Sporting KC Manager Peter Vermes
Thoughts on the game…
We actually dominated every category except scoring a goal. It’s tough to swallow when you play as well as we did and you walk away with zero. I’m disappointed for the guys because the effort, the level of play, and just a class game, but in the end, we couldn’t find the net. Colorado defended well, made some stops.
On what the team can learn from the game…
Sometimes it’s cruel, and this is what happens. Run away from home and dominating a game like this, usually you get more and sometimes a game is cruel. Tonight, it was cruel.
On how tough it is to break Colorado down…
It wasn’t at our place. We obviously scored three goals, so I wouldn’t go that far with that statement. I would say more tonight they were tough to break down. We were in and around their box for 74 percent of the possession of the game.
Sporting KC Midfielder Ilie
Thoughts on the game…
Not good. I think we can take some positive out of a match like that. I still don’t understand why we finished with 10 players and them with 11. The way they were playing, that was the only way they were able to give us trouble.
On playing in MLS…
I feel good. We have a good team and that helps. In the end, I really enjoy my team and that we continue to improve as a group, so we can keep moving forward.
Colorado Rapids Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni
On tonight’s result…
Last year we had a good deal of success and this year the results have been a little bit elusive for us. We’ve been ahead at home quite a few times to give up the lead, we’ve lost the last two games and we talked about making this place a fortress. I think a lot of people forget how that started – it was with gritty defending. For me, that was one of the most important performances because it exemplifies everything that we are. The game of football is played as a team, selflessly to win.
On Kortne Ford’s performance…
He’s a special player in that he realized that he’s got ways to go. He comes in every day and works hard. He has a lot of intention in his learning and he’s absorbing a lot of information. I think what you saw tonight has nothing to do with that, it has everything to do with heart and commitment. In life there are greater challenges and he’s blessed to be able to play football. Tonight was an exemplary performance by a young man. He’s a fighter, doesn’t quit and doesn’t make excuses.
On the defensive performance…
The mentality has to be that – we have to be difficult to break down. It has to be our forte because we’re not going to put four on the board. I think what this game does is it draws a line in a lot of different ways – going back to who we are as a group and believing in each other.
And again, the 12th man really sticking by the group. It’s easy to turn on the team that hasn’t been grinding out results but the fans were spectacular in their ability to drive this group on. This was one of the most important games from a confidence perspective.
