Sporting KC manager Peter Vermes
Thoughts on the game...
We dominated the game. We had 70 percent possession. We had good chances, a very good run of play and we didn't give anything away. I'm still trying to understand on the goal that we score what the actual call was, but in the end, we needed to win or tie the game for us to advance. Being that this is the first time the club has advanced into this international competition, it was a major goal of ours this year, so I think we're extremely pleased that we've advanced to the knockout stage and we'll start preparing now for next year.
On the play of Teal Bunbury and Graham Zusi in the game...
I thought that Teal [Bunbury] was, first and foremost, was very good for us tonight. His movement off the ball, his defensive pressure when we didn't have the ball up front was fantastic. I think [Graham] Zusi's work rate on the field is second to none, I thought that they actually combined, at times, very well. But Zusi had a free role in the game tonight so his job wasn't to be the link up guy to Teal. His job was to try and make the game and I thought that he was very busy, good on the ball, and excellent tonight. It's hard to criticize anyone on your team when you walk away with 70 percent possession and with the number of chances we had and the number of calls against us. I think the guys did a very good job.
On the physicality of the match...
It's a man's game and that was the interesting aspect for me after the first few calls that were made. The referee has to understand the significance of the game for both teams. And with that, you have to understand that it's going to be physical, but at the same time it doesn't have to get out of hand. You have to stay consistent with those calls, but for me you have to know that it's going to be a battle and it's going to be a contest of man versus man and you have to be able to deal with those situations. And I thought for us, we dealt with them very well. We weren't lying on the ground every time we got touched, those are the things that I have a big problem with and I think it's a lack of respect for the game and you never see our players doing that.
Sporting KC goalkeeper Eric Kronberg
Thoughts on the match...
I thought we played to win the game and we created enough chances to win it, but we locked it down in the back and that was the most important thing.
On the team's defense during Champions League...
I've been very pleased to be a part of the Kansas City defense in the Champions league. They've been solid all four games and I've been really happy to be a part of it.
On the quick turnaround in MLS play...
It's a quick turnaround. We have a game this weekend. But we'll be happy about it tonight, but tomorrow it's right back to work and we're thrilled to be through to the knockout round. I feel like we expected to be through, and it's good to accomplish that goal.
Sporting KC defender Matt Besler
Thoughts on the match...
It was a physical game. It was a battle. We knew Olimpia had to try and come out and win the game so they threw some numbers forward and I thought we did a good job of handling some of their pressure. It's a little frustrating that we didn't win that game when we had the chance to. Three points would have been great for the seeding, but the way we're looking at it is that we advanced and that was one of our goals at the beginning of this season, so we're happy from that standpoint.
On the team's defense...
I think the first half it didn't change too much. We came out with high pressure trying to win the game, trying to score goals. I think tactically we changed a little bit because as the game wore on we knew a tie would get us through, so we were a little more determined.
