Sporting Kansas City enters the weekend with an eight-game unbeaten streak. The Vancouver Whitecaps have tied their previous four games and have yet to lose to an Eastern Conference team in 2014. To preview Sunday's clash between the two sides, we caught up with MLSsoccer.com's Matt Doyle. Sunday's match will kick off at 7 p.m. CT and can be seen locally on 38 the Spot and across the Midwest on SKCTV. Radio coverage is also available on Sports Radio 810 (English) and La Gran D 1340 AM (Spanish).
JF: What has been the key to Sporting Kansas City's recent road form?
MD: Two big things that have separated this year's Sporting from last year's: [Benny] Feilhaber can control the tempo of the game, and [Dom] Dwyer gets goals like a big-time, go-to striker. Last year's team could really only beat you consistently with set pieces and defense; this year's team has more clubs in the bag.
That said, last year's team may have been better because [Chance] Myers was just that important. Smart, relentless two-way fullbacks aren't a dime a dozen, and he was one of the more underrated players in the league at any position.
JF: What are your thoughts on Benny Feilhaber's play this season, specifically in July when he was voted MLS Player of the Month?
JT:I thought he earned that award. All due respect to [Graham] Zusi, [Matt] Besler, [Aurelien] Collin and [Dom] Dwyer, but Feilhaber's been the best player on the team since Day 1 this year, and is definitely, definitely in the running for a Best XI spot. He's always had a ton of potential, but only delivered upon it for the USMNT. Now that he's doing it for his club as well, he's a legitimate force.
And yes, I am still bummed he wasn't with the US in Brazil. He absolutely could have helped that team on both sides of the ball.
JF: Who are the key players to watch for on Vancouver's squad?
MD:It starts with Pedro Morales, who plays a similar role as Feilhaber but does it differently. He's one of the league's true long-ball artists, so he's always looking for big switches to the flanks in order to spread the field and get Vancouver's speedy attackers on the ball in space. You've got to get pressure to him quickly or he'll pick you apart.
The other guy to keep an eye on is Matias Laba, who is one of the best d-mids in the league at any age. I suspect he'll draw significant overseas interest soon, much in the way Uri Rosell did.
JF: What is the Whitecaps form heading into this match?
MD: Draws. Draws everywhere. They're in the midst of a leadership transition in the back, rebuilt their midfield and had to replace last year's Golden Boot winner up top. So they're staying in games and consistently getting results, but seem to lack just a little bit of that veteran savvy required to turn points into wins.
JF: What are you most looking forward to seeing from Sunday's match?
MD:Feilhaber vs. Morales. These are two of my favorite players in the league - exceptional talents who are worth the price of admission all by themselves.
JF: What do you expect to see from the match?
MD:I'm hoping for an open match - which I admit would suit the hosts, but hey, I'm an aesthete first and foremost.
The big thing from a Sporting point of view will twofold:
First, how quickly do they get pressure to Morales? You can't let him get time to pick a pass, because if he does, this happens.
Second, how high a line does Sporting play? It's dangerous to go too high on the field turf, especially against a team with attackers who love to run (Mattocks, Manneh, Hurtado). Leave too much space in behind, and it could get ugly - even for a team as good as KC.
