Krisztian Nemeth’s two goals were spectacular. Tim Melia was a monster between the posts. Matt Besler showed why he belongs on the U.S. Men’s National Team.
But on Saturday night when Peter Vermes reflected on his team’s previous seven days — a whirlwind stretch that saw Sporting Kansas city play three games across the country, earn four league points with makeshift lineups and win the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup title — no particular individual was singled out.
Instead, Vermes praised the collective contribution of the entire squad. After all, 21 different players featured prominently in matches against Seattle on Sept. 27, Philadelphia on Wednesday and Portland on Saturday.
Faced with three straight crucial games amidst an arduous travel schedule, little rest and lingering injuries, the club couldn’t have faired much better.
“It’s been a good week, for sure,” Vermes said in his post-game press conference after a 1-0 win over the Timbers. “I think the biggest positive about it [is] the manipulation of the roster — Sunday, Wednesday and today. The contribution from all the different guys we had on the field was fantastic.
“I think to me that’s probably the biggest positive thing going into the end of the season. We’ve given a lot of opportunities to a lot of guys throughout the course of this season due to the number of injuries we’ve had, and it’s paying off like we were hoping it would. The experience and guys being able to come in and contribute positively at this time of the year is really important.”
A statistical snapshot of the three-game period reveals how successful Sporting Kansas City was in utilizing its depth during the team’s most successful week in recent memory.
All 21 players started at least one match, and all but four featured at least twice. As the chart below demonstrates, each player had a legitimate contribution to the cause, and now Sporting Kansas City has another major trophy to show for it — not to mention a more comfortable standing in the Western Conference table.
“We don’t have much left in the tank but it was a heck of a week for us," Besler said Saturday night. "We left everything we had out on the field in both games and that’s all you can ask from your teammates and of your team. I think this is a week we can be proud of.”
SPORTING KC PLAYER STATISTICS (SEPT. 27 - OCT. 3, 2015)
<strong>PLAYER</strong> |
<strong>GP</strong> |
<strong>GS</strong> |
<strong>MIN</strong> |
<strong>DETAILS</strong> |
<strong>Kevin Ellis</strong> |
3 |
3 |
290 |
Led team with 290 minutes played; only one to start all 3 games; converted PK in USOC shootout |
<strong>Jordi Quintilla</strong> |
3 |
2 |
234 |
Earned his first 2 MLS starts, going full 90 in each; converted the winning PK in USOC shootout |
<strong>Tim Melia</strong> |
2 |
2 |
210 |
Made 7 saves then stopped 2 penalties in USOC shootout on Wed; made 6 saves on Sat and won MLS Player of the Week |
<strong>Matt Besler</strong> |
2 |
2 |
210 |
Anchored backline on Wed and Sat; converted PK in USOC shootout; had 9 clearances on Sat and was on MLS Team of the Week; has started in all 3 cup finals over last 4 years |
<strong>Benny Feilhaber</strong> |
2 |
2 |
210 |
Played 120 minutes on Wed and converted his PK in USOC shootout; played 90 minutes as holding midfielder on Sat |
<strong>Amadou Dia</strong> |
2 |
2 |
180 |
Recorded an assist on Sept. 27 (his first in MLS); led all players with 13 duels and 6 tackles on Sat |
<strong>Mikey Lopez</strong> |
2 |
2 |
180 |
Played the full 90 on Sept. 27 and Sat; had a good shot saved in 72nd min at Portland |
<strong>Jacob Peterson</strong> |
3 |
2 |
171 |
Earned a secondary assist on Sept. 27; one of 4 players to feature in all 3 games |
<strong>Paulo Nagamura</strong> |
2 |
2 |
165 |
Played holding midfielder on Sept. 27, then more advanced on Wed; converted his PK in USOC shootout |
<strong>Graham Zusi</strong> |
2 |
1 |
165 |
Assisted Nemeth's goals on Wed and Sat; converted his PK in USOC shootout; <span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">has started in all 3 cup finals over last 4 years</span> |
<strong>Bernardo Anor</strong> |
2 |
2 |
164 |
Led team with 7 shots over 2 MLS games, including three on goal on Sept. 27 |
<strong>Saad Abdul-Salaam</strong> |
3 |
1 |
156 |
One of 4 players to feature in all 3 games; had 9 duels won and 5 interceptions on Sat |
<strong>Krisztian Nemeth</strong> |
2 |
1 |
137 |
Scored spectacular goals on Wed and Sat |
<strong>Dom Dwyer</strong> |
2 |
1 |
136 |
Came off the bench to score equalizer on Sept. 27; converted his PK in USOC shootout |
<strong>Connor Hallisey</strong> |
2 |
2 |
135 |
Led all players with 3 chances created on Sept. 27 |
<strong>Chance Myers</strong> |
1 |
1 |
112 |
Played 112 minutes and recorded a secondary assist on Wed; <span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">has started in all 3 cup finals over last 4 years</span> |
<strong>Soni Mustivar</strong> |
2 |
1 |
111 |
Sparked an improved 2nd half from the team on Sept. 27; started and played 66 minutes on Wed |
<strong>Erik Palmer-Brown</strong> |
2 |
1 |
100 |
Led all players with 7 interceptions on Sept. 27 and became youngest player with 3+ MLS starts in 2015 |
<strong>Jon Kempin</strong> |
1 |
1 |
90 |
Produced an excellent 52nd-minute save against Dempsey on Sept. 27 |
<strong>Seth Sinovic</strong> |
1 |
1 |
78 |
Started and played 78 minutes on Wed; <span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">has started in all 3 cup finals over last 4 years</span> |
<strong>Jalil Anibaba</strong> |
1 |
1 |
66 |
Had 5 duels won and 3 interceptions on Sept. 27 in first start since June 21 |
