Sporting Kansas City versus Toluca
10pm EST/9PM CST/7PM PST, YahooSports.com, Univision Deportes
As the third goal scored by Ilie Sanchez went in for Sporting Kansas City fans could think, “Hey, we really can go down to Mexico and almost certainly go through’.”
Fact is yes Sporting Kansas City enters their second leg in Mexico with a very strong 3-0 lead on aggregate. But the last time this club was in a position such as this the trip to Mexico did not go so well.
In 2014 after a 1-0 win in the first leg Sporting went to play Cruz Azul and was run off the pitch 5-1 to lose the tie 5-2. A different squad five years ago but members of that side such as Matt Besler and Graham Zusi are still around to remember.
In 2019 there’s a different opportunity at stake. Sporting was not known under that moniker the last time that they progressed in a CONCACAF competition. While the club under Vermes has had a remarkable amount of consistency in MLS has yet to equal into continental success.
This Toluca side though is rather different than the sides faced in club history. The 3-0 in the first leg is not a fluke. At the weekend Toluca was down on the road to Santos Laguna 2-0 before having a player sent off. They would go on to lose 4-0 but this side that was able to make the Apertura Liguila is the other side of the coin.
For Sporting KC it is a unique position to be in. Firstly the massive lead in the tie cannot be understated. To concede and lose in this time they would need to play very horribly.
Secondly, when these two met in a cold Kansas City Toluca had a strong start but soon wilted to the physicality of Vermes’ side. It was obviously that there was only one team that would win this day.
Thirdly, there is a determination with Vermes in that continental success is the one that has alluded him and there will be nothing that will get in his way.
All things considered Sporting should leave Toluca with the win in the draw while not necessarily winning the match. A victory in Mexico will go a long way in getting confidence in this side.
Sporting Kansas City
