I know it's early in the season but Sporting KC just looked bad tonight against Columbus, whom they lost 1-0 too, off of a 53' minute Robbie Rogers goal. The game was back and forth up until the goal and after that the chances for SKC were limited. Some really bad individual performances from some of the Kansas City players tonight in the cold, rainy Crew Stadium led to the end result.
There are so many aspects of tonight's game that it's hard to pull together an overall summary, so let's just start from the 1st min. and work our to the 90th.
In the beginning of the game both teams found it hard to keep the ball down and get some decent possession. It was really sloppy on both sides of the field, Sporting KC had some early looks but Hesmer came up big with some crucial saves. Up until the half the game was really pretty open, both teams had an equal amount of chances but SKC were not on the same page with each other.
After the second half started up I began to feel that Columbus was getting some decent possession and some decent shots. Then Robbie Rodgers scored. After re-watching the goal I noticed a couple things. First off, I absolutely dread having Diop play in the CDM role, I wouldn't be surprised if we see Auvray or Rocastle start there next game against New England. Anyway, the goal is set up after a half-hearted clearance by Besler, falls to the feet of Kevin Burns, Burns crosses to Duka who cleverly flicks it on to the path of Robbie Rodgers who slots it in from a tight angle just out of Nielsen's reach. If you look at the replay our two holding midfielders, Arnaud and Diop, are standing literally a yard away from each other and neither of them attempts to close down Burns.
After the goal the game spiraled downward from there for SKC. Bunbury looked completely lost up top and had few chances to shoot. Nielsen had a terrific point blank save that kept us alive in the game, and i'm gonna tell you right now that that will be a save of the week nominee. Julio Cesar had a horrid night and was ejected in the 72' minute because of a handball that apparently blocked a dangerous scoring opportunity for Columbus. After that, and the substitution of our captain and leader Arnaud, you just sort of knew we weren't gonna get another one to tie it all up.
Usually I don't like to blame the referee for a loss. But tonight you kinda have to. It wasn't just calls that didn't go our way, there were questionable calls favorable for us that we didn't deserve. I'm all for getting new refs into mls and growing a new generation of referees for FIFA, but that was just terrible reffing tonight. Now, when I watch an SKC game I expect the best referees, not some young guys that are given my favorite teams' game as a chance to prove themselves and get some experience in th league. I don't even think he reffed in the reserve league before today.
Well, disappointing loss tonight, as they always are. Some of the worst performances in my opinion were those of Cesar, Diop and Bunbury. The best performers were Nielsen, Thomas, and Besler. One more note to add: after the half I didn't even notice that Espinoza was on the field.
The best thing SKC can do now is lift their head up and look to an easier game at New England where we should have the services of speedy winger Ryan Smith and recently transfered defender Auerelien Collin.
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