Ahead of Thursday's match vs Philadelphia, SportingKC.com caught up with The Philadelphia Inquirer's Jonathan Tannewald to preview #SKCvPHI. Live coverage of the match (7:30 p.m. CT) is available on FOX Sports KC, FOX Sports GO, Sports Radio 810 WHB, and La Grande 1340 AM. Check out MatchDay Central for complete online coverage.
What are some of the reasons for the Union's improved form during the last few months?
I’d highlight a few tactical moves by Jim Curtin:
Inverting wingers Fafa Picault and Chris Pontius. Picault was on the right and Pontius is naturally a left-sided guy, but when Curtin flipped them it worked very well because they could cut in and play off C.J. Sapong. Picault took some time to adjust to MLS, but he has done very well lately.
Moving Ilsinho to the midfield playmaker role, combined with Roland Alberg’s return to fitness after coming to preseason training out of shape. That allowed Alejandro Bedoya to move to a deeper midfield role that suits him much better.
Forward C. J. Sapong leads the club with nine goals (in league play). How would you assess his play this season and the impact he could have on Thursday night?
His hold-up play is very good, as plenty of people have written about. He certainly is a pest for opposing centerbacks. The Picault-Pontius swap has really helped him because when those guys cut in and shoot, it forces opposing back lines to account for them instead of ganging up on Sapong.
On Saturday, Sapong tied his career high for league goals in a season with nine. He previously got there in 2015 with the Union and 2012 with SKC, which was his big breakout year. Three of the goals this year have been on penalty kicks. I’d like to see him shoot more from open play. But he certainly is playing well this year and with confidence, and I’m sure he’ll relish being back in Kansas City.
Like most MLS clubs, Philadelphia has struggled on the road. What do you think are their chances to get a result on Thursday night at Children’s Mercy Park?
I’m not optimistic, but hey, it’s not my job to be optimistic. For the most part, the Union have beaten teams they’re supposed to beat that are around the same level that they are. They haven’t yet upset a team that’s way better. The home wins over the Dynamo and Red Bulls were impressive, yes, but the Union are still just in eighth place.
Both teams will be without key players, of course. The Union’s absences will be Andre Blake and Alejandro Bedoya. Derrick Jones has stepped in for Bedoya and done well. Sporting fans will be familiar with him from the Under-20 World Cup, where he starred for the United States. Blake’s absence could be the big difference. John McCarthy is an okay backup, but not nearly as good as Blake or Tim Melia. Having seen what Sporting did against Portland on Saturday, I think they have to be clear favorites.
Are there any injury concerns for the Union? Are you expecting a similar lineup to Sunday’s home win vs New England?
No injury concerns, but I think there will be some amount of rotation because the Union are ending a stretch of games that’s Saturday-Wednesday-Sunday-Thursday in succession. And that Wednesday game was a U.S. Open Cup game that went to penalty kicks. So I would expect some amount of squad rotation, in particular on the back line. I wouldn’t be surprised if Josh Yaro starts at centerback for one of Jack Elliott or Oguchi Onyewu.
What are a few things you’ll be watching for from Thursday’s match?
Giliano Wijnaldum has played very well at left back for the Union lately. He needed some time to adjust to the pace and physicality of MLS, but he started Sunday and played an excellent game. If he starts, he’ll get a good test from Sporting’s pace. At the other end of the field, if Sapong starts I’m sure he and Ike Opara will have some fun going up against each other.
