Sporting Kansas City is one of, if not the current hot team in MLS. SKC brings a 12-game unbeaten streak in MLS to Saturday’s match against the Revs, though they did lose to the second tier, Richmond Kickers in the US Open cup a couple of weeks ago. This will be the third game between these two teams this season. New England traveled to Kansas City near the end of their arduous 10-game season opening road trip and just before opening their sparkling gem of a stadium. That game was also right after nearby Joplin, MO was devastated by tornadoes and the stormy weather seemed to unman the Revs who were dismantled 5-0. Earlier in the season, during their first MLS game, the Revs debuted Benny Feilhaber in a 3-2 win back when New England had more hopes for the season and before cutting our foreign born veterans who were talented but barely played due to injuries.
Tables have turned since that game in May. SKC was at the bottom of the league in May and now they have 26 points, tied with Chivas USA for the one of the last two playoff spots. The Revs, in contrast, are still fighting their way off the bottom of the standings. New England took 4 points out of nine possible points last week, and all 4 from a four day road trip after the debacle against Philadelphia. Those points moved the Revs out of second to last and directly into competition with Toronto FC and Chicago for bragging rights, but not much more than that, yet. Currently, New England stacks up 20 points after 21 games played which is only 6 points out of the last wildcard playoff spot. This game is not only a chance to earn points for New England but to also a chance to stop our competition from earning points; a possible 6 point swing in the standings. Busting up Kansas City’s and extending the Revs own unbeaten streak would be a great way for New England to trumpet their growing confidence to the rest of MLS.
For Kansas City, standout defender Aurelien Collin will miss a couple of weeks injured. His absence will make the Revs job in attack a bit easier. He has ably lead a relatively young defense that includes former Rev Seth Sinovic. The trick, as I stated after our 3-2 win back in May, will be to stop SKC from scoring. Their new playmaker, Brazilian Jefferson, debuted last week with an assist on one of Omar Bravo’s two goals. New England has not faced either Jefferson or Bravo yet this year. Kei Kamara and CJ Sapong started last week for SKC, and Teal Bunbury came in as a sub for Sapong. All three are fast, and when Omar Bravo is added into the attack every single one of those players is a threat to create goals.
This will be a tough game for the Revolution. Their strategies have to stay the same, and no, the game plan doesn’t get prettier. New England has to defend as a group first and foremost. Counter attacks down the wings or through Benny’s combination play could bring goals, though the entire league has to know at this point we are looking for set pieces. Free kicks and corners early could bring a goal. Scoring early and scoring first is a part of the plan – push the opponent “onto the back foot” and the Revs feel they can control the game even if they don’t control the ball. Possession passing is important, but at this point the Revs have conceded that we don’t have the personnel to play that style. Of course, we’ll have a real test on our hands if SKC can score first. Trying to contain their speedy and potent offense while creating our own opportunities is a task that has proven difficult, to say the least, for the Revs this season. I’ll predict a 2-1 scoreline that I believe could go either way, but I hope it is New England that triumphs.
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(image courtesy of revolutionsoccer.net)
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