Sporting Kansas City Manager Peter Vermes
General thoughts on the match…
I’m proud of our team. I like the fact that we got the first goal and we didn’t give up and we managed some moments in the first half when I thought they started getting some of the play, not for long but I thought we managed it pretty well. We got out of it and we started going back at them. The second and third goals were just tremendous. I’m really proud of the guys.
On moving into first place in the Eastern Conference…
I don’t think we’ve achieved anything yet. Nothing’s over, we’ve got a long way to go still. We as a group; players, coaching staff, support staff, front office, ownership, everyone has belief that we are going to move forward and that we are getting back.
The one credit has to go to the players because their commitment and work ethic week-in and week-out has brought us to this point. That part is gratifying, but at the same time we have so much work to do. We are going to have fun with this tonight but tomorrow we’re back to work again.
On the performances of Seth Sinovic and the entire backline…
You can take it a step further. Not only has Seth been very good, Chance Myers has been very good and when Collin went out with his back injury I think Julio has been stellar. Most people don’t know the places that he’s played. Real Madrid, AC Milan. That experience in the high level games that he’s played has really come out in these games that he has stepped back there. I can’t say enough about all the guys that come in.
On the level of competition for spots…
Look, Michael Harrington has to come in for Chance at the end of the game and now he does his job. We have had quite a few games where we’ve had to do that so I continue to become very happy that not only when we switch the team around our guys now stepping up their level but also it’s creating great competition within the team. I think that’s why you see the level of the team so high because everybody in training is going after it. They are all competing all the time and that’s what raises the level within the team.
On looking ahead to their first road trip in two months…
We have been home for the last two months and now having to go play Salt Lake on the road is going to be a change for us. We’re all over the place, we were away from home the whole time and now we’ve been home for a while. I think just the rhythm of going on the road is going to be one thing for us. Real Salt Lake is a very good team and they’re even better at home.
On the performance of Teal Bunbury…
I don’t think we’ve seen his best yet. Teal is continuing to grow and develop as a player. I think the one thing that he brought in today’s game was when he is as physical as he was and finds himself teetering on that last line. He puts a lot of fear in a lot of teams. He is very direct and can go to goal and really has breakaway speed. And when he gets around the goal, I think he can be deadly.
Sporting Kansas City forward Teal Bunbury
General thoughts on the match…
It was a great game from everybody. Like Peter was saying, these games now are big for us. We try to leave everything on the line and make it seem like it’s a playoff game. Especially when we are playing other teams in our conference. We all had a lot of fun out there. It was a great game.
On the confidence in the team currently…
Our confidence is really high. We have been talking about it at training. We can see now that we have that winning mentality. I think that starts at training. We can see now that guys are getting after it. Guys who maybe aren’t getting the most minutes or guys who are maybe getting the most minutes, everyone’s contributing, trying to push each other. I think with competition that brings the best out of everybody. It starts at training and I really think we have that winning mentality.
On receiving good service from his teammates…
They were great balls in and I was just trying to be aware and make more runs. I knew if I’m one-on-one with a guy its my job to try to get behind and get on the ball and try to finish. As a striker I always say, ‘It’s your duty to score goals’ and I feel like I did that today but its all credit to the guys playing brilliant balls into me and I was fortunate enough to get some goals. It was a great team effort and I feel like everyone really enjoyed this game including the fans.
On regaining his confidence…
I’m feeling good and I’m having fun with it. You have to have fun. Credit to my teammates and coaches for sticking by me. It’s great to get wins. I love winning.
Sporting Kansas City forward C.J. Sapong
On moving into a tie for first place…
First place is great, to get something to show for our hard work. We have put in a lot of work, effort and sweat to get back from last place. It's just a testament to the work we have put in. It is even more motivation for us to keep pushing the ceiling and to keep getting better to maintain the spot.
On the shutout…
Relief is one word. Being confident in our ability all season, we knew we were capable of playing the way we did tonight and it's just a matter of us putting everything together. All the things that we didn't do well from earlier in the season culminates to this performance. We controlled the match. We are feeling really good about our performance, it's a confidence booster. This game shows us how well we can play.
On the victory…
We play well together every game. We did everything right today and everybody was working for each other. It's a really good feeling when you know some people have your back on the field, you know you can go into any challenge and come out.
On his goal…
I found myself in and out of the game at times, that just happens. But obviously being a forward and getting a goal, I'm very happy about that. It was a good feeling to get a goal and I’m just happy to help the team.
Sporting Kansas City goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen

On moving into a tie for first place…
The most important thing is where we are after 34 matches. Right now we can enjoy this game and this victory, but Monday it’s back to work. We have to work hard, and not put too much attention to the standings.
On keeping a clean sheet...
The shutout is great, but it’s not the most important thing for me. Winning the game is the objective, so having a shutout is great. The guys did an incredible job today to make my job very, very easy.
On earning an important three points…
The team's performance was fantastic. The first 20 minutes were brilliant, but we missed a couple of chances. The start of the second half we were all over them again we did an incredible job.
On not needing to make a save…
Not much for me to do, had a few back passes. Again, when I don't have anything to do it means the team is doing well and that’s most important.
Sporting Kansas City midfielder Graham Zusi

On moving into a tie for first place…
Being in first is great. It puts pressure on Columbus to get points against Toronto. Obviously we will be watching that game and you know we get another shot at them at home.
On the team’s defensive performance…
The shutout is huge for us. We talk about being hard to score against, and tonight I can’t remember them having a real clear chance and that says loads for our defense. They really stepped it up tonight and it puts a statement out there to the League and it puts a lot of pressure on Columbus to perform tonight.
On the team’s satisfaction with the match…
We played excellent, our best second half of the year. We had taken our foot off the pedal at times and let teams get back in the game and that wasn't the case at all today. We really put the pedal down and put the pressure and got two goals in the second half.
Houston Dynamo Manager Dominic Kinnear
On the difference between the two sides tonight…
The goal and the red card. We started out slow and we said before the game that we really need to meet their pressure and energy early on and I think we came out not doing that and paid for it. After the red card we were chasing the game. We were chasing the game anyway coming out at halftime. I thought we had a good chance at the beginning of the second half. We had some good possession, some good play and then the red card completely changes it and turns it upside down.
On LIVESTRONG Sporting Park…
Well I’m sure I can’t say anything that anybody else hasn’t said. But, it’s obviously beautiful and something to be proud of as far as the city of Kansas City, the organization, and the League. Soon everyone I think is going to have one, which I think will be great for the League. It is a beautiful place; a great place to play.
On the red card…
Yes, it was tough. One to zero, I thought we were playing pretty well and it just changed the game.
Houston Dynamo midfielder Brad Davis
Thoughts on the game…
It’s obviously disappointing we lost. I think the first 10 or 15 minutes, it took us too long to get into the game and find the game. I think after that, we created a little bit and settled down with the ball a little bit better. I think we started the second half proper and I think we were getting some chances. Obviously, Carlo’s (Costly) red card hurt us and we’re down a guy, but they’re a good team and they spread us out. It was tough to get back in it after that.
Outlook for the rest of the season…
We have to let this one go. We have a game on Wednesday against Columbus, another team that’s on top of the conference. We need to go there and look to pick up three points. We’re disappointed in this game, but we’re still in the playoff hunt. We still have to keep plugging away.
On the second half…
I think we started well. I think we were in the game, only down one goal, we had some opportunities. Carlo (Costly) had a very good chance right before he got sent off to tie the game. A red card always hurts. I don’t know if it was a proper decision or not, but whenever that happens it’s always an advantage for the other team.
On LIVESTRONG Sporting Park…
I think it’s fantastic. It’s nice. I think they did it right. It’s a very good and professional environment. It’s a fantastic stadium.
Houston Dynamo goalkeeper Tally Hall
Thoughts on the game…
We didn’t come out very well. We knew they were going to pressure us in the beginning and come out strong. We talked about it, but it just didn’t materialize for us. I thought toward the end of the first half, we were playing fairly well. In the second half we kind of hurt ourselves with some actions and then couldn’t get it together. I think we could do better to organize, but give credit to (Teal) Bunbury. He’s a good finisher, good player, he did well with his chances and that was the game.
Tactics after the red card…
We were down anyway so we had to take some risks. We knew we we’re going to be vulnerable and you kind of knew that they might get some chances and hopefully defensively we’d come up big, but they put their chances away.
On LIVESTRONG Sporting Park…
It was a good atmosphere. The fans, especially the Cauldron were good and for the most part very respectful. It was a good crowd.
