Sporting KC dropped their first preseason game in 2013, falling 2-1 to the Montreal Impact in Orlando, Florida. Kansas City had their closest lineup yet this preseason to their first team lineup. The only player that started that probably isn't really a candidate to be starting on March 2nd in Philadelphia was trialist, Mechack Jerome at right back in place of regular starter, Chance Myers. The rest of the lineup could easily be the lineup that takes the field against the Union.
Kansas City had a good start to the game that ended up when Graham Zusi collected a ball about 35 yards out from goal, dribbled a few yards and let rip from about 30 yards out. The shot flew past Troy Perkins in the Impact net giving KC the 1-0 lead. Sporting continued to control the game, but it was the Impact that equalized before half time. A give away around the midfield line by KC gave the ball to Patrice Bernier. Bernier played a great through ball to Marco Di Vaio, who beat Jimmy Nielsen, leveling the game.
Sporting made only 1 change at half time, inserting Ike Opara for Aurelien Collin. Each team had their bright spots. In the 61st minute Montreal grabbed the lead with two of Montreal's subs combining for the goal. Maxim Tousset picked up the ball in midfield, dribbled at the Sporting defense and then slid a ball through to Andrew Wenger who beat Nielsen to make it 2-1. On both goals that Montreal scored they'd been able to get behind Sporting's defense with relative ease. Certainly not a trend, but something to watch in the coming weeks.
After Wenger's goal Sporting made changes to the rest of their lineup, making 10 changes to completely change the lineup. Sporting pushed for an equalizer, but they were never able to find the tying goal as the Impact held on for the 2-1 win.
I don't see Convey lasting in the starting XI, even though I am an advocate, in general, for a left-footed player on the left. He's just not enough of a scoring threat.
ReplyDeleteWith Feilhaber, Zusi, Nagamura, Rosell & Convey on the field at the same time, the team doesn't lack for a person to make the final pass, they lack an option other than Bieler to convert the chances.
Sapong, Saad, Peterson are all better scorers.
Team needs a healthy Bunbury, someone to make a dangerous off ball run. Sapong isnt going to provide that on the wing. Ball moved great, just no one to make that final run.
ReplyDeleteSo, I wonder, how does Spain do it without David Villa or Torres on the field? Spain has played without them and scored -- yet looking at their lineup you wonder who will score amongst all those passers.
ReplyDeleteI hesitate to respond and certainly would not want to engender harsh feelings from a fellow, long-time supporter.
ReplyDeleteI will start and finish by saying that if Bobby Convey were a starter for the Spanish national team then I would more than welcome him to the starting lineup.