Sporting KC Manager Peter Vermes
On giving up another late goal...
It's unacceptable and it's not who we are. I'm not happy and the guys know it. It's not who we are. We have been very good the first five minutes of every game, the last five minutes of each half, the first five minutes of the second half ... we've been very good. So it's not something that is going to continue, I can tell you that.
Thoughts on the match ...
I thought the first 30 minutes, I don't think there was any question who was the team on the field. But also, there are certain aspects of that half, where we didn't do something we wanted to do, which was completely against what we were trying to execute. I actually thought we were patient because we had to be. When a team drops off on you, it's very difficult. They got numbers behind the ball and we are not a team that is going to whack it up the field, we don't play that way. So it's not the easiest of situations. We did break them a few times and get on the counter. When we did, I thought we went to goal very well.
On the second half...
I thought the second half, we were in and around their box way too many times to only score one goal. We should have scored more goals for sure. We were in and around their box and had great opportunities, but the final pass was not there.
On team rotation leading to late goals...
It's all part of it. It's one thing when you are a very young team, but we are a team that has quite a bit of experience in their group and to give up that goal at the end ... and we had three guys in the wall so we had more than enough guys to cover what they had.
On the performances of Jimmy Medranda and Alex Martinez...
For Jimmy's first start in an MLS game, I thought he had a decent game. I thought there were times when he got caught up, but I think that will come with a little more time. With young players it is always that way. I thought when Alex entered the field, the first couple minutes you could tell he was nervous, but then he calmed down he started to play. I think both of them have a good future with us and with MLS. Those guys gave a good effort for sure.
Sporting KC goalkeeper Eric Kronberg
Thoughts on the match ...
We got the goal to win it and to give one up late in the game like that is tough. But we have to look forward. We have a big game on Wednesday. We have to put this one behind us and learn from our mistakes and we are going to learn to really close out games.
On opposing teams playing defensive at Sporting Park...
It's one way to play. I think that is how we expected FC Dallas to play. We possessed it and we did enough to win, but we just gave one up late.
On giving up late goals...
It's frustrating, obviously. But we have to learn from it and close out games. It's something that has happened two weeks in a row and hopefully it won't continue. I'm just looking forward to the next opportunity.
On the quick turnaround...
We are rotating the lineup. We have to use everyone. Guys have come in, stepped up and played well. We are going to need more guys for the next couple games. I think a few guys got a well-needed rest and hopefully we will go into Wednesday fresh.
Sporting KC defender Matt Besler
Thoughts on the match...
"We are frustrated that we have given up the late goal. Anytime plays happen like that you can look at it, dissect it and there are a number of reasons why they happen. But for us as a team, we have to be able to lock a game down. Right now, the first five minutes and the last minutes of each half, they are not good enough."
On player rotation leading to late goals...
That could be a possibility, but it's not an excuse. It's not one guy, it's the whole team. Whoever is out there at the beginning of the game, in the middle of the game or the end of the game, every single person on the field, we need to be tuned in and helping out each other. Right now, at the end of the game, we are not locked in like we should be.
On overcoming the late goals...
Hopefully, we are a mature team. I think mature teams learn from mistakes they make in the season and stop them from becoming trends. Right now, I think every guy in the locker room wants to step up, pick his head up and face the next game. We want to really work on it and make sure stuff like this doesn't happen too much.
Sporting KC midfielder Alex Martinez
On making his MLS debut...
"It was great to be able to come out and play my first professional game with Sporting KC. I'm very thankful but unfortunately we did not get the win."
On the emotions as he stepped on the field...
"I was very happy, excited and thankful for the opportunity that the coaching staff gave me. At first I was a bit nervous but I was just trying to help the team to win the game.
FC Dallas head coach Oscar Pareja
Thoughts on the match...
First, I have to say that it's great to come to Kansas City and play in this atmosphere. Congratulations to [Sporting Kansas City], a great franchise. It's an honor for us to come and share this game. The first 30 minutes, Kansas City put us on our heels and had a lot of corner kicks. We gave away a lot and it was overwhelming in that moment. But our team showed a lot of character, started to wake up and have some control. We got some options, handled the game and at the end of the first half, we found a game that was both ways. We started to gain more control of the game.
Thoughts on the second half...
In the second half we looked very organized. As I said, FC Dallas has very good discipline and a lot of shape. We knew that Kansas City was going to throw bodies in and it's a characteristic for them to play aggressive, but I thought we controlled that.
On coming back from a goal down...
After [Aurelien] Collin's goal, we drove hard. That's why I'm very proud tonight. We showed a lot of character. Our team is going to do big things this year.
FC Dallas goalkeeper Chris Seitz
On approaching the first road game of the season...
We knew it was going to be a big game. We knew that they are obviously the defending champs so we knew it was going to be a tough game for us. We held strong and our lines and shapes stayed real well and we ended up getting a point out of it.
On the late goal and securing a point at home...
It was huge. Michel came in late and made a difference. That's something we always talk about, coming in and doing your job. But, also making a difference. You saw the ball he put in and Hedges had a great finish.
On the physical battle...
It's always a good game when we play them. It's always a blood bath and there are a lot of hard tackles and it's a hard fought game every year. To get a point out on the road early on and kind of build from there is huge for us.
On Pareja's game plan for FC Dallas heading into the road match...
You saw us go for attack when we could. Obviously they are a good team and they break out, so we try to clog the middle a bit and try to make them play to their weaknesses. For us, we created some chances, probably not as much as we are used to. But, at the end of the day, we finished what we had and now we'll go home happy with it.
FC Dallas defender Matt Hedges
On scoring the equalizing goal in the 90th minute...
We are a really dangerous team on free kicks. Any time we get one, we have a chance to score especially with Michel in there. He serves in some great balls and we have a good understanding of where I need to be and where he is going to put the ball. I just need to put it in the net when he does it.
On FC Dallas equalizing late in each of the last two years against Sporting KC...
It just shows the character of our team. We always fight for 90 minutes even though we're down a goal. We are always looking to come back and try and get the point on the road.
On changes from last weekend's home match against the Montreal Impact...
We know Sporting KC is good at playing out of the back, so we wanted to try and frustrate them and play a little deeper. After the first twenty minutes, I think it started to work really well. We were under a lot of pressure at the beginning but after that I think we started to play a little bit more and get more chances.
Adjusting to new head coach Oscar Pareja's system...
You're always going to have new coaches and new systems to play, so you just have to be flexible. With Oscar coming in, he's playing a system that a lot of the players really enjoy. I think everybody's really happy about it and it's exciting for us.
