Sporting KC Manager Peter Vermes
On playing without the national team players
“There are quite a few guys out including a few with injuries, nagging things here and there that we don’t want to risk early on. It’s always good when guys aren’t around because you get a look at someone else. It’s good for the team and good for the staff, but at the same time it’s great to have a full complement of your players.”
On the team’s performance
“I thought that our team in the first half, when the red card came, did very well to manage the rest of the game and go into the half 1-0 ahead. And the other group that came on, which was a lot of new faces, did a very good job of managing the game and playing with composure. That’s what I was really pleased about, the composure of the group.”
On dealing with the red card
“We just tried to keep our lines tight and not get stretched out from the back. With not having a lot of those guys around very long and we have only dealt on the defensive concepts we wanted to work on, I thought we did a very good job. I was pleasantly surprised and I add again, the composure on the ball was a big piece of it.”
On the goal
“It was great. Great entrance ball, good movement by Sal [Zizzo] and a great flick-in for sure.”
On the field conditions
“We were saying it before we came out, that it’s a great little set-up. The field plays nice and quick, which we like. That’s the way we play at home, with a slick field, so we can move the ball quickly. As I’ve said before, this facility is fantastic. It’s great for preseason and it’s great for our preparation over the course of the season.”
Sporting KC winger Sal Zizzo
Thoughts on the goal
“We had a free kick and Claudio [Bieler] was on it. I just saw a little space and figured if he under hit it that there could be a chance that I could get a flick-on through it. And as it happens, we were able to do it.”
On the field conditions
“The grass is cut real low so the ball is flying. We got new soccer balls this season in MLS that feel a little lighter and bouncier, so it’s something we have to get used to. But it’s definitely a fast-paced game.”
On playing with 10 men
“Thirty minutes in he got the card, so we took out Dom [Dwyer] and put in [Lawrence] Olum at center back. [Peter Vermes] just told me and C.J. [Sapong] to compact the midfield a little more because we were playing down a man, so we wanted to have numbers in there. So for the last 15 minutes, that’s what we were trying to do.
On playing against his former team
“It was a lot of fun seeing all of the guys. It wasn’t too long ago, so it almost felt like I was back there again. It was fun seeing the guys and I wish them luck.”
