Sporting KC’s Peter Vermes on stellar Smith as Besler sits: I’d like some more of that

Sporting Kansas City has played 219 minutes since the last time the team conceded a goal in regulation.

Ever since Sporting KC allowed an 85th-minute goal to the nine-man Colorado Rapids during a group-stage match at the MLS is Back tournament in Orlando, it’s been a closed-up shop for KC’s back line.

The team has recorded two straight clean sheets — against Real Salt Lake and the Vancouver Whitecaps — since allowing two goals to Colorado July 17.

The difference now?

Graham Smith has slotted into Kansas City’s back line alongside Roberto Puncec for the past two games.

Smith has replaced captain, KC native and decade-long mainstay Matt Besler in Sporting’s defense over the past two games and has produced two solid performances. His efforts have helped Sporting advance to the MLS is Back quarterfinals Thursday against the Philadelphia Union.

“Graham got his shot because there were a couple of things: We had an accumulation of games early on for different players (and) I had to freshen up the lineup,” Sporting KC coach Peter Vermes said. “The second is that Graham has deserved the chance.”

Kansas City’s 18th overall pick in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft, Smith made just two appearances in 2018 before accumulating 10 starts in 2019, contributing to two shutouts.

He’s already equaled that career high in 2020.

But Smith’s continued inclusion in the starting lineup since joining Sporting KC in 2018 isn’t just a spur of the moment decision from Vermes.

“Ever since we came back to individual workouts, his growth in a short period of time has been tremendous,” Vermes said. “His everyday focus and commitment on the field has been really good.

“When I see that, I think guys deserve opportunities to play. He’s done well in the last two games and I’d like to see some more of that.”

Since arriving in Kansas City in 2018, Smith has had to compete for starts with a multitude of center backs many years his senior: Besler, Roberto Puncec, Winston Reid, Ike Opara, Andreau Fontas and Botond Barath among them.

At 24, Smith has either outlasted those teammates in KC or has worked his way above them in the pecking order.

“I mean, I’ve been playing soccer since I was 4, so I’ve been working for this opportunity every day,” Smith said. “It’s not that I didn’t put in the work to put myself in this position — I did, and I’ve gotten a lot of help from a lot of people, Besler included.”

Smith attributes his quick ascension to both that help from his teammates but also the SKC coaching staff that works with him daily.

“Anything that you want, the staff will do for you,” Smith said. “Whether it’s work after training, you want to go over film, you want to ask certain things about your game, what you need to improve on, they’re very honest with you.”

“They don’t always tell you what you want to hear, but they tell you what you need to hear. Having a staff like that, that does that for you, is great.”

If there’s one thing that Smith has come under fire for — especially during the game against Vancouver — it’s a lack of command in the air both offensively and defensively. The KC back line wasn’t challenged often against Vancouver, but Smith still struggled during aerial battles on either side of the ball.

With little to do defensively, Smith was able to venture farther forward and most notably sent two good opportunities over the Vancouver bar via his head.

“I should have given Johnny (Russell) two assists last game,” Smith said. “I’ve got to put those on target — that’s on me. He (Russell) put in really great balls.

“The thing is, I’d much rather be in those positions and give myself an opportunity than not be in that spot at all. I know that I have the ability to do it, so if I keep putting myself in those positions they’ll fall eventually.”

Aside from a couple of missed opportunities, the young center back had quiet games against Real Salt Lake and Vancouver. And that’s not a bad thing.

Typically, the less you hear about the center backs during a game, the better they are performing. Their job isn’t flashy and doesn’t offer much offensively, but if their names are mentioned often, that often means they’ve made mistakes or narrowly avoided one.

Smith falls into neither of those descriptions.

“I said after the Salt Lake game that you really didn’t notice our two central defenders all that much in that game, but the reason why is because they did their jobs so flawlessly they never really were exposed either way, offensively or defensively,” Vermes said.

“That’s the way you want to see the performance after a game. So it’s been good. There’s been some consistency there, and hopefully that can continue.”

This story was originally published July 28, 2020 at 3:26 PM with the headline "Sporting KC’s Peter Vermes on stellar Smith as Besler sits: I’d like some more of that."