Sporting Kansas City will face the winner of the Houston Dynamo at the Chicago Fire on Wednesday, October 31, 2012. I recently spoke with Houston broadcaster Glenn Davis and Chicago commentator Evan Whitfield to preview the match. Sporting will travel to either Houston or Chicago for the first leg on Sunday, November 4, 2012 (NBC, Sports Radio 810 WHB) and return home for the second leg on Wednesday, November 7, 2012 (KSMO-TV, Sports Radio 810 WHB).
Glenn Davis
On the Dynamo's recent form
"I think the last few weeks of the season, quite frankly, was erratic. I think there was a lot of anxiety about the Dynamo getting into the playoffs. I think there's a lot of pressure that has to be dealt with and you hope to turn that pressure into good play. They had some sort of up and down results but they got the job done in the end. They aren't in the preferable position to be in, in fifth place. They went into the final game of the regular season at Colorado in a really strange situation already knowing they couldn't move their playoff positioning. They played a lot of reserves and guys who had not started so it wasn't a very cohesive game. It was more of a game of assessment for coaching staff than being anything that is that meaningful when it comes to a single elimination game against Chicago."
On Chicago Fire
"Interesting team. The Dynamo had two draws and a loss to them (this season). They certainly have some technical players who can cause problems; Patrick Nyarko, Chris Rolfe, and Alvaro Fernandez. They've got experience, a European and Mexican presence with Arne Friedrich and Pavel Pardo. I think it's going to be a very difficult game and close game. I get the sense it will be a one goal game in Chicago. They (Chicago) are kind of limping into this game. One thing to keep an eye on, Chicago hasn't has a great record in their last five games. They have to be kicking themselves for ending up in a single elimination playoff game when a couple of weeks ago they were as high as second place."
On Wednesday's match
"I think a lot of the normal things will be important. Teams that don't make any charitable mistakes, who are better off set pieces, who have eleven players on the same page collectively and cohesively, and are really up for the game mentality and attitude wise. Those are the things that separate a winner and a loser. A night of great goalkeeping could also be the difference."
On Keys for Houston
"I think the center of midfield. I think you have to look at Ricardo Clark and Adam Moffat. If the Dynamo go in a 4-4-2, those two will likely start in the middle. There's grit and determination with those two. Clark generally pushes a little bit higher in the attack in support of strikers. I think that's an area where those two players have to manage and control the field and distribute the ball out of the area well. They need to pick and choose their times to get forward. There must be some very good balance especially if Chicago is inviting them in."
"You gotta go to the Dynamo striker position and say will any specific striker step up here in the playoffs. Could it be a Will Bruin who goes on a goal scoring streak or Brian Ching who has provided real effectiveness off the bench in latter stages of games. He's almost a bit of a specialist now, coming in the final 20 minutes and effectively changed games more times than not. They are not a team that has dominant striker at this time in the season."
Evan Whitfield
On Chicago's recent form
"It's no secret that they have been struggling a bit these last few weeks."
"The regular season is over and the playoffs are almost a second season. The Fire need to take the downturn and recent performances past them with a little selective amnesia and start new for the playoffs."
On Wednesday's match
"I don't think its going to be this huge offensive foray on either side. I think It's going to be a lot of defense, lot of crossing, and kind of grinding it out. The Fire will be looking to score on a counter."
On Houston Dynamo
"From a mental standpoint, they may be coming into the game in a little better position. They rested players against Colorado and they knew they were coming in at the bottom anyway (fifth place)."
"They're going to be dangerous on set pieces, a lot of service from the wings, and the big guys Bruin and company in the middle banging away and getting their heads on crosses."
On Keys for Chicago
"They are going to need more consistent performances from Fernandez, Rolfe, and MacDonald. Fernandez and MacDonald are designated players and the team, quite rightly, is going to be looking to them to make impacts on the game. They need to be standout players. That's the difference. Chicago played against New York and won 2-0 because MacDonald scored on two breakaways. Against, DC a few weeks later, he (MacDonald) misses two breakaways and Fernandez missed a very good opportunity. They are getting really good performances from Sean Johnson and the defense. Logan Pause and Pardo, you know what you're going to get from them and Nyarko is a pretty consistent player. The difference is going to be in Rolfe, MacDonald, and Fernandez."
