Sporting KC Head Coach Peter Vermes
Thoughts on the match:
“I thought the first half for both teams was really difficult. There was limited air flow in the stadium. In the second half the wind picked up and I think it helped both teams a little bit. The good thing is we scored a goal off a set piece we’ve been working on. That’s a good thing. I’m not sure if he was crossing it or shooting it, but it went into the back of the net and we need to get those sometimes. We shouldn’t have given one up like we did in the 38th minute, but I think it gave them a little life. I really thought we managed the game in the second half really well. We were unlucky not to get a third one.”
On taking points away from a conference rival:
“I think we’re been really good this year in conference so these conference games we realize how important they are to us. We have to continue to keep doing well against our conference teams. I don’t know if it’s anything added. We go about our business with a lot of consistency. Sometimes you fall out of form a little bit and it all depends on how fast you get back into form. I think the good thing is the guys are committed to working towards that.”
Sporting KC Midfielder Graham Zusi
On his goal-whether it was a shot or a cross:
“No, it was a cross. [Jokes that] Benny’s was a cross though.”
On the slower pace of the game:
“It was tough conditions. Very humid, very hot. I think it took us until the second half to catch our wind and get going. Luckily we got a couple early goals and it makes it a bit easier on yourself.”
Sporting KC Midfielder Benny Feilhaber
On coming away with a win:
“We did well to get a two-goal win early in the game. Our tactics were a little different, playing away from home against a team like Chicago who has been playing really well the last month or two. We wanted to draw them out and get the chances on the break. I think we did well, and we stuck to the game plan. We were able to hold the result because we were able to play a really good second half as well.”
On keeping the Fire off the scoreboard in the second half:
“I think we were really good in the second half. I thought there were a couple moments early in the second half or maybe late in the first half, especially in the first half where we gave up the goal, we sort of turned off for a second and that goal definitely should not have happened. I thought we played well in the second half, kept the ball. I think we were the smarter of the two teams in the second half and we deserved three points today.”
On getting a win away from home:
“It feels good. Especially against a team that’s been playing so well, probably one of the hottest teams in the league and coming away from home and getting three points is huge for us.”
Frank Klopas, Chicago Fire Head Coach
On how the team performed today
“It was all in the start. We needed to have a good start to the game. It’s very difficult when you fall behind that early 2-0 because on a hot day like this you have to put in a lot of energy to come back. We got the one goal, which was important, but then in the second half we got some good chances and we weren’t able to come back, so obviously the start wasn’t what we wanted and falling behind 2-0 made it very difficult to come back. The guys put a lot into the game but we just have to move on now and just focus on the next game, regroup, see where the guys are, and get ready to go on the road.”
On if the loss was due to an inexperienced keeper
“He wasn’t inexperienced last year when he stepped in and played so I don’t look at it like that. I think it’s a position where you need games and rhythm to play and things that that will happen. We just have to move on.”
On the first half of the season and where the team is expected to go
“The start [of the season] wasn’t what we wanted, but I think you can see we are right in the mix of things. The team has been playing really well and the results have showed that. Even in a game like today I think we fell behind and sometimes it’s difficult, especially on a hot day like this [to come back]. There are a lot of games left to play and you can see when you put two three games together when you can have some success, and get points, then you are right there in the mix of things and I feel it’s going to come all the way to the end. There’s a lot of games left to play. Obviously this was tough, being at home with a great crowd behind us, but we weren’t going to go undefeated the whole season so we just have to regroup and go on another run like we did.”
On giving up goals on second balls and set pieces
“I think before the ball goes out we have opportunities to stop plays. [We could] maybe make better decisions with the ball, but when you do give it up everybody has to focus and concentrate and just stick with their assignments. Sometimes in a game, [mistakes] happen, Zusi tries to cross the ball and it goes upper 90. For sure that is an area as a team [we can work on]. It’s always difficult coming back. We talk about it, but now we have to make sure that we do have better starts to games where we don’t fall behind. That’s something we have to keep working on and talking about. Also [we need to start] going out there with the mentality to start the game from the beginning.”
Austin Berry, Chicago Fire defender
On allowing set piece goals:
“We need to have the mentality of being the first to challenge for the ball and not let it bounce and sticking with your marks – that’s just not for the first ball, but the second ball, too, and clearing it out. The older guys and leaders need to make sure everyone is ready to go, and I think we were. We just weren’t tight enough, just not sharp enough for the first 10 minutes.”
Paolo Tornaghi, Chicago Fire goalkeeper
On why the team has started games so poorly:
“That’s the million dollar question, I don’t know. That’s a tough question to answer. We come out hoping for a good start and a good result. In recent games we’re giving up too much in the beginning and trying to comeback. Last game we did, but of course today it was a lot harder.”
On the benefits of playing more:
“Today I felt a lot better than I did in the game before. The game in the beginning I was a little nervous because it had been several games since the last time I played, but now I’m rolling and it will get better game after game.”
Mike Magee, Chicago Fire forward
On lack time of possession:
“I wish I knew why [the Fire had such a small time of possession]. I think we felt the game was tied or we were winning, we were just going to sit back and be content. Unfortunately we were down 2-1, so it wasn’t a very good game plan.”
On coming back from being down two goals:
“It’s déjà vu. We’ve been saying it after every game that eventually it was going to catch up to us. Obviously tonight it did.”
On his All-Star selection:
“I’m still fuming over the game today. Yesterday I really wanted it, but today all I’m thinking about is how badly this loss feels at home in front of our biggest crowd that we’ve had since I’ve been here. We literally laid down.”
