Sporting Kansas City hosts the San Jose Earthquakes tonight at Sporting Park. Limited tickets are available and can be purchase at Ticketmaster.com, by calling 888-4KC-GOAL or by visiting the Sporting Park Box Office tonight.
To preview the match, we spoke with FOX Soccer's MLS Editor Kyle McCarthy:
Jonathon Feyerhem: What were your expectations for Sporting KC heading into the year?
Kyle McCarthy: I thought coming into the season that Sporting KC might need some time to get everything sorted out. There were a lot of changes during the offseason including the shift to the Westen Conference. There were enough factors where the club and team needed to adjust to the new reality. My expectations were that everything would get sorted and that Sporting KC would be a contender in the Western Conference. I think that’s proven true, especially as the summer has progressed. This is a tight race in the Western Conference and Sporting KC is right in the thick of it because they have found a way to produce results consistently - as they have in the past - and they have produced the sort of performances that keep them in the race for the top of the Western Conference and Supporters’ Shield.
JF: How would you rate the additions of Krisztian Nemeth and Soni Mustivar in light of the many big-name signings in MLS recently?
KM: Mustivar and Nemeth have both stepped in to the Sporting KC starting lineup and have looked completely in place from the start of the season. Mustivar, in particular, has been very consistent with his performances in the center of the park. He has added a real important presence in front of that back four, with his physical approach and reliability in possession. Nemeth has added a little bit of balance in this team when you look at how he has shifted in the attacking third and the sort of elements that he has brought to the side. It’s clear both of those signings fall into the successful category right now as both of those players have been influential for Sporting KC as the season has progressed.
JF: Talk about the job that Peter Vermes has done this year integrating rookies and younger players into the squad.
KM: It’s really a two-part job for Peter Vermes. First, he has to acquire the players and build that squad. Then, he has to find a way to manage them and extract the most he can with the players at his disposal. I think he’s excelled on both accounts this year. If you look back at the early stage of the season, some of the defensive viability concerns that Sporting KC has had, the club has navigated through that as well as you can expect. The loss of Ike Opara - particularly with the form he was in - was difficult for the team but they managed to get through it. When you look at the team as a whole, you can tell they have been strengthened by astute signings in the offseason. There is a depth within the ranks where players need to fight for their places. That has been an important component as the club as continued to improve and push toward the top of the Westner Conference.
JF: What are your thoughts on this San Jose Earthquakes squad?
KM: San Jose has probably exceeded expectations this year. They have been very competitive under head coach Dominic Kinnearr. He has done a good job of trying to spark as much as he can out of that squad. You look at Matias Perez Garcia and Chris Wondolowski and both of those players have been important for them going forward. They have a solid defensive core and they are competitive in every single match, which is a testament to the players within the ranks and to Kinnear’s coaching. It’s never an easy day against San Jose. Other teams have more talent, but they are always capable of making life difficult on the day.
JF: What are the keys for San Jose heading into the match?
KM: You have to keep the ball in a match like this. When you look at the short turnaround, and the energy expended over the weekend, it’s critical to really establish the tone and possession. If Sporting KC can do that, they will be able to find ways to break down the Earthquakes shape. It might take a little diligence, but Sporting KC is definitely capable of doing so. The key is really to grab control of the game and place the Quakes under pressure from the outset.
JF: How aggressive do you anticipate San Jose will be tonight?
KM: I think San Jose is a team that will come out and compete at Sporting Park. They won’t be cowed by the atmosphere and they won’t shrug off those small responsibilities. They are a team that applies consistently throughout 90 minutes. Sometimes the quality is higher than others, but they are are a club that will come in and try to get a result. They have had some struggles away from Avaya Stadium this year, but they are going to stand up and make it difficult on Sporting KC. They won’t give much away and it will on the home side to try to break them down.
JF: What are your expectations for the match?
KM: I’m really interested to see the midfield battle. When you look at how the Quakes have set up this year, with Wondolowski in mostly a withdrawn midfield role and the number of players they have put in that department, it creates pressure on Sporting KC to come out and dominate in possession. I think that’s been a question since Roger Espinoza suffered that injury. but I think Sporting KC has the tools to come out and establish the tone early.
