The rivalry between Sporting KC and Houston certainly hasn’t waned with the conference switch
Sporting KC 3 Houston 3
Anyone who looks at this scoreline would think, wow what a match. Thing is for those there and those who have been following the team there are questions that need be asked and answered.
Firstly the opposition: Houston entered the match in the running for the MLS wooden spoon and will assuredly win for the Western Conference. The club has shown to be unstable this season and just has not been organized correctly. Why fall asleep and allow them to comeback? Sporting KC is well placed to make the playoffs but they will not be doing so in skipping the knockout out round where they have fallen the previous two seasons. Three points were there to keep them in that race. They didn’t and with so few matches remaining its all about hosting that knockout round match and they are behind in points at present, set up by this recent match.
Secondly: Connor Hallisey, for an attacker playing and coming off the bench in MLS there are better options that have been seen by these eyeballs within the ranks of Swope Park Rangers. Hallisey must be doing something in training to keep himself in the good graces of Peter Vermes because what is needed is a season of proving himself at USL. Trying out Dom Dwyer and Diego Rubio at the same time has only been seen for a few minutes all season. Doing so in a league match would be something unexpected for the opposition and lets face it that would only be a good things.
Thirdly: Kevin Ellis was exposed on the first goal and funny enough 24 earlier was witnessed better defending at the high school level in Northern Kansas City than was on display from the former Oak Park High School player. The second goal he was behind the ball again and that opened up Alec Kann for the then equalizer to be scored. The Champions League campaign has been derailed and should be considered a loss since they are five points behind. Move Besler back to CB, Ellis to bench, Medranda to fullback.
Seattle and San Jose have two games in hand on Sporting. They can be right back in this and Sporting out of the playoff picture. Bright spot in this is that Portland Timbers have still three Champions League matches and are fulling in the race for the knockout phase as opposed to two remaining for Sporting.
Time to dedicate the resources Vermes
Swope Park Rangers 3 Tulsa Roughnecks 0
Tulsa eliminated from playoff contention, two matches remaining, its excitement in the USL for the first season Rangers.
Since late June the Rangers have bit by bit moved up the table into the playoff places and still harbor a chance to even host a playoff match.
With two matches remaining against Oklahoma City Energy and against Seattle Sounders 2 the road will not be easy but it is 100% doable.
At the end of the 2016 season Peter Vermes should consider one or two of the key contributors on this squad as they are showing better ability that some at the senior side.
CONCACAF Champions League Do or Die
After earning a point at Central FC and losing at Vancouver the first home match of the group phase means all or nothing for Sporting Kansas City and yet it is still not all in their own hands.
Vancouver has earned six points and did so by winning at Central FC.
For Sporting to make the knockout phase they need the Trinidad & Tobago side to either win or draw in Vancouver in addition to winning both their remaining home matches against Central FC and this week against the Whitecaps.
Should this first home match not come off it could serve as a blessing as players were rested this weekend and perhaps the full three points would have been earned.
Until MLS rules allow for Champions League teams to be fully prepared for a continental campaign this will always be.
Especially in this format where the Canadian representative will always be in a group with another MLS team or a Liga MX team.
Fluff News
Congratulations are in order for two Sporting Kansas City players.
Both team captain Matt Besler and Dom Dwyer have become fathers. In the last two weeks and the best wishes go onto them, their spouses, and the future soccer stars; I mean world leaders that their children will undoubtedly become.
