Herculez Gomez has a new club, after being waived by Toronto FC earlier this year, Gomez has been trialing with the Seattle Sounders. Last week, Gomez signed with the Sounders, and in good news for them, the reports are that Toronto will be picking up a sizable chunk of his salary.
Here's the rest of this week's update.
Active without a club or unknown
Vicente Arze
Jamar Beasley
Brian Fekete
Adnan Gabeljic
Faik Hajderovic
Ryan James
Michael Kafari
Kyle Miller
Michal Mravec
Victor Munoz
Amobi Okugo
Akeem Priestley
Yann Songo'o
MLS
Jalil Anibaba - Houston - Started and played 90 minutes in Houston's 1-0 loss to Vancouver.
Teal Bunbury - New England - Started and played 80 minutes in New England's 1-1 draw with NYCFC.
Servando Carrasco - Orlando City - No game this week.
Aurelien Collin - Orlando City - No game this week.
Herculez Gomez - Seattle - No game this week.
Michael Harrington - Chicago - No game this week.
Jack Jewsbury - Portland - No game this week.
Kei Kamara - Columbus - No game this week.
Eric Kronberg - Montreal - No game this week.
Mikey Lopez - NYCFC - Dressed but did not play in NYCFC's 1-1 draw with New England.
Yura Movsisyan - Salt Lake - No game this week.
CJ Sapong - Philadelphia - No game this week.
Tyson Wahl - Columbus - No game this week.
Sal Zizzo - New York - No game this week.
NASL
Bernardo Anor - Minnesota (loan) - Next game 4/2.
Stefan Antonijevic - Tampa Bay - Next game 4/2.
Marcel de Jong - Ottawa - Started and played 90 minutes in Canada's 3-0 loss to Mexico. Started and played 90 minutes in Canada's 2-0 loss to Mexico.
Mechack Jerome - Jacksonville - Started and played 90 minutes in Haiti's 0-0 draw with Panama. Started and played 90 minutes in Haiti's 1-0 loss to Panama.
James Marcelin - Carolina - Next game 4/2.
Rauwshan McKenzie - Oklahoma City - Next game 4/2.
US
Christian Duke - Swope Park - Started and played 90 minutes in Swope Park's 2-1 win over Portland.
Cyprian Hedrick - Oklahoma City - Started and played 90 minues in OKC's 2-1 loss to Colorado Springs.
Alex Martinez - Charlotte - Did not play in Charlotte's 1-0 loss to Louisville.
Tony Rocha - Orlando - Started and played 79 minutes in Orlando's 2-1 loss to Wilmington.
Michael Thomas - Oklahoma City - Started and played 90 minues in OKC's 2-1 loss to Colorado Springs.
Yomby William - Richmond - Started and played 90 minutes in Richmond's 3-1 win over Harrisburg.
Indoor
Pat Healey - Baltimore - Had an assist in Baltimore's 4-3 OT win over Missouri. Played in Baltimore's 4-3 OT win over Missouri.
Mike Jones - Dallas - Offseason.
Boris Pardo - Missouri - Played in both of Missouri's 4-3 OT losses to Baltimore.
International
Korede Aiyegbusi - Siah Jamegan - Iran - No game until 4/3.
Scott Angevine - KPV - Finland - No game until 4/24.
Claudio Bieler - Belgrano - Argentina - No game this week.
Omar Bravo - Chivas - Mexico - No game this week.
Reinaldo Brenes - AD Belen Siglo XXI - Costa Rica - Did not dress in Belen's 1-0 win over Municipal Liberia.
Sunil Chhetri - Bengaluru - India - Did not dress in India's 4-0 loss to Iran. Dressed but did not play in India's 2-1 loss to Turkmenistan.
Jorge Claros - Alajuelense - Costa Rica - Started and played 90 minutes in Honduras' 2-2 draw with El Salvador. Started and played 90 minutes in Honduras' 2-0 win over El Salvador.
Eloy Colombano - AD Berazategui - Offseason.
Daneil Cyrus - W Connection - Started and played 65 minutes in Trinidad's 3-2 win over St. Vincent. Did not play in Trinidad's 6-0 win over St. Vincent.
Toni Dovale - CD Leganes - Spain - Did not dress in Leganes' 0-0 draw with Elche.
Pablo Escobar - Jaguares de Córdoba - Colombia - No game this week.
Luis Gil - Queretaro - Mexico - Started and played 66 minutes, scoring a goal in the US U23 team's 1-1 draw with Colombia. Came off the bench and played 10 minutes before being red carded in the US U23 team's 2-1 loss to Colombia.
Jeferson - Madureira EC - Brazil - Started in played 58 minutes in Madureira's 2-2 draw with Bangu.
Will John - RoPS - Finland - No game until 4/2.
Igor Juliao - Ferroviária - Brazil - Started and played 88 minues in Ferroviaria's 1-0 loss to Sao Bento. Dressed but did not play in Ferroviaria's 2-0 win over Oeste.
Chris Konopka - Ross County - Scotland - No game this week.
Igor Kostrov - Dinamo-Auto - Moldova - No game this week.
Luis Marin - CD Palestino - Chile -No game this week.
Neven Markovic - KS Lechia Gdansk - Poland - No game this week.
Krisztian Nemeth - Al-Gharafa - Qatar - Started and played 45 minutes in Hungary's 1-1 draw with Croatia.
Erik Palmer-Brown - Porto (loan) - Portugal - No game this week.
Pablo Punyed - IBV - Iceland - Started and played 78 minutes, scoring a goal in El Salvador's 2-2 draw with Honduras. Started and played 90 minutes in El Salvador's 2-0 loss to Honduras.
Oriol Rosell - Vitoria (Sporting Club de Portugal) Portugal - No game this week.
Brendan Ruiz - DJK Don Bosco Bamberg - Germany - Played Eintr. Bamberg.
Soony Saad - Pattaya United (BEC Tero Sasana) - Thailand - Started and played 80 minutes in Lebanon's 1-0 loss to South Korea. Started and played 90 minutes in Lebanon's 1-1 draw with Myanmar.
Peter Schmetz - Wuppertaler SV - Germany - Started and played 90 minutes in Wuppertaler's 2-0 win over Rot Weib Oberhausen II. Started and played 90 minutes in Wuppertaler's 4-0 win over Schwarz Weib Essen.
Kevin Souter - Deveronvale FC - Scotland - Started and played 90 minutes in Deveronvale's 2-0 loss to Cove Rangers. Started and played 90 minutes in Deveronvale's 2-1 loss to Wick Academy.
Martin Steuble - Ceres-La Salle - Philippines - Started and played 90 minutes in the Philippines' 1-0 loss to Uzbekistan. Started and played 90 minutes in the Philippines' 3-2 win over North Korea.
Milos Stojcev - Atromitos - Greece - No game this week.
Matt Taylor - Saarbrücken - Germany - Started and played 64 minutes in Saarbrucken's 1-1 draw with Waldhof Mannheim.
Wednesday, March 30, 2016
Comets Season Ends in OT Loss to Baltimore
The Missouri Comets needed a pair of wins in Baltimore tonight to send themselves to the MASL final. Unfortunately for the Comets their defense let them down for the second straight game leading to another loss and the end of their season in overtime 4-3 to the Baltimore Blast.
After a tight, scoreless first quarter, the Comets were able to take the lead with just over five minutes left in the first half as Leo Gibson finished off an effort from Robert Palmer. With less than a minute left the Comets were able to double their lead as Vahid Assadpour scored off an assist from Max Touloute to make it 2-0 as the Comets headed into half time.
The second half saw the Comets extend their lead to three goals as Max Touloute took advantage of a mistake by William Vanzela to extend the lead. The Comets defense continued to hold on and keep the shut out as Boris Pardo made a number of key saves. In the final three minutes though the Blast were finally able to get on the board as Adriano Dos Santos scored off an assist from Vanzela to cut the lead to two goals. The Blast continued the pressure into the fourth quarter but it looked like the Comets may hang on. But like the game on Thursday when the Comets allowed two goals in the final four minutes to let the Blast take it to overtime, the Comets again gave up a pair of goals. First Onua Obasi pounced on a poor pass between John Sosa and Pardo to score and make it a one goal game. Then with the extra attacker on and just over a minute left, Lucas Roque scored to tie the game at 3-3 and send the game to overtime.
The two teams went to overtime, and played a scoreless first overtime with neither side able to find a goal. Early in the second overtime though the Comets were forced to be on the penalty kill after a tripping foul for Robert Palmer. Unfortunately that was the opening that the Blast needed as Tony Donatelli found Roque with the man advantage and he beat Pardo to give the Blast the win and the series 2-0 over the Comets. For the second year in a row now the Comets will be watching the Blast in the finals. After going 3-0 against the Blast in three meetings in the regular season the Comets couldn't get it done in the playoffs and bow out. Missouri did play the second half and overtime without last year's league MVP, Gibson, who sat out with concussion symptoms and his absence is certainly one that would
After a tight, scoreless first quarter, the Comets were able to take the lead with just over five minutes left in the first half as Leo Gibson finished off an effort from Robert Palmer. With less than a minute left the Comets were able to double their lead as Vahid Assadpour scored off an assist from Max Touloute to make it 2-0 as the Comets headed into half time.
The second half saw the Comets extend their lead to three goals as Max Touloute took advantage of a mistake by William Vanzela to extend the lead. The Comets defense continued to hold on and keep the shut out as Boris Pardo made a number of key saves. In the final three minutes though the Blast were finally able to get on the board as Adriano Dos Santos scored off an assist from Vanzela to cut the lead to two goals. The Blast continued the pressure into the fourth quarter but it looked like the Comets may hang on. But like the game on Thursday when the Comets allowed two goals in the final four minutes to let the Blast take it to overtime, the Comets again gave up a pair of goals. First Onua Obasi pounced on a poor pass between John Sosa and Pardo to score and make it a one goal game. Then with the extra attacker on and just over a minute left, Lucas Roque scored to tie the game at 3-3 and send the game to overtime.
The two teams went to overtime, and played a scoreless first overtime with neither side able to find a goal. Early in the second overtime though the Comets were forced to be on the penalty kill after a tripping foul for Robert Palmer. Unfortunately that was the opening that the Blast needed as Tony Donatelli found Roque with the man advantage and he beat Pardo to give the Blast the win and the series 2-0 over the Comets. For the second year in a row now the Comets will be watching the Blast in the finals. After going 3-0 against the Blast in three meetings in the regular season the Comets couldn't get it done in the playoffs and bow out. Missouri did play the second half and overtime without last year's league MVP, Gibson, who sat out with concussion symptoms and his absence is certainly one that would
Tuesday, March 29, 2016
Sporting KC Best XI - Defenders
The second stage of voting has been closed for Sporting KC's Best XI for the team over their prior 20 seasons. After picking goalkeepers, fans have now finished voting for three defenders to place in front of the goalkeeper. KC throughout its history has been blessed with a number of very good defenders, being a city that doesn't necessarily attract the big names building from the back is usually the smart move for "smaller" markets, focusing on stopping the other team and building from there. That has left fans with plenty of options to vote for in the defense, and it’s shown in a list that includes 13 players on, two of whom are current Sporting Legends, while another couple can and should make the list over the next few years. This list includes: Matt Besler, Sean Bowers, Jose Burciaga, Aurelien Collin, Jimmy Conrad, Nick Garcia, Michael Harrington, Chance Myers, Uche Okafor, Brandon Prideaux, Seth Sinovic, Peter Vermes, and Alex Zotinca.
The process of cutting 10 players from that list down to three certainly isn't easy and cases can be made for many of the players on the list to be included in the Best XI, but there are a few that I think you can immediately rule out simply because of the class of player ahead of them. For example I think Zotinca can immediately be ruled out, as can Prideaux, while both of them were on the back line for teams that made MLS Cup, others on the backline were more responsible for that team's success. The pair has also played some of the fewest games for KC on the list, and with a defender it's a lot more about legacy, especially for a Best XI. I think a similar fate falls on Burciaga, who like Zotinca was on the backline for the 2004 MLS Cup final, and scored a goal in the game, but he was overshadowed by better players on the same backline throughout his time in KC even though he played 130 games and scored 15 goals. He had one really good season but was very hit or miss for games during his career.
With defenders one area that needs to be looked at is how good the defense as a whole was, even under an offensive coach the defense should still be able to shut down the opposition. With that in mind I can't vote for players from KC's early years. Offenses as a whole in those early years of MLS were allowing a number of goals and with that in mind I just couldn't vote for early KC Wizards defenders because the ones that came later were just better all around. With that in mind I cut Bowers and Okafor from my list of players I'd vote for.
That cuts the list of players from 13 down to eight, with Besler, Collin, Conrad, Garcia, Harrington, Myers, Sinovic, and Vermes still available for me. Cutting down further, I feel that while Harrington played more games for KC, he lost his starting spot with the club when he was still in his prime to Sinovic. With that thought I couldn't vote to put both Harrington and Sinovic into my Best XI so I cut out the one that lost his starting job to the other.
The remaining seven players are 2/3rds of the 2000 backline (Garcia and Vermes), the defense that had been considered the best backline in club history until four other players on the list (Besler, Collin, Myers, and Sinovic), and finished up with a perennial defender of the year finalist during his time with KC (Conrad). From here the list is really hard to cut down to the final three, because all seven were a key part to a strong backline in KC's history. For me when it comes to voting for the best defenders it is hard for me to vote for an outside back, it's similar to how you don't see outside backs up for defender of the year for the most part, the center backs just get all the acclaim for their position. In that regard I ruled out the two remaining players who basically solely played outside back, Myers and Sinovic.
Cutting the final five down to just three is a difficult task; it basically comes down to your personal preference from here. One thing I thought about using was defender of the year, which KC has had three, Besler, Conrad, and Vermes, that seemed fairly easy, but the thing with Vermes is his lack of longevity with KC, making fewer than 100 appearances in league play for KC. From there I thought about longevity with the club, and three of the defenders on the list are the three with the most appearances for the club, Besler (219), Conrad (230), and Garcia (273). But personally I wasn't sure I wanted to rule out Vermes and Collin quite yet. So I looked further at trophies that each player had won in KC: Besler (3), Collin (2), Conrad (1), Garcia (3), and Vermes (2). Thinking further I looked at what each player brought offensively to the team, who had contributed the most to the club when they pushed further up the field: Besler (2 goals, 11 assists), Collin (16 goals, 4 assists), Conrad (17 goals, 5 assists), Garcia (1 goal, 5 assists), and Vermes (2 goals, 7 assists).
Thinking about these numbers I was able to select two of my three defenders, Besler and Conrad were my first two choices, in my mind the pair are the best and second best defenders to ever wear the KC jersey, no matter what order you want to put them in. They have each won a defender of the year award, they've been part of championship teams, they've both captained the club in their career, and they’re just two very easy picks to make.
To make my last pick though was much more difficult. Of the three remaining candidates I ruled out Collin, not because he wasn't a great defender for Kansas City, but because of the fact that I felt Besler was the better of the two defenders and I wasn't positive that the team from 2011 through 2014 had two of the best defenders in team history, or if it was just the way that the pair worked together. In the end I decided that it was the way the two worked together and because Besler does a lot of the simply stuff that allowed Collin to be more of the destroyer that made so many fans fall in love with him. I think you're seeing that reason develop again with the early returns on the play by Nuno Coelho next to Besler.
That left the final pick down to Garcia, a defender who has made the most appearances for the club of any defender, a pest on defense that frustrated opponents so much he earned a call up simply to mark Carlos Ruiz in Guatemala, but didn't see the field when Ruiz was ruled out, and a future Sporting Legend, and Vermes, a Sporting Legend, the 2000 MLS Defender of the year and the anchor of the 2000 backline. In the end while Vermes had the MLS defender of the year award, I went with Garcia because of his longevity in being a strong defender for KC, especially since Garcia played almost three times as many games for the club as Vermes did, if Vermes had played more games for KC he likely would have been the third but appearing 273 times in a shutdown defensive role is enough to just have Garcia beat out Vermes for the last spot.
So through the first two votes, here is how my Best XI voting has turned out so far:
Besler - Conrad - Garcia
Nielsen
The process of cutting 10 players from that list down to three certainly isn't easy and cases can be made for many of the players on the list to be included in the Best XI, but there are a few that I think you can immediately rule out simply because of the class of player ahead of them. For example I think Zotinca can immediately be ruled out, as can Prideaux, while both of them were on the back line for teams that made MLS Cup, others on the backline were more responsible for that team's success. The pair has also played some of the fewest games for KC on the list, and with a defender it's a lot more about legacy, especially for a Best XI. I think a similar fate falls on Burciaga, who like Zotinca was on the backline for the 2004 MLS Cup final, and scored a goal in the game, but he was overshadowed by better players on the same backline throughout his time in KC even though he played 130 games and scored 15 goals. He had one really good season but was very hit or miss for games during his career.
With defenders one area that needs to be looked at is how good the defense as a whole was, even under an offensive coach the defense should still be able to shut down the opposition. With that in mind I can't vote for players from KC's early years. Offenses as a whole in those early years of MLS were allowing a number of goals and with that in mind I just couldn't vote for early KC Wizards defenders because the ones that came later were just better all around. With that in mind I cut Bowers and Okafor from my list of players I'd vote for.
That cuts the list of players from 13 down to eight, with Besler, Collin, Conrad, Garcia, Harrington, Myers, Sinovic, and Vermes still available for me. Cutting down further, I feel that while Harrington played more games for KC, he lost his starting spot with the club when he was still in his prime to Sinovic. With that thought I couldn't vote to put both Harrington and Sinovic into my Best XI so I cut out the one that lost his starting job to the other.
The remaining seven players are 2/3rds of the 2000 backline (Garcia and Vermes), the defense that had been considered the best backline in club history until four other players on the list (Besler, Collin, Myers, and Sinovic), and finished up with a perennial defender of the year finalist during his time with KC (Conrad). From here the list is really hard to cut down to the final three, because all seven were a key part to a strong backline in KC's history. For me when it comes to voting for the best defenders it is hard for me to vote for an outside back, it's similar to how you don't see outside backs up for defender of the year for the most part, the center backs just get all the acclaim for their position. In that regard I ruled out the two remaining players who basically solely played outside back, Myers and Sinovic.
Cutting the final five down to just three is a difficult task; it basically comes down to your personal preference from here. One thing I thought about using was defender of the year, which KC has had three, Besler, Conrad, and Vermes, that seemed fairly easy, but the thing with Vermes is his lack of longevity with KC, making fewer than 100 appearances in league play for KC. From there I thought about longevity with the club, and three of the defenders on the list are the three with the most appearances for the club, Besler (219), Conrad (230), and Garcia (273). But personally I wasn't sure I wanted to rule out Vermes and Collin quite yet. So I looked further at trophies that each player had won in KC: Besler (3), Collin (2), Conrad (1), Garcia (3), and Vermes (2). Thinking further I looked at what each player brought offensively to the team, who had contributed the most to the club when they pushed further up the field: Besler (2 goals, 11 assists), Collin (16 goals, 4 assists), Conrad (17 goals, 5 assists), Garcia (1 goal, 5 assists), and Vermes (2 goals, 7 assists).
Thinking about these numbers I was able to select two of my three defenders, Besler and Conrad were my first two choices, in my mind the pair are the best and second best defenders to ever wear the KC jersey, no matter what order you want to put them in. They have each won a defender of the year award, they've been part of championship teams, they've both captained the club in their career, and they’re just two very easy picks to make.
To make my last pick though was much more difficult. Of the three remaining candidates I ruled out Collin, not because he wasn't a great defender for Kansas City, but because of the fact that I felt Besler was the better of the two defenders and I wasn't positive that the team from 2011 through 2014 had two of the best defenders in team history, or if it was just the way that the pair worked together. In the end I decided that it was the way the two worked together and because Besler does a lot of the simply stuff that allowed Collin to be more of the destroyer that made so many fans fall in love with him. I think you're seeing that reason develop again with the early returns on the play by Nuno Coelho next to Besler.
That left the final pick down to Garcia, a defender who has made the most appearances for the club of any defender, a pest on defense that frustrated opponents so much he earned a call up simply to mark Carlos Ruiz in Guatemala, but didn't see the field when Ruiz was ruled out, and a future Sporting Legend, and Vermes, a Sporting Legend, the 2000 MLS Defender of the year and the anchor of the 2000 backline. In the end while Vermes had the MLS defender of the year award, I went with Garcia because of his longevity in being a strong defender for KC, especially since Garcia played almost three times as many games for the club as Vermes did, if Vermes had played more games for KC he likely would have been the third but appearing 273 times in a shutdown defensive role is enough to just have Garcia beat out Vermes for the last spot.
So through the first two votes, here is how my Best XI voting has turned out so far:
Besler - Conrad - Garcia
Nielsen
US Friendly Confirmed for Children's Mercy Park
Back at the beginning of this month reports started to come out that Children's Mercy Park would be hosting a US men's national team friendly in their tune up for the Copa America. Reports out of Bolivia were confirmed when looking at FIFA's site that the US team would be hosting Bolivia in Kansas City. Today, US Soccer confirmed the friendly at Children's Mercy Park, the first US friendly to take place in Kansas City.
Children's Mercy Park will host the US vs Bolivia on Saturday, May 28th one day after Sporting KC will take the same field in a league game against DC United. The US has enjoyed plenty of success in their history in Kansas City, not just at Children's Mercy Park. The US team is unbeaten with a 5-0-1 record all time in Kansas City, 4-0 in World Cup qualifiers and 1-0-1 in Gold Cup games. Now Kansas City will get to host their second international friendly in a little over a year. Last year Mexico and Paraguay played an international friendly at Arrowhead that Mexico won 1-0. The game will serve as the USA's final tune up before kicking off the tournament in Santa Clara against Colombia.
The US has never beaten Bolivia, currently with a 0-2-4 record against the South American side. The two last met in 1999 when the two sides drew 0-0 in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. It'll be just under 20 years since the two met on US soil when they play at CMP; the last time was a 2-0 win for Bolivia on June 12, 1996 in Washington DC.
Children's Mercy Park will host the US vs Bolivia on Saturday, May 28th one day after Sporting KC will take the same field in a league game against DC United. The US has enjoyed plenty of success in their history in Kansas City, not just at Children's Mercy Park. The US team is unbeaten with a 5-0-1 record all time in Kansas City, 4-0 in World Cup qualifiers and 1-0-1 in Gold Cup games. Now Kansas City will get to host their second international friendly in a little over a year. Last year Mexico and Paraguay played an international friendly at Arrowhead that Mexico won 1-0. The game will serve as the USA's final tune up before kicking off the tournament in Santa Clara against Colombia.
The US has never beaten Bolivia, currently with a 0-2-4 record against the South American side. The two last met in 1999 when the two sides drew 0-0 in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. It'll be just under 20 years since the two met on US soil when they play at CMP; the last time was a 2-0 win for Bolivia on June 12, 1996 in Washington DC.
Sunday, March 27, 2016
Zusi Called Up, Besler Returns to KC
US men's national team coach, Jurgen Klinsmann has made some changes to his roster ahead of what has become a must win game for the US to really control their own destiny in qualifying for the next round of World Cup qualifying. The US sit third in the group with four points and three games remaining, but less than full points Tuesday will leave them still in third place and needing assistance to advance ahead of Guatemala or Trinidad and Tobago.
As part of those changes, Klinsmann has called in Sporting KC's Graham Zusi. The KC winger hasn't been with the national team since last summer's Gold Cup where the US team finished in fourth place. Zusi will provide more offense for the US team that couldn't find the back of the net in Guatemala City on Friday.
Returning to Kansas City is Matt Besler, Sporting KC's captain suffered a concussion while training with the US team ahead of the qualifiers. US Soccer said that Besler would be monitored for his availability for Tuesday, but it appears that they made the decision to send him back to his club. Now Besler will continue his rehabilitation from the concussion with Kansas City. There will still be the question of his availability for Saturday against Real Salt Lake and whether he's recovered from the concussion to play. Based on history I won't be surprised if Besler is rested on the second if for no other reason than as a precaution.
As part of those changes, Klinsmann has called in Sporting KC's Graham Zusi. The KC winger hasn't been with the national team since last summer's Gold Cup where the US team finished in fourth place. Zusi will provide more offense for the US team that couldn't find the back of the net in Guatemala City on Friday.
Returning to Kansas City is Matt Besler, Sporting KC's captain suffered a concussion while training with the US team ahead of the qualifiers. US Soccer said that Besler would be monitored for his availability for Tuesday, but it appears that they made the decision to send him back to his club. Now Besler will continue his rehabilitation from the concussion with Kansas City. There will still be the question of his availability for Saturday against Real Salt Lake and whether he's recovered from the concussion to play. Based on history I won't be surprised if Besler is rested on the second if for no other reason than as a precaution.
Saturday, March 26, 2016
Rangers Win Opener
The Swope Park Rangers got their first season off to a good start at Children's Mercy Park tonight, defeating the Portland Timbers 2 2-1 thanks to goals by Kevin Oliveira and Daniel Salloi.
The Rangers controlled the game for long periods of time against a Timbers side that didn't travel their full allotment of players for the game. In just the fourth minute Dane Kelly almost put the Rangers on top when he got onto the end of a long ball played over the top, Kelly got around his defender and fired a shot on goal that was tipped just around the post by Wade Hamilton to keep the game scoreless. The Rangers continued to press the game though causing all sorts of issues for the Portland defense. All three of SPR's front three had decent looks at goal but Kris Tyrpak, Jimmy Medranda, and Kelly again were all denied in the first half.
It didn't take long into the second half for the Rangers to break through. Kelly was once again played in on goal, but this time he was brought down in the box by a tackle leading to a penalty kick for the Rangers. Nineteen year old Kevin Oliveira stepped up and calmly put the ball into the side netting to score the first goal for the Rangers in their history. The lead was almost immediately lost as the Timbers pushed the other way and won a free kick off to the side about 35 yards from goal. The ensuing free kick into the box was headed on goal where Jon Kempin made the initial save but the ball went under him and was rolling towards goal when he reached an arm back and swatted the ball away from the goal line. The ensuing cross was again knocked away by Kempin and the Rangers escaped with their lead intact. The two sides were fairly even for much of the second half, although the Rangers looked to be the more dangerous of the two. Finally in second half stoppage time the Rangers were able to find the insurance goal on a quick counter. A through ball found substitute Mark Anthony Gonzalez toeing the offside line, Gonzalez proceeded into the attacking third and played a ball across the middle for Daniel Salloi who raced in and one timed a shot into the roof of the net to double the Rangers lead to 2-0. The insurance goal was needed as the Timbers themselves scored a goal in stoppage time as Nick Besler turned in a cross from Neco Brett late in stoppage time to cut the lead to a single goal. The Rangers held out in the end though and walked away with all three points from their first game.
The Rangers controlled the game for long periods of time against a Timbers side that didn't travel their full allotment of players for the game. In just the fourth minute Dane Kelly almost put the Rangers on top when he got onto the end of a long ball played over the top, Kelly got around his defender and fired a shot on goal that was tipped just around the post by Wade Hamilton to keep the game scoreless. The Rangers continued to press the game though causing all sorts of issues for the Portland defense. All three of SPR's front three had decent looks at goal but Kris Tyrpak, Jimmy Medranda, and Kelly again were all denied in the first half.
It didn't take long into the second half for the Rangers to break through. Kelly was once again played in on goal, but this time he was brought down in the box by a tackle leading to a penalty kick for the Rangers. Nineteen year old Kevin Oliveira stepped up and calmly put the ball into the side netting to score the first goal for the Rangers in their history. The lead was almost immediately lost as the Timbers pushed the other way and won a free kick off to the side about 35 yards from goal. The ensuing free kick into the box was headed on goal where Jon Kempin made the initial save but the ball went under him and was rolling towards goal when he reached an arm back and swatted the ball away from the goal line. The ensuing cross was again knocked away by Kempin and the Rangers escaped with their lead intact. The two sides were fairly even for much of the second half, although the Rangers looked to be the more dangerous of the two. Finally in second half stoppage time the Rangers were able to find the insurance goal on a quick counter. A through ball found substitute Mark Anthony Gonzalez toeing the offside line, Gonzalez proceeded into the attacking third and played a ball across the middle for Daniel Salloi who raced in and one timed a shot into the roof of the net to double the Rangers lead to 2-0. The insurance goal was needed as the Timbers themselves scored a goal in stoppage time as Nick Besler turned in a cross from Neco Brett late in stoppage time to cut the lead to a single goal. The Rangers held out in the end though and walked away with all three points from their first game.
Besler Misses World Cup Qualifier Due to Reported Concussion
The US Men's national team limped to a 2-0 loss in Guatemala tonight with a lackadaisical performance that saw them completely out coached and played off the field. One of the big things before the game even started was the reports that two of the team's center backs, John Brooks and Matt Besler would miss the game due to injury. Brooks left camp and returned to Germany to rehab after suffering a knee injury.
Meanwhile, Besler, Sporting KC's captain suffered a concussion in training on Tuesday. Besler is currently going through US Soccer's concussion protocols to determine if he'll be able to go in this coming Tuesday's qualifier which is also against Guatemala. The protocol saw Besler pulled from practice and underwent an evaluation that included a standardized acute concussion evaluation using a SCAT3. Besler must now return to his base level of testing before he will be allowed to return to undergo further post-injury neurocognitive testing to confirm that he is indeed back to his full level neurologically.
With concussions though it is not something that you rush back from or else you risk further concussions and injuries. Besler returning by Tuesday for the game against Guatemala in Columbus would be a surprise. In fact at this point I think you have to think that Besler is a serious doubt to play next weekend for Sporting Kansas City when they host Real Salt Lake at Sporting Park. Last year when Graham Zusi and Seth Sinovic both suffered concussions against DC United, Zusi missed 11 days before returning to the bench for Kansas City and 14 days before he returned to action. Sinovic meanwhile missed a lot more time, missing three and a half months of the season for KC before making his return on August 29th.
What that means for Sporting is that I wouldn't expect Besler in uniform on the second against RSL. Based on today's story from the KC Star, I'd probably be getting ready for a center back partnership of Nuno Coelho and Kevin Ellis.
Meanwhile, Besler, Sporting KC's captain suffered a concussion in training on Tuesday. Besler is currently going through US Soccer's concussion protocols to determine if he'll be able to go in this coming Tuesday's qualifier which is also against Guatemala. The protocol saw Besler pulled from practice and underwent an evaluation that included a standardized acute concussion evaluation using a SCAT3. Besler must now return to his base level of testing before he will be allowed to return to undergo further post-injury neurocognitive testing to confirm that he is indeed back to his full level neurologically.
With concussions though it is not something that you rush back from or else you risk further concussions and injuries. Besler returning by Tuesday for the game against Guatemala in Columbus would be a surprise. In fact at this point I think you have to think that Besler is a serious doubt to play next weekend for Sporting Kansas City when they host Real Salt Lake at Sporting Park. Last year when Graham Zusi and Seth Sinovic both suffered concussions against DC United, Zusi missed 11 days before returning to the bench for Kansas City and 14 days before he returned to action. Sinovic meanwhile missed a lot more time, missing three and a half months of the season for KC before making his return on August 29th.
What that means for Sporting is that I wouldn't expect Besler in uniform on the second against RSL. Based on today's story from the KC Star, I'd probably be getting ready for a center back partnership of Nuno Coelho and Kevin Ellis.
Friday, March 25, 2016
Sporting Loan Three to Swope Park
The Swope Park Rangers kick off their inaugural season tomorrow night at Children's Mercy Park against the Portland Timbers 2. Ahead of their first game, the parent club, Sporting KC has sent three players from the first team on loan to the Rangers ahead of the game, Jon Kempin, Jimmy Medranda, and Daniel Salloi. All three were expected to spend time with the Rangers this season ahead of their first team and all should get plenty of playing experience with the USL side.
Kempin spent all of the Rangers preseason training with them. After spending the first portion of Sporting KC preseason with the first team, Kempin moved to the Rangers for the second half of Sporting's preseason. Kempin is likely expected to the starter for the Rangers, getting him the experience that Sporting KC has been trying to get him for the last two years on loan, only to be stopped due to goalkeeping injuries, inconsistencies, and departures. Hopefully in 2016 Kempin can finally get the chance to be a full time starter. If he does struggle, or KC goes through more goalkeeping issues, the club has two other goalkeepers, veteran, Zac Lubin and academy player, Steven Tekesky.
Medranda was another player from Sporting KC that spent the second half of preseason in Arizona training with the Rangers instead of Sporting KC. Medranda started all of the Rangers games in the Desert Diamond Cup. Since then though Medranda has been a fixture in the 18 man roster on each of Sporting's first three games. In fact he's been the first substitute off the bench for KC in their 1-0 win over Seattle and 2-1 win over Vancouver. He did not make the field in KC's last game against Toronto though. With Benny Feilhaber returning to health it would seem Medranda's spot in the 18 would likely go to him instead allowing him to go to the Rangers where he'll get more consistent minutes.
The final player loaned, Salloi has been a fixture in the 18 for Kansas City over the first three games of the season, but has yet to make his debut for Sporting KC. With the acquisition of Diego Rubio on loan, Salloi's time in the 18 was likely limited to begin with so this loan isn't much of a surprise, even though Salloi didn't spend any time with the Rangers during preseason. The announcement about the moves doesn't indicate a length of time for any of the three, but if Rubio isn't ready to be in the 18 come next week against Real Salt Lake, Salloi could very easily be recalled and be in the 18 for Sporting KC on Saturday against RSL.
Kempin spent all of the Rangers preseason training with them. After spending the first portion of Sporting KC preseason with the first team, Kempin moved to the Rangers for the second half of Sporting's preseason. Kempin is likely expected to the starter for the Rangers, getting him the experience that Sporting KC has been trying to get him for the last two years on loan, only to be stopped due to goalkeeping injuries, inconsistencies, and departures. Hopefully in 2016 Kempin can finally get the chance to be a full time starter. If he does struggle, or KC goes through more goalkeeping issues, the club has two other goalkeepers, veteran, Zac Lubin and academy player, Steven Tekesky.
Medranda was another player from Sporting KC that spent the second half of preseason in Arizona training with the Rangers instead of Sporting KC. Medranda started all of the Rangers games in the Desert Diamond Cup. Since then though Medranda has been a fixture in the 18 man roster on each of Sporting's first three games. In fact he's been the first substitute off the bench for KC in their 1-0 win over Seattle and 2-1 win over Vancouver. He did not make the field in KC's last game against Toronto though. With Benny Feilhaber returning to health it would seem Medranda's spot in the 18 would likely go to him instead allowing him to go to the Rangers where he'll get more consistent minutes.
The final player loaned, Salloi has been a fixture in the 18 for Kansas City over the first three games of the season, but has yet to make his debut for Sporting KC. With the acquisition of Diego Rubio on loan, Salloi's time in the 18 was likely limited to begin with so this loan isn't much of a surprise, even though Salloi didn't spend any time with the Rangers during preseason. The announcement about the moves doesn't indicate a length of time for any of the three, but if Rubio isn't ready to be in the 18 come next week against Real Salt Lake, Salloi could very easily be recalled and be in the 18 for Sporting KC on Saturday against RSL.
Comets Fall Apart Late, Drop Game One to the Blast
Mental lapses cost the Missouri Comets big time late against the Baltimore Blast and could very well end their season. Holding a 3-1 lead against the Blast with under four minutes remaining, the Comets conceded twice to go into overtime and then conceded just six seconds into overtime to go down 1-0 in the series to the Blast. The two teams will meet again on Tuesday in Baltimore for a second game, and mini game if necessary.
The Comets and Blast had played three very tight games this season that were low scoring, but that's not how last night's game started as both teams traded goals in the first two minutes of the game. Lucas Rodriguez put the Comets on top off an assist from Ramone Palmer before Levi Houapeu leveled things less than 10 seconds later. From there though things setteled down in terms of offense as neither team could find the goal for the rest of the quarter. Late in the first though Baltimore forward Andrew Hoxie was penalized for boarding and the Comets took advantage early in the second period as Bryan Perez put the Comets back on top again at 2-1. The Comets weren't able to add to their lead with another power play a minute later and went into the half up 2-1.
The Comets were able to extend their lead less than six minutes into the third quarter as Stefan Stokic scored off an assist from Max Touloute to make it 3-1. From there the Blast picked up the pressure trying desperately to get back into the game. Missouri's defense and Boris Pardo in goal played well though and kept the Blast out of the net for the rest of the third and much of the fourth. In the final four minutes though with the sixth attacker the Blast found their way back into the game. Seconds after bringing on Pat Healey as the sixth attacker Lucas Roque found the net to cut it to a one goal game. Then with just over two minutes left the Blast found the net to equalize again with the sixth attacker, this time wtih Adriano Dos Santos finding net to send the game to overtime. In overtime it took no time at all for the Blast to find the winner as Juan Pereira got onto the end of a long ball over the top by Healey, let it bounce off the wall and beat Pardo to give the Blast the win. The Comets will now have to pull a repeat of the 2013-2014 MASL finals when the Comets went into Baltimore and won game two and the mini-game to win the MASL title if they hope to play for the Ron Newman Cup.
The Comets and Blast had played three very tight games this season that were low scoring, but that's not how last night's game started as both teams traded goals in the first two minutes of the game. Lucas Rodriguez put the Comets on top off an assist from Ramone Palmer before Levi Houapeu leveled things less than 10 seconds later. From there though things setteled down in terms of offense as neither team could find the goal for the rest of the quarter. Late in the first though Baltimore forward Andrew Hoxie was penalized for boarding and the Comets took advantage early in the second period as Bryan Perez put the Comets back on top again at 2-1. The Comets weren't able to add to their lead with another power play a minute later and went into the half up 2-1.
The Comets were able to extend their lead less than six minutes into the third quarter as Stefan Stokic scored off an assist from Max Touloute to make it 3-1. From there the Blast picked up the pressure trying desperately to get back into the game. Missouri's defense and Boris Pardo in goal played well though and kept the Blast out of the net for the rest of the third and much of the fourth. In the final four minutes though with the sixth attacker the Blast found their way back into the game. Seconds after bringing on Pat Healey as the sixth attacker Lucas Roque found the net to cut it to a one goal game. Then with just over two minutes left the Blast found the net to equalize again with the sixth attacker, this time wtih Adriano Dos Santos finding net to send the game to overtime. In overtime it took no time at all for the Blast to find the winner as Juan Pereira got onto the end of a long ball over the top by Healey, let it bounce off the wall and beat Pardo to give the Blast the win. The Comets will now have to pull a repeat of the 2013-2014 MASL finals when the Comets went into Baltimore and won game two and the mini-game to win the MASL title if they hope to play for the Ron Newman Cup.
Thursday, March 24, 2016
Sporting KC Best XI - Goalkeeper
Sporting KC will be celebrating the 20th anniversary of their first game coming up on April 13th. The match on that day will actually be a replay of the club's first match as the KC Wiz from 1996 against the Colorado Rapids. Ahead of that game, Sporting KC is doing a poll for fans to pick the Best XI in the club's history, starting with goalkeepers, then up the field to defenders, midfielders, and forwards. The goalkeeper poll is already over and the defender one is currently up. As someone who has seen each of the players brought up live for Kansas City, I figured I'd give my vote from each one of the groups as KC puts the rest of their polls up.
To start I'm going to back up and start with goalkeepers. The list for KC included the likes of Tony Meola, Jimmy Nielsen, Bo Oshoniyi, Kevin Hartman, and others. For me the list of goalkeepers really only comes down to two players, Meola and Nielsen, while the rest of the field wasn't bad for KC, those two are head and shoulders above the rest of the group at goalkeeper. Both are arguably two of the best no just for KC, but throughout the 20 seasons of MLS so far. If you'd have told me back in 2010 that I'd even be debating whether Meola was the best goalkeeper in club history after 20 seasons I'd have told you that you were crazy, but that's exactly what I'm doing. Meola is the only goalkeeper to win the league's MVP award back in 2000 when he swept MVP, goalkeeper, and comeback player of the year when he recorded 16 shutouts in league play, allowed just 29 goals for a goals against average of just .92. He played in a club record 156 games in goal for Kansas City. He finished his career with a 1.22 goals against average for Kansas City and was the career leader for KC in basically every goalkeeping stat until Nielsen came along.
Nielsen topped Meola's career stats, posting a goals against average of just .99 over his four seasons, besting Meola's 2000 GAA twice, and topping Meola's career shutout total. I never would have thought that I would see Meola's numbers topped, especially so quickly, and yes you can argue that Nielsen's defense was better through his KC career than throughout Meola’s entire career, but that's also not giving Nielsen enough credit. In the end, while Meola is a Sporting Legend and certainly deserving of the honor, Nielsen will be there sooner than later as well and in this situation I got to give the starting goalkeeper position in KC's best XI to Nielsen.
Once the defender poll has officially closed I will post my vote on that.
To start I'm going to back up and start with goalkeepers. The list for KC included the likes of Tony Meola, Jimmy Nielsen, Bo Oshoniyi, Kevin Hartman, and others. For me the list of goalkeepers really only comes down to two players, Meola and Nielsen, while the rest of the field wasn't bad for KC, those two are head and shoulders above the rest of the group at goalkeeper. Both are arguably two of the best no just for KC, but throughout the 20 seasons of MLS so far. If you'd have told me back in 2010 that I'd even be debating whether Meola was the best goalkeeper in club history after 20 seasons I'd have told you that you were crazy, but that's exactly what I'm doing. Meola is the only goalkeeper to win the league's MVP award back in 2000 when he swept MVP, goalkeeper, and comeback player of the year when he recorded 16 shutouts in league play, allowed just 29 goals for a goals against average of just .92. He played in a club record 156 games in goal for Kansas City. He finished his career with a 1.22 goals against average for Kansas City and was the career leader for KC in basically every goalkeeping stat until Nielsen came along.
Nielsen topped Meola's career stats, posting a goals against average of just .99 over his four seasons, besting Meola's 2000 GAA twice, and topping Meola's career shutout total. I never would have thought that I would see Meola's numbers topped, especially so quickly, and yes you can argue that Nielsen's defense was better through his KC career than throughout Meola’s entire career, but that's also not giving Nielsen enough credit. In the end, while Meola is a Sporting Legend and certainly deserving of the honor, Nielsen will be there sooner than later as well and in this situation I got to give the starting goalkeeper position in KC's best XI to Nielsen.
Once the defender poll has officially closed I will post my vote on that.
Wednesday, March 23, 2016
10 Call Ups for Former SKC Wizards - Former SKC Wizards Update
Heading into the upcoming international break, a number of former Kansas City players will be busy with their respective national teams. Ten players who have played for Kansas City will be representing their country in Olympic qualifiers, World Cup qualifiers, and friendlies.
In CONCACAF you have the likes of Mechack Jerome representing Haiti, Marcel de Jong with Canada, Daneil Cyrus with Trinidad, Jorge Claros with Honduras, and Pablo Punyed with El Salvador all having World Cup qualifiers. Elsewhere in the world, Soony Saad and Lebanon, Sunil Chhetri of India, and Martin Steuble of the Philippines will also be playing. In Europe, Krisztian Nemeth has been called up by Hungary for a friendly. Luis Gil has also been called up for the Olympic playoffs for the US U23 team.
Here's the rest of this week's update.
Active without a club or unknown
Vicente Arze
Jamar Beasley
Brian Fekete
Adnan Gabeljic
Herculez Gomez
Faik Hajderovic
Ryan James
Michael Kafari
Kyle Miller
Michal Mravec
Victor Munoz
Amobi Okugo
Akeem Priestley
Yann Songo'o
MLS
Jalil Anibaba - Houston - Started and played 90 minues in Houston's 4-3 loss to New York.
Teal Bunbury - New England - Started and played 75 minutes in New England's 3-0 loss to Philadelphia.
Servando Carrasco - Orlando City - Came off the bench and played 36 minutes in Orlando's 1-0 win over NYCFC.
Aurelien Collin - Orlando City - Dressed but did not play in Orlando's 1-0 win over NYCFC.
Michael Harrington - Chicago - Suspended for Chicago's 0-0 draw with Columbus.
Jack Jewsbury - Portland - Dressed but did not play in Portland's 2-2 draw with RSL.
Kei Kamara - Columbus - Started and played 90 minutes in Columbus' 0-0 draw with Chicago.
Eric Kronberg - Montreal - Dressed but did not play in Montreal's 2-0 loss to Dallas.
Mikey Lopez - NYCFC - Did not dress in NYCFC's 1-0 loss to Orlando.
Yura Movsisyan - Salt Lake - Started and played 64 minutes, scoring a goal in Salt Lake's 2-2 draw with Portland.
CJ Sapong - Philadelphia - Started and played 89 minutes, scoring 2 goals in Philadelphia's 3-0 win over New England.
Tyson Wahl - Columbus - Did not dress in Columbus' 0-0 draw with Chicago.
Sal Zizzo - New York - Started and played 90 minutes in New York's 4-3 win over Houston.
NASL
Bernardo Anor - Minnesota (loan) - Next game 4/2.
Stefan Antonijevic - Tampa Bay - Next game 4/2.
Marcel de Jong - Ottawa - Next game 4/2.
Mechack Jerome - Jacksonville - Next game 4/10
James Marcelin - Carolina - Next game 4/2.
Rauwshan McKenzie - Oklahoma City - Next game 4/2.
US
Christian Duke - Swope Park - Next game 4/26.
Cyprian Hedrick - Oklahoma City - Next game 4/26.
Alex Martinez - Charlotte - Next game 4/26.
Tony Rocha - Orlando - Next game 4/26.
Michael Thomas - Oklahoma City - Next game 4/26.
Yomby William - Richmond - Next game 4/26.
Indoor
Pat Healey - Baltimore - No game this week.
Mike Jones - Dallas - Offseason.
Boris Pardo - Missouri - No game this week.
International
Korede Aiyegbusi - Siah Jamegan - Iran - No game until 4/3.
Scott Angevine - KPV - Finland - No game until 4/24.
Claudio Bieler - Belgrano - Argentina - Came off the bench and played 45 minutes in Belgrano's 3-2 loss to Velez Sarsfield.
Omar Bravo - Chivas - Mexico - Came off the bench and played 1 minute in Chivas' 3-1 win over Monterrey.
Reinaldo Brenes - AD Belen Siglo XXI - Costa Rica - Did not dress in Belen's 3-1 win over Alajuelense.
Sunil Chhetri - Bengaluru - India - Started and played 90 minutes, scoring a goal in Bengaluru's 1-0 win over Ayeyawady United.
Jorge Claros - Alajuelense - Costa Rica - Started and played 90 minutes in Alajuelense's 3-1 loss to Belen Siglo XXI.
Eloy Colombano - AD Berazategui - Offseason.
Daneil Cyrus - W Connection - Game this week postponed.
Toni Dovale - CD Leganes - Spain - Did not dress in Leganes' 1-1 draw with Girona.
Pablo Escobar - Jaguares de Córdoba - Colombia - Started and played 90 minutes in Jaguares' 3-2 loss to Real Cartagena. Did not dress in Jauares' 2-0 loss to Junior.
Luis Gil - Queretaro - Mexico - Started and played 78 minutes in Queretaro's 1-1 draw wtih Chiapas.
Jeferson - Madureira EC - Brazil - Came off the bench and played 14 minutes in Madureira's 1-0 loss to Botafogo.
Will John - RoPS - Finland - No game until 4/2.
Igor Juliao - Ferroviária - Brazil - Started and played 85 minutes in Ferroviaria's 1-0 win over Salgueiro. Did not dress in Ferroviaria's 2-0 loss to Sao Bernardo FC.
Chris Konopka - Ross County - Scotland - Dressed but did not play in either of Ross County's games.
Igor Kostrov - Dinamo-Auto - Moldova - Did not dress in Dinamo's 2-0 win over Zaria.
Luis Marin - CD Palestino - Chile - Started and played 90 minutes in Palestino's 1-0 loss to Universidad Catolica.
Neven Markovic - KS Lechia Gdansk - Poland - Did not dress in Lechia's 1-1 draw with Nieciecza.
Krisztian Nemeth - Al-Gharafa - Qatar - Started and played 90 minutes in Al Gharafa's 1-1 draw with Al Kharitiyath.
Erik Palmer-Brown - Porto (loan) - Portugal - Started and played 90 minutes in Porto's 0-0 draw with Chaves. Started and played 90 minutes in Porto's 2-1 win over Gil Vicente.
Pablo Punyed - IBV - Iceland - No game until 4/2.
Oriol Rosell - Vitoria (Sporting Club de Portugal) Portugal - Started and played 90 minutes in Vitoria Guimaraes' 3-2 loss to Nacional.
Brendan Ruiz - DJK Don Bosco Bamberg - Germany - Defeated TSV Aubstadt 3-1.
Soony Saad - Pattaya United (BEC Tero Sasana) - Thailand - Played in Pattaya's 3-3 draw with Chiangrai United.
Peter Schmetz - Wuppertaler SV - Germany - Started and played 90 minutes in Wuppertaler's 3-0 win over SpVg Schonnebeck.
Kevin Souter - Deveronvale FC - Scotland - Started and played 70 minutes in Deveronvale's 4-1 loss to Formartine. Started and played 90 minutes in Deveronvale's 1-1 draw with Buckie Thistle.
Martin Steuble - Ceres-La Salle - Philippines - Offseason.
Milos Stojcev - Atromitos - Greece - Came off the bench and played 28 minutes in Atromitos' 1-0 win over Panthrakikos.
Matt Taylor - Saarbrücken - Germany - Started and played 67 minutes in Saarbrucken's 2-0 win over Elversberg.
In CONCACAF you have the likes of Mechack Jerome representing Haiti, Marcel de Jong with Canada, Daneil Cyrus with Trinidad, Jorge Claros with Honduras, and Pablo Punyed with El Salvador all having World Cup qualifiers. Elsewhere in the world, Soony Saad and Lebanon, Sunil Chhetri of India, and Martin Steuble of the Philippines will also be playing. In Europe, Krisztian Nemeth has been called up by Hungary for a friendly. Luis Gil has also been called up for the Olympic playoffs for the US U23 team.
Here's the rest of this week's update.
Active without a club or unknown
Vicente Arze
Jamar Beasley
Brian Fekete
Adnan Gabeljic
Herculez Gomez
Faik Hajderovic
Ryan James
Michael Kafari
Kyle Miller
Michal Mravec
Victor Munoz
Amobi Okugo
Akeem Priestley
Yann Songo'o
MLS
Jalil Anibaba - Houston - Started and played 90 minues in Houston's 4-3 loss to New York.
Teal Bunbury - New England - Started and played 75 minutes in New England's 3-0 loss to Philadelphia.
Servando Carrasco - Orlando City - Came off the bench and played 36 minutes in Orlando's 1-0 win over NYCFC.
Aurelien Collin - Orlando City - Dressed but did not play in Orlando's 1-0 win over NYCFC.
Michael Harrington - Chicago - Suspended for Chicago's 0-0 draw with Columbus.
Jack Jewsbury - Portland - Dressed but did not play in Portland's 2-2 draw with RSL.
Kei Kamara - Columbus - Started and played 90 minutes in Columbus' 0-0 draw with Chicago.
Eric Kronberg - Montreal - Dressed but did not play in Montreal's 2-0 loss to Dallas.
Mikey Lopez - NYCFC - Did not dress in NYCFC's 1-0 loss to Orlando.
Yura Movsisyan - Salt Lake - Started and played 64 minutes, scoring a goal in Salt Lake's 2-2 draw with Portland.
CJ Sapong - Philadelphia - Started and played 89 minutes, scoring 2 goals in Philadelphia's 3-0 win over New England.
Tyson Wahl - Columbus - Did not dress in Columbus' 0-0 draw with Chicago.
Sal Zizzo - New York - Started and played 90 minutes in New York's 4-3 win over Houston.
NASL
Bernardo Anor - Minnesota (loan) - Next game 4/2.
Stefan Antonijevic - Tampa Bay - Next game 4/2.
Marcel de Jong - Ottawa - Next game 4/2.
Mechack Jerome - Jacksonville - Next game 4/10
James Marcelin - Carolina - Next game 4/2.
Rauwshan McKenzie - Oklahoma City - Next game 4/2.
US
Christian Duke - Swope Park - Next game 4/26.
Cyprian Hedrick - Oklahoma City - Next game 4/26.
Alex Martinez - Charlotte - Next game 4/26.
Tony Rocha - Orlando - Next game 4/26.
Michael Thomas - Oklahoma City - Next game 4/26.
Yomby William - Richmond - Next game 4/26.
Indoor
Pat Healey - Baltimore - No game this week.
Mike Jones - Dallas - Offseason.
Boris Pardo - Missouri - No game this week.
International
Korede Aiyegbusi - Siah Jamegan - Iran - No game until 4/3.
Scott Angevine - KPV - Finland - No game until 4/24.
Claudio Bieler - Belgrano - Argentina - Came off the bench and played 45 minutes in Belgrano's 3-2 loss to Velez Sarsfield.
Omar Bravo - Chivas - Mexico - Came off the bench and played 1 minute in Chivas' 3-1 win over Monterrey.
Reinaldo Brenes - AD Belen Siglo XXI - Costa Rica - Did not dress in Belen's 3-1 win over Alajuelense.
Sunil Chhetri - Bengaluru - India - Started and played 90 minutes, scoring a goal in Bengaluru's 1-0 win over Ayeyawady United.
Jorge Claros - Alajuelense - Costa Rica - Started and played 90 minutes in Alajuelense's 3-1 loss to Belen Siglo XXI.
Eloy Colombano - AD Berazategui - Offseason.
Daneil Cyrus - W Connection - Game this week postponed.
Toni Dovale - CD Leganes - Spain - Did not dress in Leganes' 1-1 draw with Girona.
Pablo Escobar - Jaguares de Córdoba - Colombia - Started and played 90 minutes in Jaguares' 3-2 loss to Real Cartagena. Did not dress in Jauares' 2-0 loss to Junior.
Luis Gil - Queretaro - Mexico - Started and played 78 minutes in Queretaro's 1-1 draw wtih Chiapas.
Jeferson - Madureira EC - Brazil - Came off the bench and played 14 minutes in Madureira's 1-0 loss to Botafogo.
Will John - RoPS - Finland - No game until 4/2.
Igor Juliao - Ferroviária - Brazil - Started and played 85 minutes in Ferroviaria's 1-0 win over Salgueiro. Did not dress in Ferroviaria's 2-0 loss to Sao Bernardo FC.
Chris Konopka - Ross County - Scotland - Dressed but did not play in either of Ross County's games.
Igor Kostrov - Dinamo-Auto - Moldova - Did not dress in Dinamo's 2-0 win over Zaria.
Luis Marin - CD Palestino - Chile - Started and played 90 minutes in Palestino's 1-0 loss to Universidad Catolica.
Neven Markovic - KS Lechia Gdansk - Poland - Did not dress in Lechia's 1-1 draw with Nieciecza.
Krisztian Nemeth - Al-Gharafa - Qatar - Started and played 90 minutes in Al Gharafa's 1-1 draw with Al Kharitiyath.
Erik Palmer-Brown - Porto (loan) - Portugal - Started and played 90 minutes in Porto's 0-0 draw with Chaves. Started and played 90 minutes in Porto's 2-1 win over Gil Vicente.
Pablo Punyed - IBV - Iceland - No game until 4/2.
Oriol Rosell - Vitoria (Sporting Club de Portugal) Portugal - Started and played 90 minutes in Vitoria Guimaraes' 3-2 loss to Nacional.
Brendan Ruiz - DJK Don Bosco Bamberg - Germany - Defeated TSV Aubstadt 3-1.
Soony Saad - Pattaya United (BEC Tero Sasana) - Thailand - Played in Pattaya's 3-3 draw with Chiangrai United.
Peter Schmetz - Wuppertaler SV - Germany - Started and played 90 minutes in Wuppertaler's 3-0 win over SpVg Schonnebeck.
Kevin Souter - Deveronvale FC - Scotland - Started and played 70 minutes in Deveronvale's 4-1 loss to Formartine. Started and played 90 minutes in Deveronvale's 1-1 draw with Buckie Thistle.
Martin Steuble - Ceres-La Salle - Philippines - Offseason.
Milos Stojcev - Atromitos - Greece - Came off the bench and played 28 minutes in Atromitos' 1-0 win over Panthrakikos.
Matt Taylor - Saarbrücken - Germany - Started and played 67 minutes in Saarbrucken's 2-0 win over Elversberg.
Monday, March 21, 2016
S.A.S. Monday After Stats
At 34 years, 133 days, Brad Davis became the oldest player to score their first goal for Sporting KC, topping the old record of 33 years, 256 days set by Claudio Lopez.
Overall, Davis is the third oldest player to score a goal for KC, behind Lopez, Mo Johnston, and Preki, knocking Claudio Bieler off the top 20 list for league play, and Benny Feilhaber off the list in all competitions.
The red card to Roger Espinoza was his fifth red card for KC in league play in his career, tying Nick Garcia for the most red cards in KC's history.
It was his sixth in all competitions breaking his tie with Davy Arnaud for second on that list, he still trails Nick Garcia by one there.
Espinoza started his 129th game in all competitions for KC, tying him with Aurelien Collin for 19th all time on that list.
In the sixth minute, Matt Besler passed Chris Klein and moved into sixth place for minutes played in all competitions for KC, he finished the game with 19,522 minutes played.
Chance Myers made his 165th appearance for KC in all competitions, tying him with Josh Wolff for 13th all time on that list.
Myers started his 135th game in all competitions for KC, tying him with Diego Gutierrez for 17th all time on that list.
Myers started his 111th in league play for KC, breaking his tie with Jose Burciaga for 18th on that list.
Overall, Davis is the third oldest player to score a goal for KC, behind Lopez, Mo Johnston, and Preki, knocking Claudio Bieler off the top 20 list for league play, and Benny Feilhaber off the list in all competitions.
The red card to Roger Espinoza was his fifth red card for KC in league play in his career, tying Nick Garcia for the most red cards in KC's history.
It was his sixth in all competitions breaking his tie with Davy Arnaud for second on that list, he still trails Nick Garcia by one there.
Espinoza started his 129th game in all competitions for KC, tying him with Aurelien Collin for 19th all time on that list.
In the sixth minute, Matt Besler passed Chris Klein and moved into sixth place for minutes played in all competitions for KC, he finished the game with 19,522 minutes played.
Chance Myers made his 165th appearance for KC in all competitions, tying him with Josh Wolff for 13th all time on that list.
Myers started his 135th game in all competitions for KC, tying him with Diego Gutierrez for 17th all time on that list.
Myers started his 111th in league play for KC, breaking his tie with Jose Burciaga for 18th on that list.
Sunday, March 20, 2016
Sporting Continue Unbeaten Start
Sporting Kansas City continued their unbeaten start to the 2016 MLS season with a 1-0 win over the visiting Toronto FC at Children's Mercy Park. The win moves KC to 3-0 the only team with three wins through three games so far this season.
For the third straight game Kansas City started the same lineup, starting Connor Hallisey with Dom Dwyer and Graham Zusi up top while Jordi Quintilla filled in for Benny Feilhaber in midfield. The first half as a whole lacked for excitement as neither team got any real quality looks on goal. KC's best chance came from a flick by Roger Espinoza in the ninth minute off a Graham Zusi corner kick. His shot though was cleared out for another corner that came to nothing for Sporting KC. Toronto's best chance of the first half came in the 40th minute when Sebastian Giovinco got behind the KC defense, cut back inside and squared a ball to Will Johnson, but his shot was right at Tim Melia who made the save.
KC made one change at half time, bringing on Brad Davis for Hallisey, but the move didn't pay dividends immediately for KC, instead it was Toronto that created the best chance in the game up to that point as Giovinco played a nice through ball to Tsubasa Endoh who had gotten in behind Chance Myers. Endoh fired a shot on goal that Melia got a hand on and was able to push onto the cross bar to keep it out and keep Kansas City level. Davis brought some much needed fire for KC though, causing trouble for the Toronto defense and Toronto as a whole when he didn't play the ball out when a Toronto player was down hurt, instead playing until referee Baldomero Toledo blew his whistle. Less than 10 minutes after Endoh's chance KC grabbed the lead. A long ball over the top by Nuno Coelho was flicked on by Dom Dwyer into the path of Davis. Davis muscled defender Justin Morrow off the ball, and with no foul called Davis continued to play, cutting back a bit and curling a shot into the far corner to put KC on top 1-0. From that point Toronto really pushed the game and Giovinco started to find space more and more on the back shoulder of the Sporting KC defense, but Melia was up to the effort of keeping the Italian out of the net. Things got even more interesting in the 84th minute when a heavy touch by Espinoza let the ball get away from him into the path of Marco Delgado. Espinoza arrived at the play late, catching Delgado with a cleat in the ankle area and referee Baldomero Toledo did not hesitate to go to the back pocket, putting KC down a man for the next six minute plus stoppage time. KC rode out the storm though, including a late Giovinco free kick that Chance Myers blocked with his face to give Kansas City all three points.
Wizards Man of the Match - Nuno Coelho - Coelho and his center back partner, Matt Besler did a good job of shutting down Giovinco. While shutting down isn't the right term for the situation as Giovinco is going to get his chances, Coelho and Besler were able to limit his chances to opportunities away from goal and at odd angles that Melia was able to deal with.
Honorable Mention - Matt Besler, Brad Davis
Player Ratings - Melia 7, Dia 6, Besler 8, Coelho 8, Myers 7, Mustivar 6, Espinoza 6, Quintilla 5, Zusi 5, Dwyer 5, Hallisey 4. Davis 7, Olum NR.
For the third straight game Kansas City started the same lineup, starting Connor Hallisey with Dom Dwyer and Graham Zusi up top while Jordi Quintilla filled in for Benny Feilhaber in midfield. The first half as a whole lacked for excitement as neither team got any real quality looks on goal. KC's best chance came from a flick by Roger Espinoza in the ninth minute off a Graham Zusi corner kick. His shot though was cleared out for another corner that came to nothing for Sporting KC. Toronto's best chance of the first half came in the 40th minute when Sebastian Giovinco got behind the KC defense, cut back inside and squared a ball to Will Johnson, but his shot was right at Tim Melia who made the save.
KC made one change at half time, bringing on Brad Davis for Hallisey, but the move didn't pay dividends immediately for KC, instead it was Toronto that created the best chance in the game up to that point as Giovinco played a nice through ball to Tsubasa Endoh who had gotten in behind Chance Myers. Endoh fired a shot on goal that Melia got a hand on and was able to push onto the cross bar to keep it out and keep Kansas City level. Davis brought some much needed fire for KC though, causing trouble for the Toronto defense and Toronto as a whole when he didn't play the ball out when a Toronto player was down hurt, instead playing until referee Baldomero Toledo blew his whistle. Less than 10 minutes after Endoh's chance KC grabbed the lead. A long ball over the top by Nuno Coelho was flicked on by Dom Dwyer into the path of Davis. Davis muscled defender Justin Morrow off the ball, and with no foul called Davis continued to play, cutting back a bit and curling a shot into the far corner to put KC on top 1-0. From that point Toronto really pushed the game and Giovinco started to find space more and more on the back shoulder of the Sporting KC defense, but Melia was up to the effort of keeping the Italian out of the net. Things got even more interesting in the 84th minute when a heavy touch by Espinoza let the ball get away from him into the path of Marco Delgado. Espinoza arrived at the play late, catching Delgado with a cleat in the ankle area and referee Baldomero Toledo did not hesitate to go to the back pocket, putting KC down a man for the next six minute plus stoppage time. KC rode out the storm though, including a late Giovinco free kick that Chance Myers blocked with his face to give Kansas City all three points.
Wizards Man of the Match - Nuno Coelho - Coelho and his center back partner, Matt Besler did a good job of shutting down Giovinco. While shutting down isn't the right term for the situation as Giovinco is going to get his chances, Coelho and Besler were able to limit his chances to opportunities away from goal and at odd angles that Melia was able to deal with.
Honorable Mention - Matt Besler, Brad Davis
Player Ratings - Melia 7, Dia 6, Besler 8, Coelho 8, Myers 7, Mustivar 6, Espinoza 6, Quintilla 5, Zusi 5, Dwyer 5, Hallisey 4. Davis 7, Olum NR.
Besler Called Up for US
Sporting Kansas City captain, Matt Besler will be joining the US men's national team for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers. Besler will be joining Roger Espinoza and Soni Mustivar on international duty this next week. The US team currently sit in first place in their group in qualifying with four points from their first two games. They now play a pair of games against Guatemala. First on Friday they'll be playing in Guatemala City before a return leg next week in Columbus. Besler won't miss any time for Sporting as the club is off from league play this next week, returning to action on April 2nd against Real Salt Lake.
Saturday, March 19, 2016
Match Day 3: Welcoming Canada Again
Sporting Kansas City welcome another Canadian side to Kansas City this weekend as Sporting KC will play host to Toronto FC at Children's Mercy Park on national television on Sunday. Both teams come into the game unbeaten with Kansas City sitting at 2-0 while Toronto sits at 1-0-1 after a 2-2 draw against New York City FC last week. The pair will meet in Kansas City for the first time in two years, after Kansas City's move back to the Western Conference. The last time these two teams met was a 3-1 win for KC last year at BMO Field.
Toronto made the playoffs for the first time in their club's history last season, but fell to Montreal in their first game. Over the offseason Toronto again worked to remake their club a bit, this time adding defense to go along with a very dynamic offense thanks to Sebastian Giovinco. Toronto acquired Drew Moor as a free agent and Steven Beitashour from the Vancouver Whitecaps to shore up the back line. The club also traded for goalkeeper, Clint Irwin from the Colorado Rapids to try to upgrade their goalkeeping position. The upgardes along with the return of Giovinco, the league's reigning MVP make Toronto a more dangerous opponent, they've stopped trying to overpay for talent and really started to try to play an MLS style that is successful. They're a more complete side than they've probably ever been before in MLS.
Kansas City has started the season 2-0 thanks to some timely goals, but probably more so due to the play of the midfield. With Benny Feilhaber out with injury, Jordi Quintilla has filled in well, although he hasn't produced the numbers that Feilhaber did for KC, but the rest of the midfield has been remarkable, Roger Espinoza and Soni Mustivar have done a great job of shutting down Seattle and Vancouver's midfield and allowing Kansas City to win both of those games. With Giovinco playing further up field though it will be interesting to see how the midfield will work with KC's center backs to shut down the Italian.
Number to Remember - 1 - KC has just one loss at home in their history against Toronto FC, a 3-2 loss on opening day of the 2009 season.
Key Match Up - KC Defense vs Sebastian Giovinco - The reigning MVP is a handful to deal with and shutting him down will be a job all on its own. KC's defense though has yet to allow a goal from the run of play this season. The match up should be fun to watch.
PREDICTION - Toronto is a much improved team over the last few years, but KC's midfield right now is the difference for this team. Sporting KC is going to need the midfield to be in top form to stop the likes of Michael Bradley and keep Giovinco from getting the ball. It won't be easy but it's something that KC can do.
SKC - 2 (Dwyer, Zusi)
TFC - 1 (Giovinco)
Toronto made the playoffs for the first time in their club's history last season, but fell to Montreal in their first game. Over the offseason Toronto again worked to remake their club a bit, this time adding defense to go along with a very dynamic offense thanks to Sebastian Giovinco. Toronto acquired Drew Moor as a free agent and Steven Beitashour from the Vancouver Whitecaps to shore up the back line. The club also traded for goalkeeper, Clint Irwin from the Colorado Rapids to try to upgrade their goalkeeping position. The upgardes along with the return of Giovinco, the league's reigning MVP make Toronto a more dangerous opponent, they've stopped trying to overpay for talent and really started to try to play an MLS style that is successful. They're a more complete side than they've probably ever been before in MLS.
Kansas City has started the season 2-0 thanks to some timely goals, but probably more so due to the play of the midfield. With Benny Feilhaber out with injury, Jordi Quintilla has filled in well, although he hasn't produced the numbers that Feilhaber did for KC, but the rest of the midfield has been remarkable, Roger Espinoza and Soni Mustivar have done a great job of shutting down Seattle and Vancouver's midfield and allowing Kansas City to win both of those games. With Giovinco playing further up field though it will be interesting to see how the midfield will work with KC's center backs to shut down the Italian.
Number to Remember - 1 - KC has just one loss at home in their history against Toronto FC, a 3-2 loss on opening day of the 2009 season.
Key Match Up - KC Defense vs Sebastian Giovinco - The reigning MVP is a handful to deal with and shutting him down will be a job all on its own. KC's defense though has yet to allow a goal from the run of play this season. The match up should be fun to watch.
PREDICTION - Toronto is a much improved team over the last few years, but KC's midfield right now is the difference for this team. Sporting KC is going to need the midfield to be in top form to stop the likes of Michael Bradley and keep Giovinco from getting the ball. It won't be easy but it's something that KC can do.
SKC - 2 (Dwyer, Zusi)
TFC - 1 (Giovinco)
Thursday, March 17, 2016
Espinoza and Mustivar Called Up for Qualifiers
After this weekend's game against Toronto FC, Sporting Kansas City is off until they play Real Salt Lake on April second, but not all of KC's players will be off from games. It was announced today that two of Sporting KC's players had been called up to represent their national team during the off week for KC. Roger Espinoza and Soni Mustivar were called up by Honduras and Haiti respectively as they both play World Cup qualifiers on March 25th and 29th.
Espinoza and Honduras are in trouble as they head into a pair of games against El Salvador, in a group that also includes Mexico and Canada, Honduras currently sits at the bottom of the group at 0-2 after losses on the road against Canada and at home against Mexico. If Honduras has hopes of qualifying for their third straight World Cup, they need to probably get at least four points from these two games. Honduras will travel to El Salvador first for their game on the 25th before hosting the return leg on the 29th at Estadio Olympic Metropolitano in San Pedro Sula. El Salvador, for their part, isn't doing much better, currently sitting in third place with a single point from a home draw with Canada. Only the top two will advance to the "Hex."
Mustivar and Haiti aren't doing any better than Honduras at this time though, as they too sit 0-2 in their group after a pair of 1-0 losses on the road against Costa Rica and at home against Jamaica. Haiti will be hosting Panama on the 25th before heading to Panama City for the return leg on the 29th. If Haiti has a hope of reaching the next round they need to probably get at least four points out of the game as well with their final two games being a trip to Jamaica and hosting Costa Rica.
The pair could be joined on national team duty by captain Matt Besler when the US releases their roster for their upcoming qualifiers against Guatemala.
Espinoza and Honduras are in trouble as they head into a pair of games against El Salvador, in a group that also includes Mexico and Canada, Honduras currently sits at the bottom of the group at 0-2 after losses on the road against Canada and at home against Mexico. If Honduras has hopes of qualifying for their third straight World Cup, they need to probably get at least four points from these two games. Honduras will travel to El Salvador first for their game on the 25th before hosting the return leg on the 29th at Estadio Olympic Metropolitano in San Pedro Sula. El Salvador, for their part, isn't doing much better, currently sitting in third place with a single point from a home draw with Canada. Only the top two will advance to the "Hex."
Mustivar and Haiti aren't doing any better than Honduras at this time though, as they too sit 0-2 in their group after a pair of 1-0 losses on the road against Costa Rica and at home against Jamaica. Haiti will be hosting Panama on the 25th before heading to Panama City for the return leg on the 29th. If Haiti has a hope of reaching the next round they need to probably get at least four points out of the game as well with their final two games being a trip to Jamaica and hosting Costa Rica.
The pair could be joined on national team duty by captain Matt Besler when the US releases their roster for their upcoming qualifiers against Guatemala.
Wednesday, March 16, 2016
Okugo Training with DC - Former SKC Wizards Update
Reports out of DC today are that former Kansas City midfielder, Amobi Okugo is training with DC United right now. After appearing just twice for KC in his career with Sporting, Okugo has been without a club since being waived in February. DC United looks like they could be in the market for a defensive midfielder based on Ben Olsen's quotes about fitness issues with Finnish international Markus Halsti.
Elsewhere, it appears that Khari Stephenson has called time on his career as a professional soccer player, the 35 year old has been without a club since not being re-signed by the San Jose Earthquakes. Also, congratulations are due to Chris Konopka, who recently signed with Ross County. His first time making the game day roster was as the club's back up for their 2-1 League Cup final win over Hibernian. Konopka was signed as an injury replacement due to a number of injuries to Ross County goalkeepers.
Here's the rest of this week's update.
Active without a club or unknown
Vicente Arze
Jamar Beasley
Brian Fekete
Adnan Gabeljic
Herculez Gomez
Faik Hajderovic
Ryan James
Michael Kafari
Kyle Miller
Michal Mravec
Amobi Okugo
Akeem Priestley
Yann Songo'o
MLS
Jalil Anibaba - Houston - Started and played 90 minutes in Houston's 5-0 win over Dallas.
Teal Bunbury - New England - Started and played 74 minutes in New England's 0-0 draw with DC.
Servando Carrasco - Orlando City - Started and played 90 minutes in Orlando's 1-1 draw with Chicago.
Aurelien Collin - Orlando City - Dressed but did not play in Orlando's 1-1 draw with Chicago.
Michael Harrington - Chicago - Started and played 32 minutes before being red carded in Chicago's 1-1 draw with Orlando.
Jack Jewsbury - Portland - Dressed but did not play in Portland's 2-1 loss to San Jose.
Kei Kamara - Columbus - Started and played 90 minutes, scoring a goal in Columbus' 2-1 loss to Philadelphia.
Eric Kronberg - Montreal - Dressed but did not play in Montreal's 3-0 win over New York.
Mikey Lopez - NYCFC - Came off the bench and played 13 minutes in NYCFC's 2-2 draw with Toronto.
Yura Movsisyan - Salt Lake - Started and played 89 minutes in RSL's 2-1 win over Seattle.
CJ Sapong - Philadelphia - Started and played 90 minutes in Philadelphia's 2-1 win over Columbus.
Tyson Wahl - Columbus - Did not dress in Columbus' 2-1 loss to Philadelphia.
Sal Zizzo - New York - Started and played 90 minutes in New York's 3-0 loss to Montreal.
NASL
Bernardo Anor - Minnesota (loan) - Offseason.
Stefan Antonijevic - Tampa Bay - Offseason.
Marcel de Jong - Ottawa - Offseason.
Mechack Jerome - Jacksonville - Offseason.
James Marcelin - Fort Lauderdale - Offseason.
Rauwshan McKenzie - Oklahoma City - Offseason.
US
Christian Duke - Swope Park - Offseason.
Cyprian Hedrick - Oklahoma City - Offseason.
Alex Martinez - Charlotte - Offseason.
Victor Munoz - Arizona - Offseason.
Tony Rocha - Orlando - Offseason.
Michael Thomas - Oklahoma City - Offseason.
Yomby William - Richmond - Offseason.
Indoor
Pat Healey - Baltimore - Had 2 goals and 2 assists in Baltimore's 6-5 win over Syracuse. Had a goal and an assist in Baltimore's 4-3 win over Syracuse.
Mike Jones - Dallas - Offseason.
Boris Pardo - Missouri - Played in Missouri's 10-5 win over Milwaukee and their 8-2 win over Milwaukee.
International
Korede Aiyegbusi - Siah Jamegan - Iran - Started and played 90 minutes in Siah's 1-0 loss to Sepahan FC.
Scott Angevine - KPV - Finland - No game until 4/24.
Claudio Bieler - Belgrano - Argentina - Did not dress in Belgrano's 2-0 loss to Olimpo.
Omar Bravo - Chivas - Mexico - Came off the bench and played 33 minutes in Chivas' 1-0 loss to Dorados. Started and played 90 minutes in Chivas' 2-1 loss to America.
Reinaldo Brenes - AD Belen Siglo XXI - Costa Rica - Did not dress in either of Belen's games.
Sunil Chhetri - Bengaluru - India - Dressed but did not play in Bengaluru's 1-0 loss to Johor Darul Ta'Zim.
Jorge Claros - Alajuelense - Costa Rica - Started and played 90 minutes in Alajuelense's 4-0 win over Municipal Liberia. Started and played 90 minutes in Alajuelense's 1-0 loss to Limon.
Eloy Colombano - AD Berazategui - Offseason.
Daneil Cyrus - W Connection - Tied Police 0-0, defeated Point Fortin 1-0.
Toni Dovale - CD Leganes - Spain - Did not dress in Leganes' 1-0 loss to Tenerife.
Pablo Escobar - Jaguares de Córdoba - Colombia - Started and played 90 minutes in Jaguares' 1-0 loss to Real Cartagena. Did not play in Jaguares' 2-0 loss to Cortulua.
Luis Gil - Queretaro - Mexico - Started and played 90 minutes in Queretaro's 2-0 loss to Leon. Did not dress in Queretaro's 0-0 draw with Tigres.
Jeferson - Madureira EC - Brazil - Did not dress in Madureira's 1-0 loss to Flamengo.
Will John - RoPS - Finland - No game until 4/2.
Igor Juliao - Ferroviária - Brazil - Came off the bench and played 21 minutes in Ferroviaria's 2-1 loss to Ponte Preta.
Chris Konopka - Ross County - Scotland - Dressed but did not play in Ross County's 2-1 win over Hibernian in the league cup.
Igor Kostrov - Dinamo-Auto - Moldova - Did not dress in Dinamo's 4-0 loss to Zimbru.
Luis Marin - CD Palestino - Chile - Suspended for Palestino's 2-2 draw with San Luis.
Neven Markovic - KS Lechia Gdansk - Poland - Did not dress in Lechia's 1-1 draw with Gornik Zabrze.
Krisztian Nemeth - Al-Gharafa - Qatar - Started and played 90 minutes, scoring a goal in Al Gharafa's 4-0 win over Al Sailiya.
Erik Palmer-Brown - Porto (loan) - Portugal - Started and played 90 minutes in Porto B's 1-0 loss to Desportivo Aves. Started and played 90 minutes in Porto B's 1-0 win over UD Oliveirense.
Pablo Punyed - IBV - Iceland - Started and played 90 minutes in IBV's 2-0 loss to Valur Reykjavik.
Oriol Rosell - Vitoria (Sporting Club de Portugal) Portugal - Started and played 90 minutes in Vitoria's 1-0 loss to Pacos de Ferreira.
Brendan Ruiz - DJK Don Bosco Bamberg - Germany - Started and payed 90 minutes in Don Bosco's 2-1 loss to SSV Jahn Regensburg II.
Soony Saad - Pattaya United (BEC Tero Sasana) - Thailand - Scored a goal in Pattaya's 2-1 loss to Bangkok United. Tied Suphanburi 0-0.
Peter Schmetz - Wuppertaler SV - Germany - Started and played 90 minutes in Wuppertaler's 2-0 win over KFC Uerdingen 05.
Kevin Souter - Deveronvale FC - Scotland - Dressed but did not play Deveronvale's 0-0 draw with Strathspey.
Martin Steuble - Ceres-La Salle - Philippines - Offseason.
Milos Stojcev - Atromitos - Greece - Started and played 45 minutes in Atromitos' 2-1 win over Asteras Tripolis.
Matt Taylor - Saarbrücken - Germany - Started and played 65 minutes in Saarbrucken's 0-0 draw wtih Spielberg.
Elsewhere, it appears that Khari Stephenson has called time on his career as a professional soccer player, the 35 year old has been without a club since not being re-signed by the San Jose Earthquakes. Also, congratulations are due to Chris Konopka, who recently signed with Ross County. His first time making the game day roster was as the club's back up for their 2-1 League Cup final win over Hibernian. Konopka was signed as an injury replacement due to a number of injuries to Ross County goalkeepers.
Here's the rest of this week's update.
Active without a club or unknown
Vicente Arze
Jamar Beasley
Brian Fekete
Adnan Gabeljic
Herculez Gomez
Faik Hajderovic
Ryan James
Michael Kafari
Kyle Miller
Michal Mravec
Amobi Okugo
Akeem Priestley
Yann Songo'o
MLS
Jalil Anibaba - Houston - Started and played 90 minutes in Houston's 5-0 win over Dallas.
Teal Bunbury - New England - Started and played 74 minutes in New England's 0-0 draw with DC.
Servando Carrasco - Orlando City - Started and played 90 minutes in Orlando's 1-1 draw with Chicago.
Aurelien Collin - Orlando City - Dressed but did not play in Orlando's 1-1 draw with Chicago.
Michael Harrington - Chicago - Started and played 32 minutes before being red carded in Chicago's 1-1 draw with Orlando.
Jack Jewsbury - Portland - Dressed but did not play in Portland's 2-1 loss to San Jose.
Kei Kamara - Columbus - Started and played 90 minutes, scoring a goal in Columbus' 2-1 loss to Philadelphia.
Eric Kronberg - Montreal - Dressed but did not play in Montreal's 3-0 win over New York.
Mikey Lopez - NYCFC - Came off the bench and played 13 minutes in NYCFC's 2-2 draw with Toronto.
Yura Movsisyan - Salt Lake - Started and played 89 minutes in RSL's 2-1 win over Seattle.
CJ Sapong - Philadelphia - Started and played 90 minutes in Philadelphia's 2-1 win over Columbus.
Tyson Wahl - Columbus - Did not dress in Columbus' 2-1 loss to Philadelphia.
Sal Zizzo - New York - Started and played 90 minutes in New York's 3-0 loss to Montreal.
NASL
Bernardo Anor - Minnesota (loan) - Offseason.
Stefan Antonijevic - Tampa Bay - Offseason.
Marcel de Jong - Ottawa - Offseason.
Mechack Jerome - Jacksonville - Offseason.
James Marcelin - Fort Lauderdale - Offseason.
Rauwshan McKenzie - Oklahoma City - Offseason.
US
Christian Duke - Swope Park - Offseason.
Cyprian Hedrick - Oklahoma City - Offseason.
Alex Martinez - Charlotte - Offseason.
Victor Munoz - Arizona - Offseason.
Tony Rocha - Orlando - Offseason.
Michael Thomas - Oklahoma City - Offseason.
Yomby William - Richmond - Offseason.
Indoor
Pat Healey - Baltimore - Had 2 goals and 2 assists in Baltimore's 6-5 win over Syracuse. Had a goal and an assist in Baltimore's 4-3 win over Syracuse.
Mike Jones - Dallas - Offseason.
Boris Pardo - Missouri - Played in Missouri's 10-5 win over Milwaukee and their 8-2 win over Milwaukee.
International
Korede Aiyegbusi - Siah Jamegan - Iran - Started and played 90 minutes in Siah's 1-0 loss to Sepahan FC.
Scott Angevine - KPV - Finland - No game until 4/24.
Claudio Bieler - Belgrano - Argentina - Did not dress in Belgrano's 2-0 loss to Olimpo.
Omar Bravo - Chivas - Mexico - Came off the bench and played 33 minutes in Chivas' 1-0 loss to Dorados. Started and played 90 minutes in Chivas' 2-1 loss to America.
Reinaldo Brenes - AD Belen Siglo XXI - Costa Rica - Did not dress in either of Belen's games.
Sunil Chhetri - Bengaluru - India - Dressed but did not play in Bengaluru's 1-0 loss to Johor Darul Ta'Zim.
Jorge Claros - Alajuelense - Costa Rica - Started and played 90 minutes in Alajuelense's 4-0 win over Municipal Liberia. Started and played 90 minutes in Alajuelense's 1-0 loss to Limon.
Eloy Colombano - AD Berazategui - Offseason.
Daneil Cyrus - W Connection - Tied Police 0-0, defeated Point Fortin 1-0.
Toni Dovale - CD Leganes - Spain - Did not dress in Leganes' 1-0 loss to Tenerife.
Pablo Escobar - Jaguares de Córdoba - Colombia - Started and played 90 minutes in Jaguares' 1-0 loss to Real Cartagena. Did not play in Jaguares' 2-0 loss to Cortulua.
Luis Gil - Queretaro - Mexico - Started and played 90 minutes in Queretaro's 2-0 loss to Leon. Did not dress in Queretaro's 0-0 draw with Tigres.
Jeferson - Madureira EC - Brazil - Did not dress in Madureira's 1-0 loss to Flamengo.
Will John - RoPS - Finland - No game until 4/2.
Igor Juliao - Ferroviária - Brazil - Came off the bench and played 21 minutes in Ferroviaria's 2-1 loss to Ponte Preta.
Chris Konopka - Ross County - Scotland - Dressed but did not play in Ross County's 2-1 win over Hibernian in the league cup.
Igor Kostrov - Dinamo-Auto - Moldova - Did not dress in Dinamo's 4-0 loss to Zimbru.
Luis Marin - CD Palestino - Chile - Suspended for Palestino's 2-2 draw with San Luis.
Neven Markovic - KS Lechia Gdansk - Poland - Did not dress in Lechia's 1-1 draw with Gornik Zabrze.
Krisztian Nemeth - Al-Gharafa - Qatar - Started and played 90 minutes, scoring a goal in Al Gharafa's 4-0 win over Al Sailiya.
Erik Palmer-Brown - Porto (loan) - Portugal - Started and played 90 minutes in Porto B's 1-0 loss to Desportivo Aves. Started and played 90 minutes in Porto B's 1-0 win over UD Oliveirense.
Pablo Punyed - IBV - Iceland - Started and played 90 minutes in IBV's 2-0 loss to Valur Reykjavik.
Oriol Rosell - Vitoria (Sporting Club de Portugal) Portugal - Started and played 90 minutes in Vitoria's 1-0 loss to Pacos de Ferreira.
Brendan Ruiz - DJK Don Bosco Bamberg - Germany - Started and payed 90 minutes in Don Bosco's 2-1 loss to SSV Jahn Regensburg II.
Soony Saad - Pattaya United (BEC Tero Sasana) - Thailand - Scored a goal in Pattaya's 2-1 loss to Bangkok United. Tied Suphanburi 0-0.
Peter Schmetz - Wuppertaler SV - Germany - Started and played 90 minutes in Wuppertaler's 2-0 win over KFC Uerdingen 05.
Kevin Souter - Deveronvale FC - Scotland - Dressed but did not play Deveronvale's 0-0 draw with Strathspey.
Martin Steuble - Ceres-La Salle - Philippines - Offseason.
Milos Stojcev - Atromitos - Greece - Started and played 45 minutes in Atromitos' 2-1 win over Asteras Tripolis.
Matt Taylor - Saarbrücken - Germany - Started and played 65 minutes in Saarbrucken's 0-0 draw wtih Spielberg.
Sporting Acquire Targeted Allocation Money
Sporting Kansas City acquired Targeted Allocation Money (TAM) today in a trade with New York City FC. In return Sporting is sending an international roster spot to the blue side of New York. The spot will return to Kansas City after the 2016 season is complete.
It was a spot that NYCFC needed to acquire as they have 11 internationals and only 10 international spots at this time. With rookie, Jack Harrison looking set to return from injury, NYCFC needed to add an international roster spot to get him onto the roster. This leaves Sporting KC with one open international roster spot available to be used should they choose to.
For Kansas City they acquire more TAM for their coffers in exchange for an international roster spot the club seemed unlikely to use. While they still have two open roster spots, that seems to be a position that Sporting KC head coach Peter Vermes seems comfortable with as that's where KC was at for most of the 2015 season as well. Meanwhile KC can use the TAM money to eventually re-sign a player like Benny Feilhaber who is out of contract at the end of the season.
It was a spot that NYCFC needed to acquire as they have 11 internationals and only 10 international spots at this time. With rookie, Jack Harrison looking set to return from injury, NYCFC needed to add an international roster spot to get him onto the roster. This leaves Sporting KC with one open international roster spot available to be used should they choose to.
For Kansas City they acquire more TAM for their coffers in exchange for an international roster spot the club seemed unlikely to use. While they still have two open roster spots, that seems to be a position that Sporting KC head coach Peter Vermes seems comfortable with as that's where KC was at for most of the 2015 season as well. Meanwhile KC can use the TAM money to eventually re-sign a player like Benny Feilhaber who is out of contract at the end of the season.
Sunday, March 13, 2016
Sunday After Stats
At 34 years, 125 days, Brad Davis is the second oldest player to make their debut for KC, behind only Richard Gough at 35 years, 35 days.
Davis is the 10th oldest player to play in a game for Kansas City, he knocked Diego Gutierrez out of the top 20.
Dom Dwyer's two goals moved him to 47 in all competitions for KC, moving him past Josh Wolff and into third place all time on that list.
Dwyer's two goals gave him 38 in league play for KC, tying him with Kei Kamara for fifth on that list.
Dwyer's two goals gave him 31 in home games in all competitions for KC, moving him past Kamara and into third place on that list.
The game winning goal was Dwyer's 10th in league play for KC, tying him with Davy Arnaud for fifth all time on that list.
It was Dwyer's 13th game winner in all competitions for KC, tying him with Arnaud and Chris Klein for second all time on that list.
Graham Zusi's assist was his 45th in league play for KC, tying him with Klein for second all time on that list.
Chance Myers' assist was his 16th in league play for KC, breaking his tie with Claudio Lopez, Chris Henderson, and Roger Espinoza for 16th on that list.
It was Myers' 18th in all competitions for KC, tying him with Jose Burciaga and Francisco Gomez for 15th in all competitions.
Myers' made his 110th start in league play for KC, tying him with Burciaga for 18th on that list.
In the 20th minute, Roger Espinoza moved past Aurelien Colliin and into 19th place in minutes played in all competitions. Espinoza finished the game with 11,535 minutes played.
Davis is the 10th oldest player to play in a game for Kansas City, he knocked Diego Gutierrez out of the top 20.
Dom Dwyer's two goals moved him to 47 in all competitions for KC, moving him past Josh Wolff and into third place all time on that list.
Dwyer's two goals gave him 38 in league play for KC, tying him with Kei Kamara for fifth on that list.
Dwyer's two goals gave him 31 in home games in all competitions for KC, moving him past Kamara and into third place on that list.
The game winning goal was Dwyer's 10th in league play for KC, tying him with Davy Arnaud for fifth all time on that list.
It was Dwyer's 13th game winner in all competitions for KC, tying him with Arnaud and Chris Klein for second all time on that list.
Graham Zusi's assist was his 45th in league play for KC, tying him with Klein for second all time on that list.
Chance Myers' assist was his 16th in league play for KC, breaking his tie with Claudio Lopez, Chris Henderson, and Roger Espinoza for 16th on that list.
It was Myers' 18th in all competitions for KC, tying him with Jose Burciaga and Francisco Gomez for 15th in all competitions.
Myers' made his 110th start in league play for KC, tying him with Burciaga for 18th on that list.
In the 20th minute, Roger Espinoza moved past Aurelien Colliin and into 19th place in minutes played in all competitions. Espinoza finished the game with 11,535 minutes played.
Comets Run Past Milwaukee, Book Date with Baltimore
The Missouri Comets clinched a spot in the MASL's final four, advancing to the Eastern Conference finals to take on the Baltimore Blast with an 8-2 win over the Milwaukee Wave to sweep their series 2 games to none.
The Comets started things early with Vahid Assadpour finishing an effort off a John Sosa restart. The Wave were able to tie the game halfway through the quarter with Max Ferdinand finding the net. The Comets though proceeded to run away with things, Sosa scored off a restart with just over five minutes left, before Max Touloute scored in the final four minutes to make it 3-1 after one quarter. The Comets were able to extend their lead further in the second quarter, but only by a single goal as Alain Matingou finished up an opportunity off an assist from Kiel Williams.
The two teams both had their chances in the third quarter, with the Comets getting the better of play, but neither side was able to find the net again. Finally in the final five minutes the Comets struck twice, first Kevin Ten Eyck caught Nick Vorberg with a quick strike that went through the Wave goalkeepers' legs to make it 5-1. Then in the final few seconds of the period Touloute fired a shot from the top of the box into the net to end the quarter up 6-1. Virtually from the kick off in the fourth quarter the Wave went with the sixth attacker trying to make their way back into the game. Five minutes in they found one as Ian Bennett beat Boris Pardo to make it 6-2 with 10 minutes still to play. Three and a half minutes later though the game basically over. In the span of 20 seconds the Comets scored twice against the sixth attacker to put the game away. First Ramone Palmer scored after him and Brian Harris played a perfect counter leading to a Palmer tap in to make it 7-2. Then 20 seconds later on a long ball by Leo Gibson, sixth attacker Johnathan Greenfield slipped on the turf, pulling it up and falling to the ground. Touloute, who was racing after the ball picked up the loose ball after Greenfield's slip and walked the ball into the net. From there the Wave reinserted Vorberg and the two teams played out the final six minutes as the Comets advanced.
The Comets started things early with Vahid Assadpour finishing an effort off a John Sosa restart. The Wave were able to tie the game halfway through the quarter with Max Ferdinand finding the net. The Comets though proceeded to run away with things, Sosa scored off a restart with just over five minutes left, before Max Touloute scored in the final four minutes to make it 3-1 after one quarter. The Comets were able to extend their lead further in the second quarter, but only by a single goal as Alain Matingou finished up an opportunity off an assist from Kiel Williams.
The two teams both had their chances in the third quarter, with the Comets getting the better of play, but neither side was able to find the net again. Finally in the final five minutes the Comets struck twice, first Kevin Ten Eyck caught Nick Vorberg with a quick strike that went through the Wave goalkeepers' legs to make it 5-1. Then in the final few seconds of the period Touloute fired a shot from the top of the box into the net to end the quarter up 6-1. Virtually from the kick off in the fourth quarter the Wave went with the sixth attacker trying to make their way back into the game. Five minutes in they found one as Ian Bennett beat Boris Pardo to make it 6-2 with 10 minutes still to play. Three and a half minutes later though the game basically over. In the span of 20 seconds the Comets scored twice against the sixth attacker to put the game away. First Ramone Palmer scored after him and Brian Harris played a perfect counter leading to a Palmer tap in to make it 7-2. Then 20 seconds later on a long ball by Leo Gibson, sixth attacker Johnathan Greenfield slipped on the turf, pulling it up and falling to the ground. Touloute, who was racing after the ball picked up the loose ball after Greenfield's slip and walked the ball into the net. From there the Wave reinserted Vorberg and the two teams played out the final six minutes as the Comets advanced.
Sporting Top Vancouver
It wasn't as dramatic as last year's win over the Vancouver Whitecaps, but Sporting KC once again topped the Canadian side at Children's Mercy Park 2-1. The first half saw Kansas City play their best half of soccer in recent memory as the team passed the ball around well, created openings and finding chances. When they didn't have the ball, the high pressure was back in full force for Kansas City. The high pressure paid off early for KC in just the fifth minute Sporting forced Deybi Flores to turn the ball over to Dom Dwyer. Dwyer turned and raced towards goal before firing a shot from 25 yards out that flew past David Ousted, off the underside of the cross bar and into the net KC kept up the pressure but almost got hurt by Vancouver's speed on the counter in the 20th minute. Kekuta Manneh beat the offside trap and got in on goal one-on-one with Tim Melia but Melia made a good save low to his left to keep Sporting in front 1-0. Sporting did a good job from there of regaining control of the game and were rewarded with a second goal in the 41st minute. Graham Zusi received the ball on the left wing, and cut back inside on his defender, Jordan Smith. Zusi then curled the ball into the box on the far side to Chance Myers who timed his run perfectly. Myers one timed a ball back across the box to Dwyer who'd made a run unmarked to the back post. Dwyer had a simple finish to double the lead on what was a beautifully worked goal. Things got worse for the Whitecaps in first half stoppage time when they were reduced to 10 men after Smith brought Zusi down with a tackle from behind. A poor challenge by the left back that got none of the ball and all of Zusi's leg and for the second time in two games KC would get to spend 45 minutes up a man.
KC seemed content for long periods of the second half to just pass the ball around and kill the clock, which brought down the intensity of the game some. Sporting though did create chances up a man. In the 59th minute, Dwyer almost finished his hattrick off on a long ball over the top by Nuno Coelho. Dwyer raced onto the ball, beating Oustad to it and flicking it over him towards goal, but a recovering Kendall Waston headed it clear before Dwyer could recover to knock the ball into the net. Ten minutes later Sporting gave the Whitecaps a lifeline as Melia brought down Octavio Rivero in the box. Jordan Harvey had played a nice ball through into the box for Rivero. The Sporting goalkeeper raced off his line to try to beat Rivero to the ball, but missed, getting the player. It was really a move that Melia didn't have to make, Rivero was still to the side of the box and Myers and Coelho were both in good positions to handle the situation. The penalty was called though and Pedro Morales stepped up and sent Melia the wrong way to make it 2-1. Vancouver tried to find an equalizer late on, but KC's defense was able to hold off the 10 men Vancouver side to pick up their second win.
Wizards Man of the Match - Roger Espinoza - Espinoza looks to be back in the form he showed as his peak at defensive midfield. Charles Gooch on Talkin' Touches said Espinoza makes players go down that dark alley they don't want to go down and at the end of the alley is Soni Mustivar. Espinoza was again so good at just forcing Morales to go exactly where he did not want to go, it was a fantastic job by Espinoza.
Player Ratings - Melia 6, Dia 6, Besler 7, Coelho 7, Myers 8, Mustivar 8, Espinoza 8, Quintilla 7, Hallisey 5, Dwyer 7, Zusi 7. Subs Medranda 5, Davis 6, Abdul-Salam NR.
KC seemed content for long periods of the second half to just pass the ball around and kill the clock, which brought down the intensity of the game some. Sporting though did create chances up a man. In the 59th minute, Dwyer almost finished his hattrick off on a long ball over the top by Nuno Coelho. Dwyer raced onto the ball, beating Oustad to it and flicking it over him towards goal, but a recovering Kendall Waston headed it clear before Dwyer could recover to knock the ball into the net. Ten minutes later Sporting gave the Whitecaps a lifeline as Melia brought down Octavio Rivero in the box. Jordan Harvey had played a nice ball through into the box for Rivero. The Sporting goalkeeper raced off his line to try to beat Rivero to the ball, but missed, getting the player. It was really a move that Melia didn't have to make, Rivero was still to the side of the box and Myers and Coelho were both in good positions to handle the situation. The penalty was called though and Pedro Morales stepped up and sent Melia the wrong way to make it 2-1. Vancouver tried to find an equalizer late on, but KC's defense was able to hold off the 10 men Vancouver side to pick up their second win.
Wizards Man of the Match - Roger Espinoza - Espinoza looks to be back in the form he showed as his peak at defensive midfield. Charles Gooch on Talkin' Touches said Espinoza makes players go down that dark alley they don't want to go down and at the end of the alley is Soni Mustivar. Espinoza was again so good at just forcing Morales to go exactly where he did not want to go, it was a fantastic job by Espinoza.
Player Ratings - Melia 6, Dia 6, Besler 7, Coelho 7, Myers 8, Mustivar 8, Espinoza 8, Quintilla 7, Hallisey 5, Dwyer 7, Zusi 7. Subs Medranda 5, Davis 6, Abdul-Salam NR.
Friday, March 11, 2016
Gibson Helps Comets Double Up Milwaukee
The Missouri Comets got a five goal game from reigning MASL MVP Leo Gibson on their way to a 10-5 win over the Milwaukee Wave in game one of the MASL Central Division finals. The Wave took the lead just over four minutes into the quarter through Sean Totsch. Near the midpoint of the first quarter the Comets got on the board with Gibson scoring his first goal of the game. Missouri scored three more times over the final six minutes of the first quarter Gibson added his second sandwiched between goals by Ramone Palmer and Max Touloute.
Gibson finished off his hattrick just under six minutes into the second quarter to extend the Comets lead to 5-1. Before the quarter was done though the Wave had reduced the lead to two as Ian Bennett scored twice to make it 5-3 in the Comets favor at half time.
The third quarter saw three different runs by the two teams as the Comets ended up extending their lead. Touloute scored his second goal of the game less than two minutes in after he stole the ball from a Wave attacker at midfield and raced in on goal. John Sosa then extended the lead back to four goals less than seven minutes in. From there the Wave came back and scored two goals in less than 20 seconds with Bennett finishing his hattrick before Stefan St. Louis set up Hans Denissen to cut the lead back to two. That'd be as close as the Wave would get though as the Comets extended the lead back to four in the final four minutes as Gibson scored his fourth goal of the game before he set up Bryan Perez in the final minute and a half to make it 9-5 after three quarters.
The fourth quarter saw the Comets add a 10th goal and Gibson's fifth just over three minutes into the quarter to finish out the scoring. The Comets held off the Wave, even when they switched to the sixth attacker. Missouri will now head home for game two on Sunday in Independence with two chances to advance to the Eastern Conference finals.
Gibson finished off his hattrick just under six minutes into the second quarter to extend the Comets lead to 5-1. Before the quarter was done though the Wave had reduced the lead to two as Ian Bennett scored twice to make it 5-3 in the Comets favor at half time.
The third quarter saw three different runs by the two teams as the Comets ended up extending their lead. Touloute scored his second goal of the game less than two minutes in after he stole the ball from a Wave attacker at midfield and raced in on goal. John Sosa then extended the lead back to four goals less than seven minutes in. From there the Wave came back and scored two goals in less than 20 seconds with Bennett finishing his hattrick before Stefan St. Louis set up Hans Denissen to cut the lead back to two. That'd be as close as the Wave would get though as the Comets extended the lead back to four in the final four minutes as Gibson scored his fourth goal of the game before he set up Bryan Perez in the final minute and a half to make it 9-5 after three quarters.
The fourth quarter saw the Comets add a 10th goal and Gibson's fifth just over three minutes into the quarter to finish out the scoring. The Comets held off the Wave, even when they switched to the sixth attacker. Missouri will now head home for game two on Sunday in Independence with two chances to advance to the Eastern Conference finals.
Match Day 2: Welcome Home
Sporting KC continue their start to the 2016 season with their home opener tomorrow night at Children's Mercy Park against the Vancouver Whitecaps. The match up is the first between the two sides since the dramatic 4-3 comeback by Sporting KC in Kansas City last year. There will certainly be a level of retribution the Whitecaps want from the game after seeing a 3-1 lead evaporate in the final 10 minutes to lose three points on the road.
The Whitecaps come into the game having lost their opener at home 3-2 to the Montreal Impact. The Whitecaps had the majority of the offense, recording 10 shots on goal, but Montreal goalkeeper Evan Bush had a fantastic game in goal, making eight saves to help the Impact to the win. The Whitecaps offense caused KC fits last year with their speed and it'd be crazy for Carl Robinson to not try to do it again this time. They will have to do it without Christian Bolanos, the Costa Rican international was suspended by the disciplinary committee for a tackle on Montreal center back Laurent Ciman. While that's a blow, it would be easy for Robinson to just replace him with Kekuta Manneh who burned KC for a pair of goals last year.
Kansas City still has some injury issues that are keeping them from being able to field their best 11. Midfielder and MVP candidate Benny Feilhaber is still listed as questionable and did not participate much in practice this week either. His absence seems likely to continue to be filled by Jordi Quintilla in midfield. Elsewhere Sporting is getting healthier as it appears that both Brad Davis and Seth Sinovic will be available for selection in tomorrow's game. Davis' availability will be a welcome addition for KC. While Connor Hallisey didn't play horribly last week, he seemed a step slower in terms of deciding what to do with the ball, and bringing Davis in to replace him should increase the speed. As for Sinovic I'm not sure you start him tomorrow. Sinovic has had issues since his concussion really with dealing with speed. And with Vancouver's speed Sinovic could be in a long night. He can still bring plenty to the KC lineup, but against a speedy lineup like Vancouver's I'd probably start Amadou Dia in his place.
Number to Remember - 0 - That's the number of wins that the Whitecaps have at Children's Mercy Park since the stadium opened five years ago. KC will attempt to keep that streak going on Saturday.
Key Match Up - KC wing backs vs Vancouver wingers - As I mentioned earlier, Sinovic is available for selection on Saturday against the Whitecaps. But last year when the two teams met the Whitecaps wingers ran all over KC's wingbacks. With Manneh potentially getting the start over a suspended Bolanos this is something to watch considering how Manneh played last year against Sporting.
PREDICTION -Kansas City looked very strong defensively against the Sounders last week in Seattle, but also played over half the game up a man, which can change the numbers just a bit. Vancouver is going to come at Kansas City with more speed up top than Seattle did. KC's ability to cope with that speed is going to be key. I think with the way Vancouver's defense has played, KC will find opportunities of their own to score, it's capitalizing on those opportunities.
SKC - 2 (Dwyer, Zusi)
VAN - 1 (Rivero)
The Whitecaps come into the game having lost their opener at home 3-2 to the Montreal Impact. The Whitecaps had the majority of the offense, recording 10 shots on goal, but Montreal goalkeeper Evan Bush had a fantastic game in goal, making eight saves to help the Impact to the win. The Whitecaps offense caused KC fits last year with their speed and it'd be crazy for Carl Robinson to not try to do it again this time. They will have to do it without Christian Bolanos, the Costa Rican international was suspended by the disciplinary committee for a tackle on Montreal center back Laurent Ciman. While that's a blow, it would be easy for Robinson to just replace him with Kekuta Manneh who burned KC for a pair of goals last year.
Kansas City still has some injury issues that are keeping them from being able to field their best 11. Midfielder and MVP candidate Benny Feilhaber is still listed as questionable and did not participate much in practice this week either. His absence seems likely to continue to be filled by Jordi Quintilla in midfield. Elsewhere Sporting is getting healthier as it appears that both Brad Davis and Seth Sinovic will be available for selection in tomorrow's game. Davis' availability will be a welcome addition for KC. While Connor Hallisey didn't play horribly last week, he seemed a step slower in terms of deciding what to do with the ball, and bringing Davis in to replace him should increase the speed. As for Sinovic I'm not sure you start him tomorrow. Sinovic has had issues since his concussion really with dealing with speed. And with Vancouver's speed Sinovic could be in a long night. He can still bring plenty to the KC lineup, but against a speedy lineup like Vancouver's I'd probably start Amadou Dia in his place.
Davis - Dwyer - Zusi
Espinoza - Quintilla
Mustivar
Dia - Besler - Coelho - Myers
Melia
Number to Remember - 0 - That's the number of wins that the Whitecaps have at Children's Mercy Park since the stadium opened five years ago. KC will attempt to keep that streak going on Saturday.
Key Match Up - KC wing backs vs Vancouver wingers - As I mentioned earlier, Sinovic is available for selection on Saturday against the Whitecaps. But last year when the two teams met the Whitecaps wingers ran all over KC's wingbacks. With Manneh potentially getting the start over a suspended Bolanos this is something to watch considering how Manneh played last year against Sporting.
PREDICTION -Kansas City looked very strong defensively against the Sounders last week in Seattle, but also played over half the game up a man, which can change the numbers just a bit. Vancouver is going to come at Kansas City with more speed up top than Seattle did. KC's ability to cope with that speed is going to be key. I think with the way Vancouver's defense has played, KC will find opportunities of their own to score, it's capitalizing on those opportunities.
SKC - 2 (Dwyer, Zusi)
VAN - 1 (Rivero)
Thursday, March 10, 2016
Three Academy Players Sign Academy Contracts with Rangers
The Swope Park Rangers continue to build their roster for the 2016 season. Today the club announced the signing of three players to academy contracts. Three members of Sporting KC's U18 academy team signed a deal with the USL club. Ezra Armstrong, Will Little, and Steven Tekesky have joined the club ahead of their inaugural season. The trio all spent time with the Rangers during their preseason even in Arizona where Armstrong and Little both got minutes playing in the Desert Diamond Cup for the Rangers.
The USL allows teams to sign up to five academy players that can play for the team and not count against the clubs 30 players. Those players have to be under the age of 21 and not have played in the NCAA or NAIA, or signed a professional contract before. The players also must be from the USL or MLS clubs academy system to be able to be signed to an academy contract. The players are able to retain their college eligibility with this contract as well.
This may be my favorite part of having an USL team for KC, giving those academy kids a stepping stone to the first team. Whether it be directly from high school or as a stepping stone to college where KC can continue to monitor their progress.
The USL allows teams to sign up to five academy players that can play for the team and not count against the clubs 30 players. Those players have to be under the age of 21 and not have played in the NCAA or NAIA, or signed a professional contract before. The players also must be from the USL or MLS clubs academy system to be able to be signed to an academy contract. The players are able to retain their college eligibility with this contract as well.
This may be my favorite part of having an USL team for KC, giving those academy kids a stepping stone to the first team. Whether it be directly from high school or as a stepping stone to college where KC can continue to monitor their progress.
Chad Ochocinco Says He Could Make Sporting's Roster Now
Five years ago, shortly before the 2011 MLS season kicked off, the NFL locked out their players when the owners and the players association could not come to an agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement. With the NFL players out of work during the stoppage, wide receiver, Chad Ochocinco had taken to Twitter with jokes about being unemployed. Sporting Kansas City's Teal Bunbury and Kei Kamara reached out to Ochocinco on Twitter and jokingly talked about having him come trial with Sporting. Ochocinco, who is a big soccer fan, seemed excited about the idea and Kyle Rogers, who was working for Sporting KC at the time really helped to make the deal happen. The original three day trial began on March 23rd and was extended for two more days for KC to get a look at him in a reserve game against the Kansas City Brass, the local PDL team at the time. Ochocinco played about a session and a half of the three 30 minute session game that saw Sporting's reserves fall 3-2 to the PDL team.
At the time, reports were that Ochocinco had the speed to play, but his ability as a soccer player lacked and he was not offered a contract, instead he was made an honorary member of Sporting KC. After the trial and the lockout ended Ochocinco went on to play the 2011 season with the New England Patriots before finishing his NFL career with the Miami Dolphins, but never actually played in a game for them. The trial was a bit of a circus sideshow in the fact that most people didn't expect Ochocinco to be able to make Kansas City's roster, but it give the recently rebranded Sporting KC some major media attention in the whole thing because of Ochocinco's personality and the idea of him trying out for a soccer team.
Ochocinco though is now back in the news regarding Sporting KC though. The 38 year old Ochocinco was interviewed on ESPN FC, where he was asked about being a fan of Sporting KC even though he's from Miami and they are still supposed to be getting an expansion team. Ochocinco said that if tried out for Sporting KC now that he'd be able to make the team, because he's gotten his touch back. Ochocinco says that since he's retired he's been playing soccer with his friends in an indoor league in Miami as well as in Kendall, Florida.
Ochocinco may have been (may even still be to a point) an elite athlete, but playing recreational soccer, or even adult competitive soccer isn't going to get you up to the speed of play of MLS, especially at 38 years old. Also, unless his touch has increased by leaps and bounds playing in men's' leagues in Florida he's going to have a hard time catching on in MLS. Lots of people like to talk about some of the first touches in MLS, but Ochocinco's was very bad when he trialed with KC. He'd also need to make sure his left leg could actually be used for something other than standing on; from watching the old highlights I'm not sure he touched the ball with his left foot once. At his age, he would come in as the third oldest player to ever appear in a game for KC, behind Preki and Mo Johnston, and would be the oldest player to debut for Kansas City. It's great that he still considers himself a fan of the club five years later, but to think he could come in now and make the Sporting roster is a major stretch for me.
At the time, reports were that Ochocinco had the speed to play, but his ability as a soccer player lacked and he was not offered a contract, instead he was made an honorary member of Sporting KC. After the trial and the lockout ended Ochocinco went on to play the 2011 season with the New England Patriots before finishing his NFL career with the Miami Dolphins, but never actually played in a game for them. The trial was a bit of a circus sideshow in the fact that most people didn't expect Ochocinco to be able to make Kansas City's roster, but it give the recently rebranded Sporting KC some major media attention in the whole thing because of Ochocinco's personality and the idea of him trying out for a soccer team.
Ochocinco though is now back in the news regarding Sporting KC though. The 38 year old Ochocinco was interviewed on ESPN FC, where he was asked about being a fan of Sporting KC even though he's from Miami and they are still supposed to be getting an expansion team. Ochocinco said that if tried out for Sporting KC now that he'd be able to make the team, because he's gotten his touch back. Ochocinco says that since he's retired he's been playing soccer with his friends in an indoor league in Miami as well as in Kendall, Florida.
Ochocinco may have been (may even still be to a point) an elite athlete, but playing recreational soccer, or even adult competitive soccer isn't going to get you up to the speed of play of MLS, especially at 38 years old. Also, unless his touch has increased by leaps and bounds playing in men's' leagues in Florida he's going to have a hard time catching on in MLS. Lots of people like to talk about some of the first touches in MLS, but Ochocinco's was very bad when he trialed with KC. He'd also need to make sure his left leg could actually be used for something other than standing on; from watching the old highlights I'm not sure he touched the ball with his left foot once. At his age, he would come in as the third oldest player to ever appear in a game for KC, behind Preki and Mo Johnston, and would be the oldest player to debut for Kansas City. It's great that he still considers himself a fan of the club five years later, but to think he could come in now and make the Sporting roster is a major stretch for me.
Wednesday, March 09, 2016
Arnaud Retires - Former SKC Wizards Update
Late last week, an all time Sporting KC great, Davy Arnaud, called time on his playing career. Arnaud had not played since around August last year due to concussion issues. In his career Arnaud played over 200 games for KC and over 350 in his MLS career that went over 14 MLS seasons. He's taken a coaching position with DC United, the final club he played for. I wrote more about what Arnaud meant to KC here.
Here is the rest of this week's update.
Active without a club or unknown
Vicente Arze
Jamar Beasley
Brian Fekete
Adnan Gabeljic
Herculez Gomez
Ryan James
Michael Kafari
Kyle Miller
Michal Mravec
Amobi Okugo
Akeem Priestley
Yann Songo'o
Khari Stephenson
MLS
Jalil Anibaba - Houston - Started and played 90 minutes in Houston's 3-3 draw with New England.
Teal Bunbury - New England - Started and played 69 minutes in New England's 3-3 draw with Houston.
Servando Carrasco - Orlando City -Started and played 90 minutes in Orlando's 2-2 draw with RSL.
Aurelien Collin - Orlando City - Dressed but did not play in Orlando's 2-2 draw with RSL.
Michael Harrington - Chicago - Started and played 66 minutes in Chicago's 4-3 loss to NYCFC.
Jack Jewsbury - Portland - Came off the bench and played 3 minutes in Portland's 2-1 win over Columbus.
Kei Kamara - Columbus - Started and played 90 minutes in Columbus' 2-1 loss to Portland.
Eric Kronberg - Montreal - Dressed but did not play in Montreal's 3-2 win over Vancouver.
Mikey Lopez - NYCFC - Came off the bench and played 21 minutes in NYCFC's 4-3 win over Chicago.
Yura Movsisyan - Salt Lake - Started and played 84 minutes, recording an assist in Salt Lake's 1-1 draw with Tigres. Started and played 90 minutes in RSL's 2-2 draw with Orlando.
CJ Sapong - Philadelphia - Started and played 83 minutes in Philadelphia's 2-0 loss to Dallas.
Tyson Wahl - Columbus - Did not dress in Columbus' 2-1 loss to Portland.
Sal Zizzo - New York - Started and played 90 minutes in New York's 2-0 loss to Toronto.
NASL
Bernardo Anor - Minnesota (loan) - Offseason.
Stefan Antonijevic - Tampa Bay - Offseason.
Marcel de Jong - Ottawa - Offseason.
Mechack Jerome - Jacksonville - Offseason.
James Marcelin - Fort Lauderdale - Offseason.
Rauwshan McKenzie - Oklahoma City - Offseason.
US
Christian Duke - Swope Park - Offseason.
Cyprian Hedrick - Oklahoma City - Offseason.
Alex Martinez - Charlotte - Offseason.
Victor Munoz - Arizona - Offseason.
Tony Rocha - Orlando - Offseason.
Michael Thomas - Oklahoma City - Offseason.
Yomby William - Richmond - Offseason.
Indoor
Pat Healey - Baltimore - No game this week.
Mike Jones - Dallas - Offseason.
Boris Pardo - Missouri - No game this week.
International
Korede Aiyegbusi - Siah Jamegan - Iran - Started and played 90 minutes in Siah Jamegan's 2-1 loss to Esteghlal Khuzestan.
Scott Angevine - KPV - Finland - No game until 4/24.
Claudio Bieler - Belgrano - Argentina - Dressed but did not play in Belgrano's 3-0 win over Sarmiento.
Omar Bravo - Chivas - Mexico - Dressed but did not play in Chivas' 2-0 win over Queretaro.
Reinaldo Brenes - AD Belen Siglo XXI - Costa Rica - Did not dress in Belen's 3-0 win over Saprissa.
Sunil Chhetri - Bengaluru - India - Started and played 90 minutes in Bengaluru's 2-0 win over Shillong Lajong. Started and played 90 minutes, scoring 2 goals in Bengaluru's 2-2 draw with Sporting Goa.
Jorge Claros - Alajuelense - Costa Rica - Started and played 90 minutes in Alajuelense's 4-0 win over Uruguay.
Eloy Colombano - AD Berazategui - Offseason.
Daneil Cyrus - W Connection - Tied Morvant Caledonia United 2-2.
Toni Dovale - CD Leganes - Spain - Did not dress in Leganes' 3-0 win over Albacete.
Pablo Escobar - Jaguares de Córdoba - Colombia - Did not play in either of Jaguares games.
Luis Gil - Queretaro - Mexico - Came off the bench and played 20 minutes in Queretaro's 2-0 loss to Chivas.
Jeferson - Madureira EC - Brazil - Did not dress in Madureira's 0-0 draw with Resende.
Will John - RoPS - Finland - No game until 4/2.
Igor Juliao - Ferroviária - Brazil - Did not dress in Ferroviaria's 2-1 loss to Novorizontino.
Chris Konopka - Ross County - Scotland - Just signed with club.
Igor Kostrov - Dinamo-Auto - Moldova - Did not dress in Dinamo's 0-0 draw with Milsami.
Luis Marin - CD Palestino - Chile - Started and played 45 minutes before being red carded in Palestino's 1-1 draw with O'Higgins.
Neven Markovic - KS Lechia Gdansk - Poland - Did not dress in either of Lechia's games.
Krisztian Nemeth - Al-Gharafa - Qatar - Started and played 90 minutes in Al Gharafa's 1-1 draw with Al Sadd.
Erik Palmer-Brown - Porto (loan) - Portugal -Dressed but did not play in Porto B's 0-0 draw with Olhanense.
Pablo Punyed - IBV - Iceland - Lost 3-1 to Stjarnan.
Oriol Rosell - Vitoria (Sporting Club de Portugal) Portugal - Did not dress in Vitoria's 2-0 loss to Academica.
Brendan Ruiz - DJK Don Bosco Bamberg - Germany - Came off the bench and played 36 minutes in Don Bosco's 2-2 draw wtih Wurzburger FC.
Soony Saad - Pattaya United (BEC Tero Sasana) - Thailand - Started and had a goal in Pattaya's 2-1 loss to Chonburi.
Peter Schmetz - Wuppertaler SV - Germany - Started and played 90 minutes in Wuppertaler's 1-0 loss to 1.FC Monchengladbach.
Kevin Souter - Deveronvale FC - Scotland - Game against Cove Rangers was postponed.
Martin Steuble - Ceres-La Salle - Philippines - Offseason.
Milos Stojcev - Atromitos - Greece - Dressed but did not play in Atromitos' 2-0 loss to Panathinaikos.
Matt Taylor - Saarbrücken - Germany - Started and played 65 minutes in Saarbrucken's 1-0 win over Pirmasens.
Here is the rest of this week's update.
Active without a club or unknown
Vicente Arze
Jamar Beasley
Brian Fekete
Adnan Gabeljic
Herculez Gomez
Ryan James
Michael Kafari
Kyle Miller
Michal Mravec
Amobi Okugo
Akeem Priestley
Yann Songo'o
Khari Stephenson
MLS
Jalil Anibaba - Houston - Started and played 90 minutes in Houston's 3-3 draw with New England.
Teal Bunbury - New England - Started and played 69 minutes in New England's 3-3 draw with Houston.
Servando Carrasco - Orlando City -Started and played 90 minutes in Orlando's 2-2 draw with RSL.
Aurelien Collin - Orlando City - Dressed but did not play in Orlando's 2-2 draw with RSL.
Michael Harrington - Chicago - Started and played 66 minutes in Chicago's 4-3 loss to NYCFC.
Jack Jewsbury - Portland - Came off the bench and played 3 minutes in Portland's 2-1 win over Columbus.
Kei Kamara - Columbus - Started and played 90 minutes in Columbus' 2-1 loss to Portland.
Eric Kronberg - Montreal - Dressed but did not play in Montreal's 3-2 win over Vancouver.
Mikey Lopez - NYCFC - Came off the bench and played 21 minutes in NYCFC's 4-3 win over Chicago.
Yura Movsisyan - Salt Lake - Started and played 84 minutes, recording an assist in Salt Lake's 1-1 draw with Tigres. Started and played 90 minutes in RSL's 2-2 draw with Orlando.
CJ Sapong - Philadelphia - Started and played 83 minutes in Philadelphia's 2-0 loss to Dallas.
Tyson Wahl - Columbus - Did not dress in Columbus' 2-1 loss to Portland.
Sal Zizzo - New York - Started and played 90 minutes in New York's 2-0 loss to Toronto.
NASL
Bernardo Anor - Minnesota (loan) - Offseason.
Stefan Antonijevic - Tampa Bay - Offseason.
Marcel de Jong - Ottawa - Offseason.
Mechack Jerome - Jacksonville - Offseason.
James Marcelin - Fort Lauderdale - Offseason.
Rauwshan McKenzie - Oklahoma City - Offseason.
US
Christian Duke - Swope Park - Offseason.
Cyprian Hedrick - Oklahoma City - Offseason.
Alex Martinez - Charlotte - Offseason.
Victor Munoz - Arizona - Offseason.
Tony Rocha - Orlando - Offseason.
Michael Thomas - Oklahoma City - Offseason.
Yomby William - Richmond - Offseason.
Indoor
Pat Healey - Baltimore - No game this week.
Mike Jones - Dallas - Offseason.
Boris Pardo - Missouri - No game this week.
International
Korede Aiyegbusi - Siah Jamegan - Iran - Started and played 90 minutes in Siah Jamegan's 2-1 loss to Esteghlal Khuzestan.
Scott Angevine - KPV - Finland - No game until 4/24.
Claudio Bieler - Belgrano - Argentina - Dressed but did not play in Belgrano's 3-0 win over Sarmiento.
Omar Bravo - Chivas - Mexico - Dressed but did not play in Chivas' 2-0 win over Queretaro.
Reinaldo Brenes - AD Belen Siglo XXI - Costa Rica - Did not dress in Belen's 3-0 win over Saprissa.
Sunil Chhetri - Bengaluru - India - Started and played 90 minutes in Bengaluru's 2-0 win over Shillong Lajong. Started and played 90 minutes, scoring 2 goals in Bengaluru's 2-2 draw with Sporting Goa.
Jorge Claros - Alajuelense - Costa Rica - Started and played 90 minutes in Alajuelense's 4-0 win over Uruguay.
Eloy Colombano - AD Berazategui - Offseason.
Daneil Cyrus - W Connection - Tied Morvant Caledonia United 2-2.
Toni Dovale - CD Leganes - Spain - Did not dress in Leganes' 3-0 win over Albacete.
Pablo Escobar - Jaguares de Córdoba - Colombia - Did not play in either of Jaguares games.
Luis Gil - Queretaro - Mexico - Came off the bench and played 20 minutes in Queretaro's 2-0 loss to Chivas.
Jeferson - Madureira EC - Brazil - Did not dress in Madureira's 0-0 draw with Resende.
Will John - RoPS - Finland - No game until 4/2.
Igor Juliao - Ferroviária - Brazil - Did not dress in Ferroviaria's 2-1 loss to Novorizontino.
Chris Konopka - Ross County - Scotland - Just signed with club.
Igor Kostrov - Dinamo-Auto - Moldova - Did not dress in Dinamo's 0-0 draw with Milsami.
Luis Marin - CD Palestino - Chile - Started and played 45 minutes before being red carded in Palestino's 1-1 draw with O'Higgins.
Neven Markovic - KS Lechia Gdansk - Poland - Did not dress in either of Lechia's games.
Krisztian Nemeth - Al-Gharafa - Qatar - Started and played 90 minutes in Al Gharafa's 1-1 draw with Al Sadd.
Erik Palmer-Brown - Porto (loan) - Portugal -Dressed but did not play in Porto B's 0-0 draw with Olhanense.
Pablo Punyed - IBV - Iceland - Lost 3-1 to Stjarnan.
Oriol Rosell - Vitoria (Sporting Club de Portugal) Portugal - Did not dress in Vitoria's 2-0 loss to Academica.
Brendan Ruiz - DJK Don Bosco Bamberg - Germany - Came off the bench and played 36 minutes in Don Bosco's 2-2 draw wtih Wurzburger FC.
Soony Saad - Pattaya United (BEC Tero Sasana) - Thailand - Started and had a goal in Pattaya's 2-1 loss to Chonburi.
Peter Schmetz - Wuppertaler SV - Germany - Started and played 90 minutes in Wuppertaler's 1-0 loss to 1.FC Monchengladbach.
Kevin Souter - Deveronvale FC - Scotland - Game against Cove Rangers was postponed.
Martin Steuble - Ceres-La Salle - Philippines - Offseason.
Milos Stojcev - Atromitos - Greece - Dressed but did not play in Atromitos' 2-0 loss to Panathinaikos.
Matt Taylor - Saarbrücken - Germany - Started and played 65 minutes in Saarbrucken's 1-0 win over Pirmasens.
Tuesday, March 08, 2016
Sporting Announce Rubio Loan Deal
Sporting KC today made official the news that came out last week during the media event at No Other Pub, that the club had acquired Chilean striker, Diego Rubio as a young designated player. The updated information on the move is that Rubio will be on loan to Sporting from Spanish club, Real Valladolid. Rubio has appeared 14 times for the club so far this season in Spain where the club sits in mid-table in the country's second division.
The loan is only through the end of June, and contains an option for Sporting KC to purchase his contract outright. It's interesting that the loan is only through June 30, but in a way it also makes sense if Valladolid really wants to move him, their primary window in the summer is a much better market for them. So KC will be on a short time window of deciding if they want to keep the Chilean. Of course it could work out like the Philadelphia Union's deal with Fernardo Aristeguieta, who was loaned for only a couple months, but ended up having it extended for the whole MLS season.
As a whole though, I like the idea of a loan move for Rubio, and has the option to purchase if KC is that interested and if he does well. It's a move with a smaller risk, because if he doesn't impress you aren't stuck with him on a designated player contract for an extended period of time. Similar to when KC brought Jeferson in near mid-season of the 2011 season, KC will get to try before they buy.
Rubio has had some success scoring; he's produced 37 goals and 15 assists in his professional career so far with six different clubs. He's seemed to struggle to get continuous time with the clubs he's signed for. It also appears that he may have left his original professional club in Chile, Colo Colo too early for the bright lights of Europe. Still, he has had some success and has even earned some call ups to the Chilean national team.
His addition will provide Dom Dwyer with some support, and will probably at least give the illusion that there is the chance of a goal coming from the bench if need be, something KC didn't have last year.
The loan is only through the end of June, and contains an option for Sporting KC to purchase his contract outright. It's interesting that the loan is only through June 30, but in a way it also makes sense if Valladolid really wants to move him, their primary window in the summer is a much better market for them. So KC will be on a short time window of deciding if they want to keep the Chilean. Of course it could work out like the Philadelphia Union's deal with Fernardo Aristeguieta, who was loaned for only a couple months, but ended up having it extended for the whole MLS season.
As a whole though, I like the idea of a loan move for Rubio, and has the option to purchase if KC is that interested and if he does well. It's a move with a smaller risk, because if he doesn't impress you aren't stuck with him on a designated player contract for an extended period of time. Similar to when KC brought Jeferson in near mid-season of the 2011 season, KC will get to try before they buy.
Rubio has had some success scoring; he's produced 37 goals and 15 assists in his professional career so far with six different clubs. He's seemed to struggle to get continuous time with the clubs he's signed for. It also appears that he may have left his original professional club in Chile, Colo Colo too early for the bright lights of Europe. Still, he has had some success and has even earned some call ups to the Chilean national team.
His addition will provide Dom Dwyer with some support, and will probably at least give the illusion that there is the chance of a goal coming from the bench if need be, something KC didn't have last year.
Monday, March 07, 2016
S.A.S. Monday After Stats
Sporting KC's last three opening goals have been scored by central defenders (2014 - Aurelien Collin, 2015 - Ike Opara, 2016 - Nuno Coelho).
Chance Myers hit the 10,000 minute mark for his career in the 40th minute, he's the 17th player to hit that mark.
In the 61st minute, Myers moved past Diego Gutierrez and into 17th place for minutes played in all competitions, Myers finished the game with 12,276 minutes played.
Myers made his 109th league start for KC, breaking his tie with Gutierrez for 19th on that list.
In the 30th minute, Roger Espinoza moved past Gutierrez and into 18th place for minutes played in league play, he finished the game with 9,824 minutes played.
Espinoza made his 151st appearance in all competitions for KC, breaking his tie with Chris Brown for 17th all time on that list.
Espinoza made his 111th start in league play for KC, breaking his tie with Jose Burciaga for 17th on that list.
Chance Myers hit the 10,000 minute mark for his career in the 40th minute, he's the 17th player to hit that mark.
In the 61st minute, Myers moved past Diego Gutierrez and into 17th place for minutes played in all competitions, Myers finished the game with 12,276 minutes played.
Myers made his 109th league start for KC, breaking his tie with Gutierrez for 19th on that list.
In the 30th minute, Roger Espinoza moved past Gutierrez and into 18th place for minutes played in league play, he finished the game with 9,824 minutes played.
Espinoza made his 151st appearance in all competitions for KC, breaking his tie with Chris Brown for 17th all time on that list.
Espinoza made his 111th start in league play for KC, breaking his tie with Jose Burciaga for 17th on that list.
Sunday, March 06, 2016
Sporting Top Seattle in Season Opener
Sporting Kansas City opened the season with a win for the first time since 2013 thanks to a Nuno Coelho goal and a red card to Oniel Fisher. Kansas City took advantage of a first half red card by Fisher to alleviate the pressure on their back line that Seattle was putting them under for much of the first half and finally found the break through thanks to a long distance shot by Coelho that went under the arms of Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Frei and into the net.
Seattle came out on the front foot in the game, pinning Kansas City back in their own end allowing them very little going forward. In just the eighth minute the Sounders had the first good chance as Jordan Morris got played in on goal after Seattle did a good job of switching fields, but after dribbling into the box, Morris skied his effort over the bar. A few minutes later, Seattle won a free kick near the top of the box. Clint Dempsey stepped up and curled the ball over the wall and towards goal, but Tim Melia did well to tip the ball over the bar for a corner. On the ensuing corner, Chad Marshall beat his man and put his header off the cross bar. Melia was able to come up with the rebound off the bar and KC was finally able to clear their lines after two dangerous efforts from Seattle. KC's best chance of the first half came shortly after when Connor Hallisey got played in on goal on a cross field ball. Hallisey though looked to take his shot too quickly, firing first time when he probably had time to take a touch and it was easily handled by the goalkeeper.
Seattle was forcing a lot of the first half play to go down KC's left side, through Hallisey and the second year man struggled at times against Seattle and against their right back, Fisher. That all changed in the 41st minute though. Hallisey caused a turnover near midfield and raced down the line to catch up to the ball. Him and Brad Evans both slid for the ball, but Hallisey is the one that was able to get back to his feet first and go back inside. Fisher came sliding in with both feet out, getting the ball, but also getting Hallisey. Referee, Alan Kelly did not hesitate, immediately going to his back pocket and producing the red card for the two footed tackle by Fisher.
The second half saw KC attempt to control possession with the man advantage, but it was Seattle that was able to create the best chance early in the half as in the 53rd minute Andreas Ivanschitz fired a shot from distance that Melia could only parry onto his cross bar. Nelson Valdez following the play tried for a bicycle kick but put his effort over the goal from inside the six, although he was offside on the play. KC started to come into the game more as the half progressed, Roger Espinoza had an effort saved as it was headed into the net by Evans in the 63rd. Two minutes later, Espinoza had another good chance as he moved around a couple defenders, but this time fired just wide of the post to keep the scores level. In the 73rd minute all the possession for KC finally paid off. After a long string of passes by KC, Jordi Quintilla played a simple square ball to Coelho who took a touch forward and fired a shot from about 30 yards out. Coelho's shot squeezed in underneath Frei on the wet surface and went into the far corner to put KC on top 1-0. Seattle had a few chances over the final 17 minutes but were unable to find the net as Sporting KC walked out of Seattle with only their second road win in the series, a series that has seen every win decided by a single goal by either team.
-Wizards Man of the Match - Tim Melia - Came up with big saves when Kansas City needed him to with superb saves on Dempsey and Ivanschitz. Controlled his box and controlled the back line giving them the shutout.
Honorable Mention - Nuno Coelho, Matt Besler
Player Ratings - Melia 8, Dia 5, Besler 6, Coleho 8, Myers 5, Mustivar 6, Espinoza 6, Quintilla 6, Hallisey 5, Dwyer 4, Zusi 5. Subs Medranda NR.
Seattle came out on the front foot in the game, pinning Kansas City back in their own end allowing them very little going forward. In just the eighth minute the Sounders had the first good chance as Jordan Morris got played in on goal after Seattle did a good job of switching fields, but after dribbling into the box, Morris skied his effort over the bar. A few minutes later, Seattle won a free kick near the top of the box. Clint Dempsey stepped up and curled the ball over the wall and towards goal, but Tim Melia did well to tip the ball over the bar for a corner. On the ensuing corner, Chad Marshall beat his man and put his header off the cross bar. Melia was able to come up with the rebound off the bar and KC was finally able to clear their lines after two dangerous efforts from Seattle. KC's best chance of the first half came shortly after when Connor Hallisey got played in on goal on a cross field ball. Hallisey though looked to take his shot too quickly, firing first time when he probably had time to take a touch and it was easily handled by the goalkeeper.
Seattle was forcing a lot of the first half play to go down KC's left side, through Hallisey and the second year man struggled at times against Seattle and against their right back, Fisher. That all changed in the 41st minute though. Hallisey caused a turnover near midfield and raced down the line to catch up to the ball. Him and Brad Evans both slid for the ball, but Hallisey is the one that was able to get back to his feet first and go back inside. Fisher came sliding in with both feet out, getting the ball, but also getting Hallisey. Referee, Alan Kelly did not hesitate, immediately going to his back pocket and producing the red card for the two footed tackle by Fisher.
The second half saw KC attempt to control possession with the man advantage, but it was Seattle that was able to create the best chance early in the half as in the 53rd minute Andreas Ivanschitz fired a shot from distance that Melia could only parry onto his cross bar. Nelson Valdez following the play tried for a bicycle kick but put his effort over the goal from inside the six, although he was offside on the play. KC started to come into the game more as the half progressed, Roger Espinoza had an effort saved as it was headed into the net by Evans in the 63rd. Two minutes later, Espinoza had another good chance as he moved around a couple defenders, but this time fired just wide of the post to keep the scores level. In the 73rd minute all the possession for KC finally paid off. After a long string of passes by KC, Jordi Quintilla played a simple square ball to Coelho who took a touch forward and fired a shot from about 30 yards out. Coelho's shot squeezed in underneath Frei on the wet surface and went into the far corner to put KC on top 1-0. Seattle had a few chances over the final 17 minutes but were unable to find the net as Sporting KC walked out of Seattle with only their second road win in the series, a series that has seen every win decided by a single goal by either team.
-Wizards Man of the Match - Tim Melia - Came up with big saves when Kansas City needed him to with superb saves on Dempsey and Ivanschitz. Controlled his box and controlled the back line giving them the shutout.
Honorable Mention - Nuno Coelho, Matt Besler
Player Ratings - Melia 8, Dia 5, Besler 6, Coleho 8, Myers 5, Mustivar 6, Espinoza 6, Quintilla 6, Hallisey 5, Dwyer 4, Zusi 5. Subs Medranda NR.
Saturday, March 05, 2016
Match Day 1: 2016 Really Begins
The preseason is over and tomorrow Sporting KC take the field for their first game of the 2016 regular season against the Seattle Sounders. The match will be the second time in the last three years that Sporting KC has opened against the Sounders. KC lost the 2014 season opener to the Sounders 1-0 on late Chad Barrett goal. The late goal, a staple of KC vs Seattle games was yet another gut punch in a history or late gut punches by Seattle in games against KC.
While KC is getting ready for their first game of the season, the Sounders have already played two competitive games. The Sounders were in the knock out phase of the CONCACAF Champions League against Mexican side Club America. The Sounders took the lead twice in their home leg but twice allowed equalizers, one after just a minute of play as the first leg ended 2-2. In the second leg the Sounders again took a 1-0 lead but allowed an equalizer only a minute later and then gave up the lead before half time was even reached. The Sounders ended up falling 3-1 in the second leg and 5-3 on aggregate. Seattle did make it through the series with only one injury that will affect Sunday, Erik Friberg who is being monitored for a concussion and could miss the game. His absence will be felt for the Sounders who would in turn have to start journeyman Nathan Sturgis or 20 year old Cristian Roldan in his spot.
Kansas City has a few more knocks that they're dealing with that could have an effect on the lineup come tomorrow. Sporting currently have five players listed as questionable on this week's injury report including three players that you'd expect to start tomorrow if they're healthy, Brad Davis, Benny Feilhaber, and Seth Sinovic. I'd expect at least one, if not more of those three to be able to go tomorrow, but they're sitting out since it is so early would not be a surprise either. The other surprise in the lineup appears that it could be Jordi Quintilla playing in the defensive midfield position. Quintilla spent time there in preseason with Kansas City and could be in line for the start tomorrow.
Number to Remember - 12-5-3 - Sporting's record in season openers over the 20 prior seasons for Kansas City. Their 0-1-1 over the last two years including the 1-0 loss to Seattle in the 2014 opener.
Key Match Up - Dom Dwyer vs Chad Marshall - The Seattle center back had a good seven inches on Sporting's center back. With the new wingers for Kansas City designed for more crosses the match up between the two will be interesting. Dwyer has won contests with guys that are plenty bigger than him, but Dwyer able to get away from him and matched up against Brad Evans instead would certainly work to his advantage.
PREDICTION - This will be a good test for both teams right out of the gate. Kansas City will have to deal with Seattle's three forwards of Clint Dempsey, Nelson Valdez, and Jordan Morris. While that doesn't include the Nigerian Obafemi Martins it is still going to be a hand full for Sporting's back line to deal with. For Seattle, it's having to deal with a bit of a change in style for Sporting KC as they do more work down the wings and crossing instead of the cutting in that as they did a lot last year. KC has the players that can create chances, the big question will be whether they can get enough finishes out of all those chances created. That said with this being the first game of the season I think both teams will be hesitant to show too much and there will be a lot of feeling out.
SKC - 0
SEA - 1 (Dempsey)
While KC is getting ready for their first game of the season, the Sounders have already played two competitive games. The Sounders were in the knock out phase of the CONCACAF Champions League against Mexican side Club America. The Sounders took the lead twice in their home leg but twice allowed equalizers, one after just a minute of play as the first leg ended 2-2. In the second leg the Sounders again took a 1-0 lead but allowed an equalizer only a minute later and then gave up the lead before half time was even reached. The Sounders ended up falling 3-1 in the second leg and 5-3 on aggregate. Seattle did make it through the series with only one injury that will affect Sunday, Erik Friberg who is being monitored for a concussion and could miss the game. His absence will be felt for the Sounders who would in turn have to start journeyman Nathan Sturgis or 20 year old Cristian Roldan in his spot.
Kansas City has a few more knocks that they're dealing with that could have an effect on the lineup come tomorrow. Sporting currently have five players listed as questionable on this week's injury report including three players that you'd expect to start tomorrow if they're healthy, Brad Davis, Benny Feilhaber, and Seth Sinovic. I'd expect at least one, if not more of those three to be able to go tomorrow, but they're sitting out since it is so early would not be a surprise either. The other surprise in the lineup appears that it could be Jordi Quintilla playing in the defensive midfield position. Quintilla spent time there in preseason with Kansas City and could be in line for the start tomorrow.
Peterson - Dwyer - Zusi
Feilhaber - Espinoza
Quintilla
Dia - Besler - Coelho - Myers
Melia
Number to Remember - 12-5-3 - Sporting's record in season openers over the 20 prior seasons for Kansas City. Their 0-1-1 over the last two years including the 1-0 loss to Seattle in the 2014 opener.
Key Match Up - Dom Dwyer vs Chad Marshall - The Seattle center back had a good seven inches on Sporting's center back. With the new wingers for Kansas City designed for more crosses the match up between the two will be interesting. Dwyer has won contests with guys that are plenty bigger than him, but Dwyer able to get away from him and matched up against Brad Evans instead would certainly work to his advantage.
PREDICTION - This will be a good test for both teams right out of the gate. Kansas City will have to deal with Seattle's three forwards of Clint Dempsey, Nelson Valdez, and Jordan Morris. While that doesn't include the Nigerian Obafemi Martins it is still going to be a hand full for Sporting's back line to deal with. For Seattle, it's having to deal with a bit of a change in style for Sporting KC as they do more work down the wings and crossing instead of the cutting in that as they did a lot last year. KC has the players that can create chances, the big question will be whether they can get enough finishes out of all those chances created. That said with this being the first game of the season I think both teams will be hesitant to show too much and there will be a lot of feeling out.
SKC - 0
SEA - 1 (Dempsey)
Sporting KC Season Preview - Outlook
On the eve of the 2016 MLS season kicking off it's certainly hard to contain excitement for the game and the season. As with most sports there is always that feeling of optimism heading into the new season, feeling that if things just go your way, if you can avoid some key injuries and get lucky at just the right time at the end of the season you'll be the ones that are lifting the trophy celebrating the title. That feeling may not be any greater than in MLS, where with all of its parity a team can go from missing the playoffs to lifting MLS Cup in a single season.
For Sporting Kansas City it doesn't have to be that hard for them, the club made the playoffs in 2015 and it took a penalty kick going off of both posts in a shootout against the team that would eventually lift MLS Cup. KC addressed arguably their biggest need heading into the 2016 season, when they acquired Nuno Andre Coelho to add some depth to KC's center back position, which has taken a beating over the past two seasons. They also kept some important parts from the 2015 season as well, re-signing Soni Mustivar to a new contract after he'd been named co-defender of the year in 2015. The club also looked to add more true wing play to their system in 2016 adding both Brad Davis and Justin Mapp to the roster to serve more balls into the box. On the other hand the club lost their second leading scorer, selling Krisztian Nemeth to Qatar in a situation that became a he said/she said of why he left. Hopefully the recently announced, but not yet official, signing of Diego Rubio will help in supplementing the goals that KC will lose from Nemeth. What he doesn't fill can likely be done by the committee of Davis, Mapp, and Graham Zusi scoring more than two this year.
With those additions and subtractions, KC currently sits with 26 players on their roster, two under the maximum roster size. The club will also likely be loaning a couple players to the Swope Park Rangers, with Jon Kempin and Jimmy Medranda being the prime candidates to at least start the season there. With the new rules about loans and call ups from the USL teams KC could very well keep spots open on the chance they need to utilize those loans, or if they feel that they want to sign one of them to the first team. With the roster as it currently is, here's a shot at the "best XI" for Sporting KC once the season starts (note this isn't the lineup I expect in the opener tomorrow considering KC's current injuries).
The big question for KC fans is how the club will do in 2016. I know there are plenty of people that are down on the club at this time, they don't feel the club has done enough to make the team better than it was last year. The pieces added may make up for the pieces lost, but the feeling seems to be that the club has not taken themselves to that next level while teams around them in the West have brought in players looking to improve their team even more. The big issue here is that like prior years KC has done their acquiring of players early, bringing in Davis and Mapp early in the offseason, Coelho was also an early addition before other teams really got going with their additions. This is one thing that has caused some concern, a case of "what have you done lately."
In the end though has KC done enough to improve on their chances for last year? For me I still feel that Kansas City is a playoff team, the team has added quality veterans to the team that will help to replace Nemeth's goal scoring. It'll be by committee, but the goals will come. That said, those same veterans could very well be KC's downfall. Kansas City has brought in six players so far this season, with Rubio being the seventh. Of those six players, four of them are 30 or older (Coelho, Davis, Mapp, and Lawrence Olum), and three of those four are expected to be impact contributors. Will Kansas City's veterans have enough fuel in the tank by the end of the season?
The talk at media day was about the changes in training and how the club doesn't want to reach "peak" fitness until the summer. So hopefully that will allow for some of the worries about the fitness of KC's roster with it's age to be negated, but we'll have to see.
For me, Kansas City makes the playoffs for the sixth straight season, but it will be close, KC will be in a dog fight to clinch one of the final playoff berths. And it will unfortunately be another early exit in the playoffs in 2016 for Sporting. I just don't feel that overall KC has done enough to get to that next level. The goal scoring, while it'll be okay, will be quite reliant on Dom Dwyer. And with KC picking up more true wingers to play on the wing, Dwyer is going to find himself much more isolated this season, which will limit his chances more.
For Sporting Kansas City it doesn't have to be that hard for them, the club made the playoffs in 2015 and it took a penalty kick going off of both posts in a shootout against the team that would eventually lift MLS Cup. KC addressed arguably their biggest need heading into the 2016 season, when they acquired Nuno Andre Coelho to add some depth to KC's center back position, which has taken a beating over the past two seasons. They also kept some important parts from the 2015 season as well, re-signing Soni Mustivar to a new contract after he'd been named co-defender of the year in 2015. The club also looked to add more true wing play to their system in 2016 adding both Brad Davis and Justin Mapp to the roster to serve more balls into the box. On the other hand the club lost their second leading scorer, selling Krisztian Nemeth to Qatar in a situation that became a he said/she said of why he left. Hopefully the recently announced, but not yet official, signing of Diego Rubio will help in supplementing the goals that KC will lose from Nemeth. What he doesn't fill can likely be done by the committee of Davis, Mapp, and Graham Zusi scoring more than two this year.
With those additions and subtractions, KC currently sits with 26 players on their roster, two under the maximum roster size. The club will also likely be loaning a couple players to the Swope Park Rangers, with Jon Kempin and Jimmy Medranda being the prime candidates to at least start the season there. With the new rules about loans and call ups from the USL teams KC could very well keep spots open on the chance they need to utilize those loans, or if they feel that they want to sign one of them to the first team. With the roster as it currently is, here's a shot at the "best XI" for Sporting KC once the season starts (note this isn't the lineup I expect in the opener tomorrow considering KC's current injuries).
Davis - Dwyer - Zusi
Feilhaber - Espinoza
Mustivar
Sinovic - Besler - Coelho - Myers
Melia
The big question for KC fans is how the club will do in 2016. I know there are plenty of people that are down on the club at this time, they don't feel the club has done enough to make the team better than it was last year. The pieces added may make up for the pieces lost, but the feeling seems to be that the club has not taken themselves to that next level while teams around them in the West have brought in players looking to improve their team even more. The big issue here is that like prior years KC has done their acquiring of players early, bringing in Davis and Mapp early in the offseason, Coelho was also an early addition before other teams really got going with their additions. This is one thing that has caused some concern, a case of "what have you done lately."
In the end though has KC done enough to improve on their chances for last year? For me I still feel that Kansas City is a playoff team, the team has added quality veterans to the team that will help to replace Nemeth's goal scoring. It'll be by committee, but the goals will come. That said, those same veterans could very well be KC's downfall. Kansas City has brought in six players so far this season, with Rubio being the seventh. Of those six players, four of them are 30 or older (Coelho, Davis, Mapp, and Lawrence Olum), and three of those four are expected to be impact contributors. Will Kansas City's veterans have enough fuel in the tank by the end of the season?
The talk at media day was about the changes in training and how the club doesn't want to reach "peak" fitness until the summer. So hopefully that will allow for some of the worries about the fitness of KC's roster with it's age to be negated, but we'll have to see.
For me, Kansas City makes the playoffs for the sixth straight season, but it will be close, KC will be in a dog fight to clinch one of the final playoff berths. And it will unfortunately be another early exit in the playoffs in 2016 for Sporting. I just don't feel that overall KC has done enough to get to that next level. The goal scoring, while it'll be okay, will be quite reliant on Dom Dwyer. And with KC picking up more true wingers to play on the wing, Dwyer is going to find himself much more isolated this season, which will limit his chances more.
Friday, March 04, 2016
A Few Words on the Retiring Davy Arnaud
A Sporting Kansas City legend retired from the game yesterday, former team captain, Davy Arnaud retired from professional soccer yesterday after 14 MLS seasons due to concussions. Arnaud, who spent most of his career with Sporting KC/KC Wizards, had spent the last four seasons split between the Montreal Impact and DC United. When Arnaud left Kansas City he did so as the club's all-time leader in league appearances, third in appearances in all competitions, third in starts in league play and all competitions, third in minutes played in league and all competitions, second for goals scored in league play and in all competitions, and was club captain for the 2010 and 2011 seasons. A long list of accomplishments that should see him elected as a Sporting Legend in the near future on those stats alone, but it's not just the stats that made him a legend in the minds of Sporting KC supporters, it was more than that. For those that jumped on the bandwagon that is Sporting KC a little later, Arnaud's role in the team may not be as well known, but he truly is a club legend.
Arnaud was selected in the 5th round of the 2002 MLS Superdraft, the 50th overall pick, with the likes of Erik Ozimek and Christof Lindenmayer drafted around him. The odds of him making the Kansas City Wizards roster, let alone having a long career were not overly in his favor. While rookies in MLS now make much better wages, the lowest being between $50,000 and $60,000 when Arnaud broke into the league players closer to $10,000 a year as a professional player. Players took second jobs, coached youth soccer in the area, and most times usually burned out quickly to take a job in a profession that would pay them more. Arnaud though stuck around through those early years, making just three appearances in his rookie year. His sophomore season though he made 18 appearances making seven starts for KC in league play. His breakout season though came in 2004, thanks to injuries to both Preki and Igor Simutenkov; Arnaud started all 30 of KC's games, scoring nine goals. He then added two goals in KC's run to MLS Cup that year, and another three in KC's run to their first US Open Cup championship for a total of 14. That season he'd spent most of his time as a forward partnering Josh Wolff up top for Kansas City. After the 2004 season though Arnaud started to drop further back on the field. He spent plenty of time over the next few years at forward, but his primary position shifted to the attacking midfield and wing position depending on how Kansas City was playing. He started at least 22 games for KC from 2004 all the way through 2010 scoring from a high of nine to a low of four in those years, always getting over 2,000 minutes played in each of those seasons.
In 2010, Peter Vermes, newly named permanent head coach of the club named Arnaud the club's captain, which he was for his final two seasons with the club. The 2010 season though was a little rough on Arnaud as he picked up three of his four career red cards in that season. In 2011 Arnaud missed quite a bit of time with injury and only started 16 games of the club's first as Sporting KC. He still started 16 games and played in 22, but failed to score a goal for the first time since his rookie season in 2002 as he'd moved further back on the field and was playing more of a box-to-box role. In the offseason, Arnaud ended up being traded to the Montreal Impact so that Kansas City could re-acquire Seth Sinovic, who had been selected by Montreal in the expansion draft. It was a move that frustrated some fans who really wanted to see Arnaud be a "one club player" spending his entire career in Kansas City. For all parties at the time though it was a good move, Arnaud had lost his spot as a starter as KC moved in a different direction with the team and Arnaud was able to become a starter with Montreal and scored the first goal in the club's history. After two years in Montreal Arnaud was traded to DC in exchange for an international spot where Arnaud played out his final two years. He missed a lot of time late in the season last year due to the concussions that ended his career. In the end, Arnaud was one of the league's true success stories going from making basically pennies to ending his career making over $200,000 a season.
Internationally Arnaud was able to break into the US team in 2007 after continual good performances for KC. In total Arnaud played seven times for the US team, most of those coming at the 2009 Gold Cup, where he scored his only international goal in a 2-2 draw with Haiti in the group stage.
All of this is why Kansas City fans loved Arnaud. He was a guy that "came good," someone that worked their way from the bottom and made it to the top. He was never the most skilled player for Kansas City or any of the other teams he played for, but it was his determination and drive on the field that really helped him to succeed. It was his workman like, blue collar style of play that worked really well with a KC Wizards team that really didn't have a "star." And that style also worked extremely well with the fans. He played with a fire that few players could do, he was intense, sometimes to a fault, and a drive to lift the team. When I got involved in the Cauldron originally back in late 2004 and 2005, Arnaud was one of the first players (along with Jimmy Conrad) that really endeared themselves to me as a fan in the group. He seemed to understand the importance of the small group of diehards in the corner. He returned the love that the Cauldron gave to KC fans. Arnaud will go down as one of the greatest players to play for Sporting KC and it's completely deserved.
While it will never go down in the record books, he's arguably scored one of the biggest goals in Kansas City history as well, in front of over 50,000 people at Arrowhead he scored to give Kansas City a 1-0 lead over Manchester United on their way to a 2-1 win in 2010. Certainly arguments can be made that the goal really helped to put the then Wizards on the minds more of sports fans in the city.
And who could forget the yearly Davy Arnaud/Jack Jewsbury best friends stories and videos (FYI Jewsbury won it 6 to 3).
Arnaud was selected in the 5th round of the 2002 MLS Superdraft, the 50th overall pick, with the likes of Erik Ozimek and Christof Lindenmayer drafted around him. The odds of him making the Kansas City Wizards roster, let alone having a long career were not overly in his favor. While rookies in MLS now make much better wages, the lowest being between $50,000 and $60,000 when Arnaud broke into the league players closer to $10,000 a year as a professional player. Players took second jobs, coached youth soccer in the area, and most times usually burned out quickly to take a job in a profession that would pay them more. Arnaud though stuck around through those early years, making just three appearances in his rookie year. His sophomore season though he made 18 appearances making seven starts for KC in league play. His breakout season though came in 2004, thanks to injuries to both Preki and Igor Simutenkov; Arnaud started all 30 of KC's games, scoring nine goals. He then added two goals in KC's run to MLS Cup that year, and another three in KC's run to their first US Open Cup championship for a total of 14. That season he'd spent most of his time as a forward partnering Josh Wolff up top for Kansas City. After the 2004 season though Arnaud started to drop further back on the field. He spent plenty of time over the next few years at forward, but his primary position shifted to the attacking midfield and wing position depending on how Kansas City was playing. He started at least 22 games for KC from 2004 all the way through 2010 scoring from a high of nine to a low of four in those years, always getting over 2,000 minutes played in each of those seasons.
In 2010, Peter Vermes, newly named permanent head coach of the club named Arnaud the club's captain, which he was for his final two seasons with the club. The 2010 season though was a little rough on Arnaud as he picked up three of his four career red cards in that season. In 2011 Arnaud missed quite a bit of time with injury and only started 16 games of the club's first as Sporting KC. He still started 16 games and played in 22, but failed to score a goal for the first time since his rookie season in 2002 as he'd moved further back on the field and was playing more of a box-to-box role. In the offseason, Arnaud ended up being traded to the Montreal Impact so that Kansas City could re-acquire Seth Sinovic, who had been selected by Montreal in the expansion draft. It was a move that frustrated some fans who really wanted to see Arnaud be a "one club player" spending his entire career in Kansas City. For all parties at the time though it was a good move, Arnaud had lost his spot as a starter as KC moved in a different direction with the team and Arnaud was able to become a starter with Montreal and scored the first goal in the club's history. After two years in Montreal Arnaud was traded to DC in exchange for an international spot where Arnaud played out his final two years. He missed a lot of time late in the season last year due to the concussions that ended his career. In the end, Arnaud was one of the league's true success stories going from making basically pennies to ending his career making over $200,000 a season.
Internationally Arnaud was able to break into the US team in 2007 after continual good performances for KC. In total Arnaud played seven times for the US team, most of those coming at the 2009 Gold Cup, where he scored his only international goal in a 2-2 draw with Haiti in the group stage.
All of this is why Kansas City fans loved Arnaud. He was a guy that "came good," someone that worked their way from the bottom and made it to the top. He was never the most skilled player for Kansas City or any of the other teams he played for, but it was his determination and drive on the field that really helped him to succeed. It was his workman like, blue collar style of play that worked really well with a KC Wizards team that really didn't have a "star." And that style also worked extremely well with the fans. He played with a fire that few players could do, he was intense, sometimes to a fault, and a drive to lift the team. When I got involved in the Cauldron originally back in late 2004 and 2005, Arnaud was one of the first players (along with Jimmy Conrad) that really endeared themselves to me as a fan in the group. He seemed to understand the importance of the small group of diehards in the corner. He returned the love that the Cauldron gave to KC fans. Arnaud will go down as one of the greatest players to play for Sporting KC and it's completely deserved.
While it will never go down in the record books, he's arguably scored one of the biggest goals in Kansas City history as well, in front of over 50,000 people at Arrowhead he scored to give Kansas City a 1-0 lead over Manchester United on their way to a 2-1 win in 2010. Certainly arguments can be made that the goal really helped to put the then Wizards on the minds more of sports fans in the city.
And who could forget the yearly Davy Arnaud/Jack Jewsbury best friends stories and videos (FYI Jewsbury won it 6 to 3).
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