With Sporting KC returning home to Spoting Park to face Toronto FC on Friday night, I caught up with The Toronto Sun's Kurtis Larson to preview the match. The match will kick off at 7:30 p.m. CT with live coverage available on KMCI (38 the Spot), SKCTV, Univision Deportes, Sports Radio 810 WHB, and La Gran D 1340 AM.
Jonathon Feyerherm: How has Toronto FC played up to this point this season?
Kurtis Larson: Head Coach Ryan Nelsen said there would be ups and downs throughout the season because of the new additions like Jermain Defoe and Michael Bradley. And then Michael Bradley leaving for the World Cup, Jermain Defoe getting injured, and then also incorporating a guy like Gilberto, a Designated Player from Brazil. He (Gilberto) right now is playing really well and doing everything but scoring so the fans are waiting for him to get off the mark. I think one of the missed talking points this season so far has been the play of the non-DP additions. Justin Morrow has been extremely solid. Mark Bloom, who they brought in from the NASL team in Atlanta last year, has been extremely good at fullback. And now Joe Bendik is expected to step up in Julio Cesar's absence. I think through the first eight games of the season Toronto FC has done well to go on the road and get wins in Seattle and Columbus but they've also had some downs in losing to Colorado and New England at home. I think Friday against Kansas City is a big opportunity when you consider all the pieces that are missing and the injuries and suspensions. It's a chance for Toronto FC to hand Kansas City it's third loss in three MLS game which is something quite unique.
JF: In addition to being a proven goalscorer, what all does Jermain Defoe bring to this Toronto FC side?
KL: I think he gives the team the confidence that having a player of his quality allows you have to have a chance in every game. To be honest, he isn't that involved in matches. He's the kind of striker that is a poacher. He pops up every 15 minutes or so with a quality chance and he's going to score 50 percent of the time. A player like Gilberto is actually more involved throughout the game but Defoe has that ability to need only one touch or one opportunity a game to score. He's done that in games at Seattle and against D.C. at home. He's the kind of player that his runs are so well timed and it's so hard to keep track of him across the back four. He springs up when you least expect it.
JF: What are you expecting to see from Friday's match?
KL: I'm expecting to see a sold-out crowd and it's always electric at Sporting Park. I'm expecting to see a bunch of little battles all over the park that are going to be interesting. Who's going to fill in for Michael Bradley? How's Toronto's back four going to hold up against one of the more dynamic attacks in the league? And who's going to fill in across the back four for Kansas City and how are they are going to do against a world class striker like Jermain Defoeand a DP like Gilberto. A lot of interesting storylines heading into this game and the final one being is Kansas City going to lose three in a row the first time since May 2012. That's kind of the big thing for me seeing how successful they've been over the last two or three years and how they might be in a bit of trouble during this World Cup break.
JF: Are you expecting several goals in this match?
KL: Yeah, absolutely. There's too many good players and quality strikers in this game. There's also too many question marks and vulnerabilities in this game. There's too many unproven players and it just makes for a recipe of an entertaining night.