Are you ready for this week's installment of the "Biggest Game in the History of this Year for Sporting Kansas City"? Tonight's contestant is the Columbus Crew -- who are level with KC in second place in the Eastern Conference.
Meaning, it's all on the line tonight. The game starts at 7:30 p.m. and, from what I hear, tickets at Livestrong Sporting Park might be pretty scarce. If you can't make it, the game will be broadcast on KSMO-TV with Callum Williams and Jake Yadrich. Here's everything you meant to Google about this matchup but you just plain ran out of time.LAST FIVE MATCHES
Kansas City L-T-W-L-T (5 points)Columbus L-L-T-L-L (1 point)
THREE QUESTIONS
1. Is Sporting's pressure proving problematic?When out of possession, Sporting's players turn into a pack of ravenous wolves swarming the ball to get it back. It's not unusual to see three or four players in a light blue jersey hounding the ball -- often one or two of them straying wildly from their natural position to press. For all the positives that have come from this pressure -- enjoyable games, exciting counter-attacks, more goals -- there are some nagging negatives. The biggest has been tired legs late in games. After the 1-0 loss to Salt Lake, RSL defender Nat Borchers said Sporting "died in the second half." He was dead on. Salt Lake controlled the second half in much the same way Dallas and Seattle did in August. This is not a new trend, Kansas City have lost points from winning positions six times this year (at Vancouver, at New England, vs. Colorado, vs. Seattle, vs. Dallas and vs. Philadelphia). What's more, KC have allowed a respectable 14 goals in the first half of games this season against an abominable 24 in the second half -- 11 of those second-half goals have come after the 76th minute. This is not a good time of year to surrender early leads with cheap late goals from tired legs. Will these facts stop KC from pressing? I've seen signs of Peter Vermes trying to back off late in games -- moving Julio Cesar to defensive midfielder, pulling the wings back to midfield, pulling the press back to their own end -- but they've played like this for so long, the changes have been slow to take a strong hold. 2. How did KC get to this point?
If Sporting KC had taken care of business against the worst six teams in MLS* (Chicago, Toronto, New England, Chivas, San Jose and Vancouver), they might not be in a dog fight here at the end. *Judging solely by the current standings.Sporting earned 17 of a possible 33 points against the "weaker" sides in the league with a record of 4-2-5. (KC travels to San Jose this weekend.) The draws were killers -- especially against Chicago and Toronto, which were back-to-back 0-0 draws in early June. Wins in those two games would put KC comfortably into the playoffs. Comfortably. 3. What's the best midfield trio for KC right now?
With Jeferson largely ineffective -- which is a shocking trend of late -- Vermes pulled him off in favor of inverting his triangle with Julio Cesar in back and Roger Espinoza and Graham Zusi ahead of him against Philadelphia. The result was an instant spark to the offense and more sustained possession. Cesar gives the team an option to build from their own half through the center. Having the triangle flipped also allows Zusi and Espinoza more freedom to attack -- hence, more angles the defending team has to respect. It also has the knock-on effect of freeing up Omar Bravo and Kei Kamara to find more space to operate in.
WHAT'S AT STAKE?
Um, everything? I hope I'm not telling you something you new, but this is a massive game. Winner takes first-place (for now) in the East. Loser dips deeper into the murky waters of the wild-card race. And, if it happens to be a draw, both teams spin their wheels waiting for other results. As the famous NFL-owner-turned-Sea-Monster Al Davis is fond of saying, "Just win, baby."KEY FIGURE
Teal Bunbury The last time KC faced Columbus (way back during the road trip from hell), Bunbury had just about the worst game of his career. You can trace his faltering form back to that game. In the 1-0 loss, Bunbury strayed all over the park hunting the ball, wound up for long shots out of the box and failed to link the attacking play in any meaningful way. He would play that way for the next few months, first losing his way in the formation and then losing his touch. He's since recovered and has turned in a fairly decent run of games the last two months (4 goals) and taken back his starting job from rookie CJ Sapong. His speed and finishing touch have the potential to lift KC to another level. Sporting needs Bunbury to click with Bravo and Kamara early tonight to put pressure on Columbus' defense.TONIGHT'S REFEREE
Hilario Grajeda has been in charge for three previous KC games this year: The road trips to Colorado and Portland, and the Roger Espinoza red-card game against Salt Lake. All things considered, three fairly refereed games. Through 53 MLS games, Grajeda averages 24.5 fouls per game and issues 3.6 yellow cards. He's awarded 11 red cards and 8 penalties.INJURY REPORT
Kansas City OUT: DF Daneil Cyrus (L foot fracture); MF Konrad Warzycha (R knee surgery); QUESTIONABLE: MF Birahim Diop (lower back strain); MF Luke Sassano (R knee sprain)Columbus OUT: DF Ben Sippola (R hamstring strain), MF Tony Tchani (R knee surgery); DOUBTFUL: DF Rich Balchan (L oblique strain); MF Corey Veeder (L adductor strain); QUESTIONABLE: MF Eddie Gaven (R lower leg contusion); DF Chad Marshall (L hip flexor strain); PROBABLE: FW Emilio Renteria (concussion); GK Andy Gruenebaum (R thumb fracture); MF Bernardo Anor (L ankle sprain)
WARNINGS
Kansas City Graham Zusi is suspended after next yellow card.LINE-UP PREDICTION
Think we'll see Vermes stick with the group on the field in the second-half of the Philly game. Meaning, Jeferson on the bench. It'll be the 4-3-3/4-5-1 as usual.
Subs: Eric Kronberg; Lawrence Olum, Michael Harrington; Davy Arnaud, Peterson Joseph, Jeferson; CJ Sapong
