FC Dallas manager Schellas Hyndman, upon being asked at the postgame presser if the game against Sporting KC got physical or chippy at a couple points. “That’s how you play,” he added. It took quite a while for Sporting to find the cohesive physicality that has put them on top of the single MLS table, with 9 points out of 3 games. The first half’s action rested squarely on FC Dallas’ shoulders, as SKC played through a morass of poor communication and miscues.
Defender Matt Besler cited that miscommunication as the reason for Dallas’ first half free kick goal. A tactic and response the team had covered in practice; when he dropped to cover the near post, two FC Dallas players moved, onside, with him to the goal line. The timing of his reaction, to move back up to the wall to hold those players onside further out, did not allow GK Jimmy Nielsen time to readjust for that near post gap. And it was a great kick from Villar, to boot.
While the Dallas goal scorer got stretchered off the field, Jimmy called his boys in blue together about 35 yards out from his goal and told them to just stick to what they knew they were good at. From that point onward, SKC ratcheted up the pressure slowly and surely as the game wore on.
And it did “wear on”. Sporting, for all their attacking options and flashes of Showtime offense, play a bruising, intimidating style of soccer. Granted there were some gaping holes in the surrounding cast, but striker Blas Perez was an afterthought for much of the game, much like De Rosario was during the DC United FirstKick match. Espinoza and Collin refuse to back down, taking all challenges through the center of the attacking half, even if it means taking cards to enforce their will. That reputation alone makes SKC’s defense stand out on a team with this much offensive firepower.
Collin got in on the scoring game, by utilizing SKC’s secret weapon: the back of his head; two goals in his last six MLS games for The ‘Ol Posterior Cranial Plate. I cannot wait until defenses have to start gameplanning against this.
The second half rounded into Sporting’s favor as the clock ticked away. I tweeted at one point, “This game is not playing like one that wants to end in a tie.” The obvious differences in size and speed began to show up as SKC operated almost wholly in Dallas’ end, though there were two potentially dangerous counters that went unfulfilled.
Kamara, Cesar, Zusi, Myers, Kamara, Goal. One touch a piece and a little of that Showtime flair brought the win home for Sporting. They created space in the second half in a multitude of different ways (staggering the back line, physical midfield play, long diagonals into the flanks), found that space, and then used it to their advantage. Not too much else to say.
Except, “Doesn’t it always?” You’re right, Schellas. It does seem to always go this way. 3 points for SKC, and LIVEStrong Park defended once again.
Postscript, some thoughts about the team:
As mentioned above, Espinoza and Collin are so bullying and tough down the middle that it matches up well against teams with a Target Forward, or Attacking Center Mid. Normally I would worry about Winger-heavy teams who want to relentlessly attack the flanks. But Chance Myers and Seth Sinovic have been playing at such a high level, it almost seems as if they are forcing opposing offenses to funnel their attack through SKC’s central brute-squad. And that’s a good thing.
An entire write-up and a postscript and only one tiny mention of our wakizashi-wielding attacking midfielder, Graham Zusi? The “Samurai” only picked up two assists vs Dallas, giving him an MLS leading 4 through 3 games, Though he’s doing it by playing silently and stealthily like a ninja. Most Honorable Graham-san.
Final note: “Never up, never in” is a basketball phrase, but Sporting seems to be doing its best to co-opt it for the pitch. SKC has outshot their opponents in all 3 games so far this year, by DOUBLE DIGITS in each match. #NightmareOnGoalieStreet might be the appropriate Twitter hashtag.
As always, follow me on Twitter.
(image courtesy of Getty Images)
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