Sporting Kc Advance to the Eastern Conference Final



Sporting Kc players celebrate CJ Sapong's goal



Last night in the freezing rain Sporting Kc did what everyone expected them to do - beat a injury-plagued Colorado Rapids side at home. More than 18,000 fans came out to support their side as they easily beat the Rapids 2-0. But to be fair, Colorado were missing upwards of 6 starters, throw in a suspended Tyrone Marshall and you have one of the worst Colorado sides int he past year.

To be completely honest Colorado did not look at all like they wanted to play, they were missing so much creativity in the middle of the park, their chances were restricted to pretty much nothing. And their confidence wasn't helped either when Aurelien Collin took the lead in the 28th minute off of a Zusi free kick. It was poor marking from a Colorado side that was missing the defensive presence of Moor and Mastroeni.

Sporting Kc ended the series in the 76th minute when CJ Sapong rose highest to get on the end of yet another Zusi free-kick. It was a fantastic leap from Sapong who was left completely un-marked by the Colorado defense.

Knocking out the reigning champions in the freezing rain was amazing. The best part of the night for me was when we sang, "GOO BAAACK TO COOOLORADOOOOO!" following a tremendous effort by the boys in blue. Now Sporting Kc will get to host either Philly or Houston on Sunday depending on results in Houston tonight.

This team is gaining momentum at the perfect time, there is so much belief in the side to go out there on Sunday and beat either Philadelphia or Houston and go to the MLS Cup final.

Player Ratings
Nielsen - 6, Myers 7, Besler 6, Collin 8, Sinovic 6, Cesar 7, Espinoza 6, Zusi 9, Kamara 7, Bunbury 6, Sapong 8. Subs: Saad NA, Diop NA, Arnaud 6.

Sporting Kc Easily Topple a Distraught Colorado Rapids Side

The man of the hour, Teal Bunbury. - via Getty Images

Last night Sporting Kc might of had the best start to a 2-legged playoff match-up ever when they beat Colorado away 2-0 in Denver on a freezing Halloween-eve. Beating Colorado was great for Sporting's confidence heading into the second leg at LSP, not to mention the fact that Colorado now have to play on Wednesday without SIX starters and a suspended Tyrone Marshall.

It was a quiet 1st half to say the least and it seemed as if both teams were OK with the 0-0 draw but then after the break Teal Bunbury drew first blood. The goal came after some decent possession for KC, Julio Cesar picked his head up in the middle of the park and played a fantastic through-ball right into the path of Bunbury who easily finessed it into the bottom right corner. Sending the traveling supporters into a craze

It was again Bunbury who was causing the Colorado Rapids back line trouble in the 59th minute when he made a darting run in to the box with the ball at his feet as Tyrone Marshall came through the back of Bunbury, prompting the referee to give a PK and a red card to the offender (not to say Bunbury didn't go down easily).

KC talisman Davy Arnaud could of made it three when he was played an excellent through ball by Jeferson who found the racing Arnaud, but the 31 year old couldn't really get a solid foot on it and Perkins made the save.

All-in-all it was a great win for Sporting Kc. We put a huge dent in the defending MLS champions' playoff chances with that win, and now Sporting Kc know that they are only 2 wins away from being in the MLS Cup final. However, I applaud the Rapids players, they didn't get upset and nasty after the loss like the NYRB's did, poor showing from the "best of MLS".

Sporting Kc To Face Colorado Away In One Of Two Games

Earlier tonight it was learned that Sporting Kc will face Colorado away on Sunday night in Denver. Following that first away game Sporting will welcome The Rapids to what should be a hostile environment at  LSP on Wednesday in the second and final game.

Colorado beat Columbus 1-0 off of a lone Omar Cummings goal right before half-time on a freezing Thursday night in Denver. Following the win Colorado earned the right to face Sporting Kc in a 2 game series. While The Rapids are a decent squad, it could be worse for Sporting Kc. The LA Galaxy will have to fly 2,450 miles across the entire US from LA to NY to face a Red Bull's side that is gaining momentum at the right time. This is what LA receives for winning the supporter's shield?

Regardless Sporting Kc just needs to go to the mile high city and get at least a draw knowing that when they come back to KC the friendly confines of LSP will be waiting to greet them.

Sporting Kc Tie Colorado Rapids

Sporting Kc retain 4th place after a physical 1-1 draw against the defending MLS Cup Champions at LSP. Graham Zusi and Connor Casey were the scorers for each team, Casey netting in the 32nd minute after what can only be described as a defensive error, and Zusi scoring from a Sapong shot that Perkins parried right to Zusi, who was left with an easy tap in - his 3rd goal of the season.


The Standings
Neither teams moved up or down in their respective conferences.


The Stats

• Julio Cesar conceded the most fouls for SKC - 3 in total. 
• Espinoza had 32 completed passes 
• Omar Bravo had 5 shots for SKC

Sporting Kc vs. Colorado Rapids Game Preview

Sporting Kc welcome yet another team to LSP on Wednesday night as they take on the Colorado Rapids. Who are, of course, the reigning MLS champions. Last time Sporting Kc played The Rapids it ended in a 1-1 draw. That was away at Dick Sporting Goods Park, now, Sporting Kc will have the 12th man behind them.

Sporting Kc enter the match with one of the best hot-streaks in the entire league (9 games undefeated). Meanwhile, The Rapids are without a win in their past 3 games. Sporting Kc will likely have the edge in this match.


A win for Sporting Kc would not move them up any positions but it would keep 4th place out of the grasps of clubs below them,(Houston Dynamo, DC United, Chicago Fire, etc.). While a win for Colorado would not move them up any spaces either.

Wednesday's match won't be a huge game in terms of either team jumping up any spaces in their respective conferences but it could do them both a lot of good in the long run.

Projected Lineup

Key Match-ups


Collin vs. Folan: Collin will most likely have the difficult task of marking the former Hull City front man. Who netted 11 times in 3 seasons for "The Tigers". Both are big strong players and it should be fun to watch them.

Zusi vs. Larentowicz/Mastroeni: Larentowicz and Mastroeni will have the not-so-easy task of trying to contain the July Player of the Month, who has become absolutely essential for Sporting Kc's offense over the past couple of games.

Prediction


Sporting Kc - 2 (Sapong, Espinoza)
Colorado Rapids - 0

Who Should Mark Who? (Colorado Version 2.0)

Last night Sporting Kc tied Colorado Rapids 1-1 at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. Although there were no goals scored off set pieces from either team, Tyrone Marshall was a few yards away from scoring from a Colorado free kick in the early stages of the game. Which could have lead to yet another loss for the struggling Sporting Kc side.

This raises the simple question, Who Should Mark Who?

I will be listing the players height, followed by their name and then their position, followed by the player on Colorado who I think they should be marking, based on height and aerial ability.

The List

6'2, Aurelien Collin, CB - 6'2, Conor Casey, ST

6'2/6'2, CJ Sapong/Teal Bunbury, ST/ST - 6'2, Tyrone Marshall, CB

6'2, Craig Rocastle, CDM - 6'1, Jeff Larentowicz, CDM

6'0, Drew Moore, LB - 6'0, Matt Besler, CB

These are the players that I believe posed the biggest threat in the air for either team, along with who I think should have marker who in the Colorado game.