It's safe to say that Sporting Kansas City's 1-0 defeat to the Colorado Rapids on Saturday has produced one of the most eye-opening box scores of the 2017 MLS season.
Manager Peter Vermes' men laid siege on the Rapids' goal for extended periods throughout the night, amassing 25 shot attempts and 73 percent possession with almost all of the game's action in Colorado's half.
Much to the chagrin of Sporting Kansas City, however, that dominance did not translate into a single point. The team still occupies first place in the Western Conference, and the Rapids remain the West's cellar dwellers, but the gap between the sides could have been even larger had the visitors converted their superiority into goals.
Part of Colorado's success hinged on the team's ability to limit Sporting Kansas City to strikes from distance — strikes that were ultimately less likely to trouble goalkeeper Tim Howard. Sporting KC finished the evening with an astounding 21 shot attempts from outside the box, setting an Opta-era MLS record during the regular season (2010-present).
MOST SHOTS FROM OUTSIDE THE BOX IN A SINGLE MATCH
MLS REGULAR SEASON (2010-PRESENT)
<strong>Shots</strong> |
<strong>Team</strong> |
<strong>Opponent</strong> |
<strong>Date</strong> |
<strong><em>21</em></strong> |
<strong><em>Sporting KC</em></strong> |
<strong><em>Colorado Rapids</em></strong> |
<strong><em>05/27/2017</em></strong> |
18 |
Philadelphia Union |
Sporting KC |
06/22/2011 |
17 |
New England Revolution |
Real Salt Lake |
10/02/2010 |
16 |
FC Dallas |
D.C. United |
07/18/2015 |
16 |
Colorado Rapids |
Seattle Sounders FC |
04/18/2015 |
15 |
nine teams |
These long-range efforts were a product of Colorado's contentment to drop deep and defend in numbers. As a result, Sporting Kansas City made 437 passes in the attacking half of the field, the second most by an MLS team in a single match since 2010. The club's 628 total passes were its third-most in match over the last eight seasons.
MOST PASSES IN THE ATTACKING HALF IN A SINGLE MATCH
MLS REGULAR SEASON (2010-PRESENT)
| Passes | Team | Opponent | Date |
| 530 | Atlanta United FC | Chicago Fire | 03/18/2017 |
| 437 | Sporting KC | Colorado Rapids | 05/27/2017 |
| 430 | San Jose Earthquakes | Portland Timbers | 04/16/2016 |
| 430 | Seattle Sounders FC | New England Revolution | 04/29/2017 |
| 428 | New York Red Bulls | Montreal Impact | 10/07/2015 |
It comes as little surprise that Sporting Kansas City's 73.1 percent edge in possession also enters the league history books as one of the most lopsided marks in a regular season contest.
LARGEST SHARE OF POSSESSION IN A SINGLE MATCH
MLS REGULAR SEASON (2010-PRESENT)
<strong>Poss.</strong> |
<strong>Team</strong> |
<strong>Opponent</strong> |
<strong>Date</strong> |
82.8% |
Atlanta United FC |
Chicago Fire |
03/18/2017 |
77.8% |
San Jose Earthquakes |
Vancouver Whitecaps FC |
03/11/2017 |
75.5% |
Real Salt Lake |
Chivas USA |
05/06/2011 |
74.5% |
Real Salt Lake |
Chivas USA |
10/22/2014 |
74.4% |
Seattle Sounders FC |
New England Revolution |
04/29/2017 |
74.2% |
Atlanta United FC |
D.C. United |
04/30/2017 |
73.8% |
Sporting Kansas City |
Chicago Fire |
03/16/2013 |
73.8% |
Real Salt Lake |
Chivas USA |
10/05/2014 |
73.3% |
Sporting Kansas City |
Toronto FC |
09/01/2012 |
<strong><em>73.1%</em></strong> |
<strong><em>Sporting Kansas City</em></strong> |
<strong><em>Colorado Rapids</em></strong> |
<strong><em>05/27/2017</em></strong> |
73.1% |
Chivas USA |
FC Dallas |
06/18/2011 |
Although the Rapids spent most of their time defending on Saturday, they proved exceptionally dangerous in dead-ball situations. Kortne Ford headed home Shkelzen Gashi's free kick for the game-winner in the 11 minute, accounting for one of Colorado's four chances created from set pieces. That total was the most by a Sporting KC opponent since July 2015.
"We actually dominated every category except scoring a goal," Vermes assessed postgame. "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.
"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."
