If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
That’s been the approach from Swope Park Rangers head coach Marc Dos Santos in regards to his backline over the last six games that has seen his side post four shutouts and concede just two goals – outscoring their opposition 16-2.
Aside from a start for goalkeeper Zac Lubin in the 3-1 victory over Tulsa Roughnecks FC on Sept. 21, the Rangers have started with a backline of goalkeeper Adrian Zendejas, right back Tommy Meyer, center backs Oumar Ballo and Amer Didic, and left back Ever Alvarado since the team’s last defeat to Rio Grande Valley FC on Sept. 3.
Then, after receiving just two red cards in their first 31 games of the season, SPR doubled that total over a 19 minute span in the Western Conference Semifinal against Orange County Blues FC on Sunday, with Alvarado and Meyer both sent off in the second half. The Rangers were able to see out a remarkable 2-1 extra-time victory to advance to the Conference Final against Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2.
Suspensions were handed down swiftly on Monday, with Alvarado serving a mandatory one-game suspension, while Meyer was issued a six-game ban.
“It’s forced,” Dos Santos said when asked about dealing with changes to his team. “This is why you have a squad where you pick 22 players, plus Academy guys, that you have to trust and work with.”
“Most of the training sessions, we do half of the exercises with one group, the other half with another group to make sure everybody’s prepared.”
Despite the selection predicament he finds himself in, Dos Santos is full of belief in his potential replacements.
“In Tyler Pasher, we’re very confident in the sense that he’s played there already and he’s played against important players – even representing Sporting Kansas City in a Champions League game. This is a position that was actually his position of origin in the Canadian Youth National Team, so for Pasher I think he’s 100 percent ready.”
With Pasher the natural replacement at left back, having started in that position three times for SPR this season and in his Sporting KC debut against Vancouver Whitecaps FC in the CONCACAF Champions League, the focus shifts to who replaces Meyer, with Johnny Grant the only other natural right back on the roster.
“For Johnny Grant, he’s shown a lot in training and coming in in games that he was ready to go, but maybe he didn’t get as many minutes as Pasher,” Dos Santos said. “I think that Johnny has all the tools and the attributes, he just needs to settle in the game, he needs to understand his role, his mission for the team that we spoke about in video and we spoke about on the field.”
Grant entered Sunday’s Semifinal in the waning moments of the second half, with the Rangers already down two men. The 22-year-old played a key role in the outstanding defensive performance that saw SPR outlast Orange County in extra time, withstanding wave after wave of attack.
“If he plays the game the way he came in against Orange County Blues where he played a very important role for the team, we won’t have a problem,” Dos Santos stated.
North of the border, Whitecaps FC 2 head coach Alan Koch insists his side will be prepared to face whoever starts for the Rangers on Saturday.
“They’re like us, they have a big pool of players,” Koch said. “So they’ll obviously lose two players but they’ll replace them with two quality players too. I’m sure no matter who Marc (Dos Santos) replaces those players with they’ll be good quality players. We’re just looking forward to the game. It should be a good one.”
