Sporting Kansas City started a left back who'd never played the position for them before and a center forward who hadn't scored in more than a year. Then, minutes before kickoff, manager Peter Vermes scratched star winger Graham Zusi for rookie Connor Hallisey.
With Wednesday's US Open Cup semifinal against Real Salt Lake looming, Sporting fans' immediate reactions on social media ranged from outright disbelief to shrugs and resignation. But as it turned out, Vermes – and his club – weren't conceding anything against Toronto FC on Saturday.
“The team was very good, and obviously we had to weather a few situations,” Vermes told reporters in a conference call after Sporting's 3-1 away victory over the Reds. “That's the game sometimes. But the guys – their attitude, their determination, their fight – fantastic.”
And the best efforts, Vermes said, came from left back Jimmy Medranda, center forward Jacob Peterson and center back Kevin Ellis.
“Their desire to compete for everything was just tremendous,” said Vermes, who matched mentor Bob Gansler's club records with his 86th career MLS victory and 108th across all competitions as Sporting's manager. “It really was. It was incredible. All three of those guys played just a fantastic game.”
Medranda, a midfielder/winger making just his fifth start of the year, was solid and sometimes spectacular in his first appearance at left back.
“We've been training him there, probably the last month to six weeks,” Vermes said. “So it's not like he was just thrown to the wolves. We've been training him in that position. We'd just never played him in a game in that position. But he's developing very nicely.”
On Saturday, Medranda had five interceptions and a game-high six tackles – and nearly picked up a stunning assist with a crossfield pass to right back Chance Myers, who pushed his volley just wide.
“For Jimmy to come into a game like this and never have played left back for us and play the way he did, was just a welcome performance, because we really, really needed it,” Vermes said. “I'm very happy for him, because he's worked really hard, and at the end, he really deserves the credit. He played so smart, but at the same time with great instincts, good decision-making on the field. He was excellent on the ball.”
Peterson, starting up top because Dom Dwyer was serving a one-match suspension for caution accumulation, contributed swarming high-press defense and the game-icing goal – Peterson's first score since his game-winner against TFC, also at BMO Field, on July 26, 2014.
“I think it caps off a tremendous performance,” Vermes said. “It's one thing about his work ethic, but he was very smart in the position today. He took up positions which didn't make it easy for them to build out of the back. He made excellent runs in and behind them. He won a lot of balls checking off the back line. He had a tremendous performance. And that goal – not only was it the cap for him, but it was the insurance goal for us to not let them back in the game.”
And if there were any doubts about the success of Ellis' transition from fullback to center back over the last two seasons, this performance should lay them to rest for good.
The Homegrown defender repeatedly got the better of TFC's forward combination of Sebastian Giovinco and Jozy Altidore on Saturday – and at the other end of the pitch, he drew a penalty that led to Benny Feilhaber's spot kick for a 1-0 Sporting lead in the 22nd minute.
“Kevin was incredible back there,” Vermes said. “He won every aerial duel. He won every 1-v-1 tackle with the players in front of him. He was very, very good.”
Steve Brisendine covers Sporting Kansas City for MLSsoccer.com.
