League

Beyond The Box Score: Defeat despite unprecedented dominance

It's safe to say that Sporting Kansas City's 1-0 defeat to the Colorado Rapids on Saturday has produced one of the most eye-opening box scores of the 2017 MLS season.


Manager Peter Vermes' men laid siege on the Rapids' goal for extended periods throughout the night, amassing 25 shot attempts and 73 percent possession with almost all of the game's action in Colorado's half.


Much to the chagrin of Sporting Kansas City, however, that dominance did not translate into a single point. The team still occupies first place in the Western Conference, and the Rapids remain the West's cellar dwellers, but the gap between the sides could have been even larger had the visitors converted their superiority into goals.


Part of Colorado's success hinged on the team's ability to limit Sporting Kansas City to strikes from distance — strikes that were ultimately less likely to trouble goalkeeper Tim Howard. Sporting KC finished the evening with an astounding 21 shot attempts from outside the box, setting an Opta-era MLS record during the regular season (2010-present). 


MOST SHOTS FROM OUTSIDE THE BOX IN A SINGLE MATCH
MLS REGULAR SEASON (2010-PRESENT)

<strong>Shots</strong>
<strong>Team</strong>
<strong>Opponent</strong>
<strong>Date</strong>
<strong><em>21</em></strong>
<strong><em>Sporting KC</em></strong>
<strong><em>Colorado Rapids</em></strong>
<strong><em>05/27/2017</em></strong>
18
Philadelphia Union
Sporting KC
06/22/2011
17
New England Revolution
Real Salt Lake
10/02/2010
16
FC Dallas
D.C. United
07/18/2015
16
Colorado Rapids
Seattle Sounders FC
04/18/2015
15
nine teams

These long-range efforts were a product of Colorado's contentment to drop deep and defend in numbers. As a result, Sporting Kansas City made 437 passes in the attacking half of the field, the second most by an MLS team in a single match since 2010. The club's 628 total passes were its third-most in match over the last eight seasons.


MOST PASSES IN THE ATTACKING HALF IN A SINGLE MATCH
MLS REGULAR SEASON (2010-PRESENT)

PassesTeamOpponentDate
530Atlanta United FCChicago Fire03/18/2017
437Sporting KCColorado Rapids05/27/2017
430San Jose EarthquakesPortland Timbers04/16/2016
430Seattle Sounders FCNew England Revolution04/29/2017
428New York Red BullsMontreal Impact10/07/2015


It comes as little surprise that Sporting Kansas City's 73.1 percent edge in possession also enters the league history books as one of the most lopsided marks in a regular season contest.


LARGEST SHARE OF POSSESSION IN A SINGLE MATCH
MLS REGULAR SEASON (2010-PRESENT)

<strong>Poss.</strong>
<strong>Team</strong>
<strong>Opponent</strong>
<strong>Date</strong>
82.8%
Atlanta United FC
Chicago Fire
03/18/2017
77.8%
San Jose Earthquakes
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
03/11/2017
75.5%
Real Salt Lake
Chivas USA
05/06/2011
74.5%
Real Salt Lake
Chivas USA
10/22/2014
74.4%
Seattle Sounders FC
New England Revolution
04/29/2017
74.2%
Atlanta United FC
D.C. United
04/30/2017
73.8%
Sporting Kansas City
Chicago Fire
03/16/2013
73.8%
Real Salt Lake
Chivas USA
10/05/2014
73.3%
Sporting Kansas City
Toronto FC
09/01/2012
<strong><em>73.1%</em></strong>
<strong><em>Sporting Kansas City</em></strong>
<strong><em>Colorado Rapids</em></strong>
<strong><em>05/27/2017</em></strong>
73.1%
Chivas USA
FC Dallas
06/18/2011

Although the Rapids spent most of their time defending on Saturday, they proved exceptionally dangerous in dead-ball situations. Kortne Ford headed home Shkelzen Gashi's free kick for the game-winner in the 11 minute, accounting for one of Colorado's four chances created from set pieces. That total was the most by a Sporting KC opponent since July 2015.


"We actually dominated every category except scoring a goal," Vermes assessed postgame. "It’s tough to swallow when you play as well as we did and you walk away with zero. I’m disappointed for the guys because the effort, the level of play, and just a class game, but in the end, we couldn’t find the net. Colorado defended well, made some stops.


"Sometimes it’s cruel, and this is what happens. Run away from home and dominating a game like this, usually you get more, and sometimes a game is cruel. Tonight, it was cruel."