too much time on the ball at the top of the box. The USMNT vet took several touches – looked up, had a sandwich, took a nap – then fired the ball past Kronberg, ripping a crucial point from KC.
“I don’t think I’ve ever said this to them before,” said KC boss Peter Vermes after the loss. “But I said if you play the way you play tonight – if we put the goals aside – it’s not that you’re going to be competitive in this league, but you’re going to win a lot and you’re going to win often.”
Huh?
Besler has not looked good at all since the world cup.
That cast must have kryptonite in it.