Sporting Kansas City Manager Peter Vermes
General thoughts on the match...
I thought from the very beginning that we were composed. We had good ball circulation early on. I thought we created a few good opportunities by pressing in their end and winning the ball deep on their side and then the guys countering very quickly. I definitely think that the red card is deserved based on the fact that C.J. was going on a break away. You obviously can't do that. We had a lot of good opportunities, although we scored three, which is great. We could have had a few more, but at the end of the day, I thought there were a things we got out of it outside of winning the three points and getting a shut out.
On playing with a man advantage...
Even though we were up a man, it doesn't make the game easy because the other team wants to settle back and in. Now, when they extend themselves a little bit, you have to go fast before they recover and bunker everyone in. Or you have to move the ball a lot, which constitutes a lot of movement off the ball for us as well. I think the guys are all fit. The guys came in with a very good level of fitness prior to the season which gives them a great foundation for us to build from. Today provided us great game fitness.
On being effective going forward this early in the season...
It's one thing to have an idea, but it's another thing for the guys to be able to execute it on the field game in and game out. There is no doubt that our possession has gotten much better as a team, but that is not only with our team getting better, but also with the inclusion of some new guys. Bobby Convey shows up in some great areas and is very good with the ball. I also think that our relationships on the field, such as Kei and Chance on the right. That relationship is a very good one. Those guys are all committed to each other and they know what each guy is going to do. It helps the way we play.
Sporting Kansas City Forward Kei Kamara
General thoughts on the match...
It's good to be home. Playing our second game at home felt really good. What a great day. The fans came out and we definitely feed off them. Great work from all the guys, getting the fans those goals. They come out here and show us so much love, we have to show them love back. When it comes down to the field, everyone worked for each other and it was one of those games that we know we have to win it. It was great work from everyone and we're just looking forward to the next game.
On taking advantage of extra space...
It's all about taking a shot and following through. It's exactly what we do. Stuff like that, you do day in and day out. When it comes down to game time, you have to be alert. At training, it's all about taking shots and following through.
Sporting Kansas City Forward Bobby Convey
On gelling with Sporting Kanas City’s offense…
Tonight I think we did really well. We were dictating possession from the beginning and we created a lot of chances, so I think we’re going to score a lot of goals this year. It’s easy for me to play with the guys because there are so many strengths in attack.
On playing on the wing…
I’m definitely used to it. Now it’s just gelling with the new teammates. I think we’ve kept the ball really well and we’ll only get better.
On winning by three goals…
It’s difficult when you go three up early in the second half because the game naturally kind of settles down a bit. Obviously it would have been good to score a few more goals. As long as we’re creating chances we’ll be fine and we’ll continue to score goals.
Sporting Kansas City Forward C.J. Sapong
On his goal celebration with Kei Kamara…
It was just something we wanted to do to get the crowd involved and in good spirit. It was a nice, little thing Kei and I came up with earlier this week.
On playing a man up on New England…
It was early, so we were able to take advantage of it. We probably should have scored more goals, but we’re happy with the three points. It’s only the second game of the season, so we’ll get sharper in those situations.
On his confidence level after scoring two goals in two games…
It’s high right now. I could have had more, but I’m happy to be getting chances and getting in the right spots. I need to keep sharp in training and hopefully it continues.
Sporting Kansas City Defender Chance Myers
On the crowd…
The crowd helped us a lot. We don’t expect teams to come in here and lay down, so the crowd really helps us gain an edge. They’re one of the reasons we’ve been successful since last year.
On keeping two clean sheets in a row...
We’ve kept the ball on offense. We’re moving the ball really well from left to right and we are getting behind the ball when we lose it. We’re picking the right moments to get forward and drop back.
On making runs forward with Seth Sinovic…
It’s no secret really. Our 4-3-3 formation lets me and Seth get involved in attack – Kei and I on the right and Seth and Bobby on the left.
Sporting Kansas City Midfielder Paulo Nagamura
On making his debut for Sporting Kansas City…
It feels great. After a few months on the sidelines with injuries, it felt great to play. I’m mostly happy that the team got three points and got the crowd crazy tonight.
On his expectations for the season…
It’s too early to say. It’s a long season. But we’re definitely happy with the great start. We need to keep adding points and at the end of the season we’ll see where we are.
Sporting Kansas City Midfielder Graham Zusi
On the season opener and the fans...
“What a great way to welcome back our fans to LIVE
STRONG
Sporting Park. Playing in front of our passionate supporters, on St. Patrick’s Day and getting a shutout conference win was the perfect script. My parents drove all the way from Florida to come to the game tonight and I am so happy that they, and the rest of the 20,000 fans, could leave with smiles on their faces. Now it is time to get back to work and prepare for the first half of our game versus FC Dallas next Sunday.”
New England Revolution Head Coach Jay Heaps
General thoughts on the match…
It’s really disappointing. We had a good game plan going into the game and we had good chances in the beginning. We weren’t giving anything away, we were tight, we had a nice compact form and we thought we had a plan. Then there was the red card and they scored early on. It’s tough playing a man down.
On learning from the defeat…
We will look at the tape and hopefully go forward. We will leave it all here and move on. It’s just one of those games you have to move on from.
On the red card issued to Stephen McCarthy...
All these cards aren’t good for the league. It’s disappointing because we want to make it as competitive as we can. You come in and you want to have a competitive game.
On Sporting Kansas City’s performance...
They’ve been watching March Madness (laughs). They did well. They got to the byline. Seth Sinovic got to the byline twice. It was a will for the ball and they outstretched and got to it first.
New England captain and midfielder Shalrie Joseph
General thoughts on the match…
We lost. We tried to give it a good go. The first 10 minutes were good. They went 1-0 up and we got an unfortunate red card. It changed the outcome. We fought, we battled. It’s unfortunate but we’ve got to move forward.
On learning from the loss…
We need to work on keeping 11 guys on the field and keeping possession on the ball. We have positive things to work with for next week against Portland
New England goalkeeper Matt Reis
General thoughts on the match…
It’s going to be tough playing Sporting here. It’s hard to take much from this game. We just have to stay positive and move on. The season is a marathon and we just have to move on. It’s kind of a triage and we were trying not to give up anything but once that first goal goes in, you have to try and not let any more go in, but then the second goal happened. You just have to stay positive.
On Shalrie Joseph playing a central defensive role…
It’s a survival game, adapting and scrambling. Shalrie did a great job of coming back an playing in a defensive role. We did our best but it wasn’t good enough.
New England Revolution defender Clyde Simms
On coping with the red card…
You never see that call reversed and you know you’re playing a man down so you have to regroup and change the formation and deal with it. We all had a look at each other and told each other that that was what we had to do.
On what to take away from this game…
It’s easy. We have to leave this game here. We were unfortunate to get a red card so early on against a very good team at their home. We will use this game as fitness really. The younger guys just need to know that it’s a very long season. When I played for D.C. United we went 0-3 and then went on to win the Supporter’s Shield. There’s a lot of season left to play. We have to regroup but we are headed home now.
