Sporting Kansas City hosted the LA Galaxy Sunday night coming off three away games filled with mistakes and missed chances. LA, on the other hand, came to Kansas City with ten goals in their last three games. Both lineups were shaken up a bit for this game, with LA moving Mike Magee to the midfield and Sporting moving Nuno Coelho to center defensive midfielder and Graham Zusi to right back. SKC’s formation experiment showed a lot of promise, even if the game ended in a 1-1 draw.
Sporting came out with a lot of energy and didn’t look like a team that had just had back to back double game weeks. They pressed like wildlings with Jimmy Medranda running rampant on the right. There was a lot of defensive pressure on Dom Dwyer, but Sporting sent a lot of runners in to ease that and open up the game.
Zusi was never tested defensively in the first half, and only slightly in the second, leaving him to fly forward and work his offensive partnership with Benny Feilhaber. Zusi left Galaxy defender Ashley Cole, “the best right back in the league,” according to Alexi Lalas, in a pile of ash by the sideline early on. Right back might not be his best position, but it was a successful trial.
With Medranda and Brad Davis switching sides and Zusi’s runs, they created a lot of chances and a Sporting goal was inevitable. Davis, again on that open right side, cut in toward the center and shot a rocket past Brian Rowe at the far post. Davis has scored this goal earlier this season and it’s exactly why Peter Vermes likes him on the right. He can cut in and shoot with his magical left foot. The last time Davis scored off anything other than that left foot was a header in 2010.
LA managed a goal when Gyasi Zardes won the ball in the midfield sent a pass up to Giovani dos Santos on a break. Dos Santos beat Ike Opara and chipped an oncoming Tim Melia to equalize. “There were probably ten balls that popped back for a counter attack and the one we didn’t deal with resulted in a goal,” Matt Besler said after the match, praising his teammates.
By halftime, Sporting had ten shots on goal to LA’s two. They had 80% possession. This was clear SKC domination. LA’s backline spent most of the half scrambling after Dom Dwyer and other runners in the box. This game could have easily been 3-1 at the half, but there were still some finishing issues and a lot of crosses left to roll to the sideline.
Despite LA’s goal and the overall oddness of seeing Zusi at right back, Coelho at center midfield might have been most promising. SKC continued their dominance in the second half and Coelho, who naturally likes to get forward and be involved in the attack, played his role well. Both he and Roger Espinoza were finding channels in the middle, winning every second ball, and tracking back when needed.
When asked about Coelho’s position change, Besler said, “I didn’t really view it as a challenge, just a different guy in front of me. The way that he moves…you just have to adapt to that.”
LA went down to ten men in the 70th minute when Cole got two yellow cards 31 seconds apart; one for time wasting and the other for a challenge on Benny Feilhaber. SKC continued to dominate, but LA bunkered and earned a point. When asked about the red card, LA manager Bruce Arena said, “I think we need to print out Rule 18 and distribute it to everyone in MLS…Do you know what Rule 18 is? Common sense.”
Common sense aside, the Galaxy earning a point from this Sporting side was huge for them. Even if this game is going “into the garbage can” for Arena.
Vermes was more optimistic. After the game, he said, “If we keep playing like that, we’re going to win a lot of games.” They could be winning a lot of games, but finishing needs to be more clinical. This has been a theme this season. The chances are created, but the finishing isn’t there. The change in formation put more pressure on their opponents, and it’s a good sign for Sporting.
Sporting ended the game with 17 shots on goal and a 76% passing accuracy in the attacking half. If they can play this well with these changes and continue to grow the entire roster, they could really perform in CONCACAF Champions League and US Open Cup this year as well as in the league. They just need to work on finishing those chances.
Main Photo: Kyle Rivas, Getty Images
