Vince Lombardi said "winning is a habit" and Sporting KC is taking that saying to heart this preseason. KC picked up two more win this preseason to improve their record to 8-0-1 this preseason with wins against Indy Eleven and the Montreal Impact.
In both games Sporting KC was forced to come from behind to win the game. In their first game against the NASL side KC scored the first goal from the penalty spot by Claudio Bieler. Before half time though Indy scored two goals through Pedro Mendes. In the second half KC leveled the game as Bieler got his second off an assist from Adnan Gabeljic. Bieler then finished up his hattrick with another goal from the penalty spot, his fourth goal of the preseason. Bieler then turned provider on the fourth goal, feeding Mikey Lopez who touched the ball past the keeper to score. The assist was Bieler's sixth of the preseason. KC ended up winning 4-2. Here are the highlights.
In the second game, KC twice came from behind to top the Montreal Impact 3-2 and book themselves a spot in the final of the Disney Pro Soccer Classic. KC fell behind in the very first minute of the game as Sanna Nyassi beat Jon Kempin. Only a few minutes later though KC earned a penalty kick. Sal Zizzo crossed the ball into the box for Dom Dwyer. The English forward though ended up getting knocked down in the box and a penalty was called. Dwyer stepped up and buried the PK to level the score at 1-1. Montreal would retake the lead from the penalty spot themselves. After KC failed to clear a corner, the ball was crossed back into the box, over the heads of Aureilen Collin and Matt Besler to Collen Warner. Besler attempted to recover and ended up fouling the Montreal midfielder in the box. Felipe stepped up and buried the PK as Montreal retook the lead.
Up to that point the Impact had been the team that had controlled much of the game keeping KC pinned back in their own end. But before the end of the half KC found themselves level again. Seth Sinovic picked out Graham Zusi running towards the end line. Zusi crossed the ball where Dwyer met it with a great snap header that went into the far corner leveling the game at 2-2.
The second half saw KC come out much better. They pressured the Impact and controlled more of the game. Some good goalkeeping by Evan Bush kept Zusi from getting on the score board after a give and go with Dwyer. The rebound fell to Zizzo but he couldn't get his shot on frame from a tight angle. In the 75th minute though KC took the lead. After some really good ball movement by KC that saw them move the ball from one side of the field to the other, the ball then went back into the middle for Alex Martinez. The draft pick slide a through ball into the box for Sinovic. Sinovic then played the ball across the box to an onrushing Zizzo who fired the ball home to take a 3-2 lead. KC continued to have the better of play for the final 15 minutes, but couldn't add to their lead.
With the win, KC advanced to the championship game of the Pro Soccer Classic on Saturday where they'll face the Columbus Crew.
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
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2 starts in a row for kempin, both with a mostly A team in front of him. makes me wonder if he has overtaken gruenbaum for 2nd on the depth chart or maybe even overtaken kronberg. for what its worth, it seems to me that he isn't quite ready. his distribution in particular seems like a weakness. he is clearly the most athletic of the 3 though, and it seems like his speed to the ball has really helped snuff a couple of dangerous counter attacks.
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