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365footballorg-blog · 6 years ago

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Minnesota's Heath breaks down Sporting KC rout: "They just keep coming"

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June 4, 20183:03PM EDT

Not much went right for Minnesota United in Sunday night’s 4-1 loss to Sporting Kansas City at Children’s Mercy Park, a venue in which the Loons are now 0-3-0 – with just one goal scored and a whopping 11 conceded – since joining MLS last year.

Postgame, coach Adrian Heath broke down what he saw as the key to Sporting’s latest dominant win over their Midwest counterparts, lamenting the central-midfield dominance of KC’s 4-3-3 shape in particular.

“I didn’t think that we ever got enough pressure on their three men in midfield. They have the two attacking guys and then they have [holding mid] Ilie Sanchez who comes in there,” said Heath. “We never really go to grips with that like we did a couple weeks ago at home [in a 1-1 draw with SKC]. I know it’s away from home and they obviously are a lot more confident, but we didn’t do a good job of that. The wide guys kept coming in and then they get it wide to [fullback Graham] Zusi and we never came to terms.

“They make it really, really difficult for the opposition,” he added of SKC’s high press. “They play nearly a five and a five. Their front five push and press. And if your quality is not good enough to break that initial press – and it’s strange, because every time we did, we were dangerous in the first half. We had two or three really good breakaways. The final ball wasn’t particularly good, but if you’re going to come here and get a result, when you have your moments you have to make them. Because they just keep coming and they keep coming.”

Through 180 minutes:

Shots (on target):#SportingKC – 49 (18)#MNUFC – 14 (6)#SKCvMIN

— Jeff Rueter (@jeffrueter) June 4, 2018

Seeing Loons midfielders Ibson and Rasmus Schuller swamped, Heath made a halftime adjustment, replacing Alexi Gomez with Maximiano to buttress his team in the engine room. Yet that plan was soon obliterated when the Brazilian received two yellow cards in less than 20 minutes.

“I just thought that if we got another body in the midfield, that would allow the wide guy to get a little bit closer to [Zusi]. I thought the change helped us. We looked as though we had started the second half well. With the sending-off after that and being down to 10 men, it affected everything after that,” said a frustrated Heath, whose Loons are now 1-6 on the road and 1-3-1 in their last five games.

“We need to sit down and go through it with the staff and look at the videos and look at the goals we’ve conceded and see if we can come up with a different shape or do something different to make it better,” he added. “I’ve said it probably three or four times this year, if you keep conceding two or three goals on the road, you ain’t going to win too many games. That was the case this evening.”

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Minnesota's Heath breaks down Sporting KC rout: “They just keep coming” was originally published on 365 Football

#breaks #coming #down #Heath #just #keep #Minnesota&039s #rout #Sporting #they

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365footballorg-blog · 6 years ago

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Sporting Kansas City vs. Minnesota United FC | 2018 MLS Match Preview

May 31, 20186:06PM EDT

Sporting Kansas City vs. Minnesota United FC 2018 MLS Regular Season – Week 14 Children’s Mercy Park — Kansas City June 3 – 8:30 pm ET WATCH: FS1 MLS LIVE on DAZN (Canada)

Undefeated in their last four games, but coming off consecutive draws, Sporting Kansas City know to stave off surging FC Dallas and LAFC to remain atop the Western Conference a result against Minnesota United FC is paramount Sunday at Children’s Mercy Park.

The Loons, though, have secured points from their last two games — a 2-0 win over the Montreal impact and a 1-1 draw vs. Sporting at TCF Bank Stadium.

Minnesota and Sporting Kansas City have split their four all-time meetings, with one win and two draws each, per Opta.

Sporting Kansas City

In an MLS Supporters’ Shield showdown against Columbus Crew SC Sunday, Peter Vermes made just one change to his starting XI from the side that tied the Loons, with Seth Sinovic coming in for an injured Jimmy Medranda at left back.

Neither team on Sunday were able to grab control of the match, with Tim Melia saving a Gyasi Zardes penalty kick and Sporting Kansas City (7-2-4) unable to capitalize on playing the entire second half with an extra man after Federico Higuain was sent off in first-half stoppage time as the teams played to an entertaining 0-0 draw.

“Even if they would have scored that goal, my opinion is you’ve got to find a way to get back into the game,” Vermes said after the game. “You still have a lot of time to win so, for sure, points dropped – no doubt about it.”

Suspended: None

Suspended after next caution: None

International duty: Johnny Russell

Injury Report: OUT: M – Felipe Gutierrez (sports hernia surgery); QUESTIONABLE: F – Diego Rubio (back injury), D – Jimmy Medranda (undisclosed injury)

Projected Starting XI (4-3-3, right to left) GK: Tim Melia — Graham Zusi, Ike Opara, Matt Besler, Seth Sinovic — Roger Espinoza, Ilie Sanchez, Yohan Croizet — Gerso Fernandes, Khiry Shelton, Daniel Salloi

Notes: Sporting Kansas City has averaged 59.3 percent of possession in their games this season, the second most in the league. Last year, they were second in the league with 57.7 percent of possession. … Sporting Kansas City have lost just one of their last 12 games (7W-4D), outscoring opponents 24-11 in the process.

Minnesota United FC

Adrian Heath made three changes to his starting XI from the side that drew Sporting, with Tyrone Mears and Eric Miller playing wide in the four-man backline and Ibson coming in for Collin Martin in the midfield.

After a scoreless first half, Christian Ramirez and Miguel Ibarra bagged goals six minutes apart in the second half to lift Minnesota (5-7-1) to a much-needed 2-0 win over the Montreal Impact.

“I thought the first 25 minutes was as bad as we’ve played all season. I thought we were lackluster, lack of energy, lack of desire,” Heath said after the game. “That second half we played like I want us to play, we got them out of their comfort zone and put them on the back foot and suddenly we looked like we could play.”

Suspended: None

Suspended after next caution: M – Rasmus Schuller, D – Francisco Calvo

International duty: D – Francisco Calvo

Injury Report: OUT: M – Sam Cronin (cervicogenic dysfunction), M – Kevin Molino (torn left ACL), M – Ethan Finlay (torn ACL), D – Marc Burch (left knee surgery), GK – Matt Lampson (right knee injury)

Projected Starting XI (4-2-3-1, right to left) GK: Bobby Shuttleworth — Tyrone Mears, Michael Boxall, Brent Kallman, Eric Miller — Rasmus Schuller, Ibson — Miguel Ibarra, Darwin Quintero, Alexi Gomez — Christian Ramirez

Notes: The Loons have lost four straight games on the road and have been outscored 11-3 in those games. Another loss would tie their franchise record for most consecutive league losses. … Francisco Calvo has 116 headed clearances since the start of last season. Only Costa Rican teammate Kendall Waston (132) from Vancouver Whitecaps FC has more.

All-Time Series

Overall: Sporting Kansas City 1 win, 5 goals … Minnesota United FC 1 win, 4 goals … 2 ties

At Kansas City: Sporting Kansas City 1 win, 3 goals, Minnesota United F 0 wins, 0 goals … 0 ties

Last meeting at Kansas City: Sporting Kansas City 3, Minnesota United FC 0 (June 3, 2017)

Officials

Referee: Drew Fischer Assistant Referees: Gianni Facchini, Adam Garner 4th Official: Alejandro Mariscal VAR: Edvin Jurisevic

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Sporting Kansas City vs. Minnesota United FC | 2018 MLS Match Preview was originally published on 365 Football

#2018 #City #Kansas #match #Minnesota #Preview #Sporting #United

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365footballorg-blog · 7 years ago

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Wiebe: Presenting the All-Underrated Best XI, aka the Dom Badji All-Stars

USA Today Sports Images

April 4, 201811:10AM EDT

If you score your first professional hat trick and it isn’t plastered all over the front page of MLSsoccer.com, I think it’s fair to say you’re living your soccer life under the radar.

Consider this column a mea culpa to striker Dominique Badji, who deserved better after his three goals fueled the Colorado Rapids first win of the season, a 3-0 romp against the Philadelphia Union. By now, you know some guy named Zlatan stole the show in Week 5. In any other week, Badji would be the shoo-in MLS Player of the Week – you can guess how that turned out – and we’d all collectively be singing his praises.

Yet, as so many of you have pointed out to me on Twitter, relative crickets.

No more. I present to you my All-Underrated (and Overlooked) Best XI, also known as the Dom Badji All-Stars. You’ll undoubtedly be rankled by my picks and have suggestions of your own. Feel free to hash that out in the comments section or @ me.

GK: Matt Turner (New England Revolution)

It’s tough to find a starting ‘keeper who hasn’t had their turn in the spotlight, so we go to a relative unknown in the 23-year-old Turner, who signed with the Revs ahead of the 2016 season after going undrafted. Most figured it’d be either Cody Cropper (last year’s starter and US national team hopeful) or Brad Knighton (10-year veteran with 57 MLS starts) who won Brad Friedel’s trust. Instead, Turner’s got four starts, two wins, a massive penalty save and a hold on the job (for now).

LB: Ben Sweat (New York City FC)

I assumed Ronald Matarrita, a Costa Rican international finally healthy after a year out recovering from a broken foot, would be the starting left back on opening day for NYCFC. In assuming, I overlooked how good Sweat was in 2017 (25 starts, six assists), and how much Patrick Vieira valued a player who earned his place via trial and hasn’t let go of his starting spot. Sweat’s a two-way player, he’s comfortable in possession and he absolutely deserves more love.

CB: Francisco Calvo (Minnesota United)

Francisco Calvo | USA Today Sports Images

Not a troll job, I swear! In no way is this about the Loons captain calling for more respect for his squad. It’s about the fact that Calvo doesn’t get enough love for being one of the most versatile, physically gifted defenders in MLS. The Costa Rican was Top 10 among defenders in headed clearances and interceptions last year, one to forget for the Minnesota defense, and he’ll be the rock Adrian Heath continues to build around in 2018, most likely with a trip to Russia sandwiched in the middle of the year.

CB: Aaron Long (New York Red Bulls)

This was a toss-up between the Red Bulls man and NYCFC’s Alex Callens, who has near zero name recognition despite being arguably MLS’s best defender a year ago. Long’s career is basically defined by being overlooked and underrated. He was drafted in the second-round by the Timbers in 2014 and never played a minute for the first team. He moved to Seattle, same story. Long did play for Sounders 2, however, and the Red Bulls saw promised. After a year with RBII (USL Defender of the Year), he earned a move to the first-team contract and immediately became first-choice for Jesse Marsch.

RB: Nick Lima (San Jose Earthquakes)

Shout out to Real Salt Lake’sTony Beltran, who has been on this team for the better part of a decade. Nick Lima may be the next in the line of domestic outside backs that hold it down for years and never truly get the respect they deserve. Last season was a good start for the Quakes Homegrown (22 games played, 20 starts, two goals and an assist), and now it’s about consistency, longevity and helping San Jose become a regular playoff team again.

CM: Ilie (Sporting KC)

Callum is right.

So many holding midfielder across the world get no where near the amount of credit they deserve. If someone’s underrated, its usually a defensive midfielder.

— Callum Williams (@CalWilliamsComm) April 3, 2018

Ilie gets the nod here because I watch and talk about this league so much that the likes of Wil Trapp, Alex Ring, Diego Chara, Jeff Larentowicz and others I don’t have time to name generally feel properly appreciated in my book. They are very good and important to their team’s success, for various collective and individual reasons.

That leaves me with Ilie, who must be both the metronome and conscience in Sporting’s midfield. That’s not easy with Roger Espinoza and Felipe Gutierrez marauding ahead of you and the fullbacks pushing high. When you try to explain why Kansas City had the league’s best defense a year ago, you’d be wise to widen your scope beyond the backline and goalkeeper Tim Melia.

CM: Ibson (Minnesota United)

**Violins in the background** You can hate me now, but I won’t stop now…

I bet you didn’t know Ibson finished last season with the following stat line among his fellow MLS midfielders. All courtesy of Opta.

So Ibson and … a who’s who of MLS’s best midfielders. Since I am guessing you don’t know much of anything about the Minnesota midfielder unless you live in Minnesota, that makes him overlooked, for sure, and underrated, in my opinion.

AM: Federico Higuain (Columbus Crew SC)

Federico Higuain | USA Today Sports Images

Here are profiles for two Argentine No. 10s in MLS. Both played their first full MLS season in 2013. One is Higuain, and the other shall remain unnamed for now.

Player A: 12,574 minutes played (152 GP, 146 GS), 59 goals, 53 assists

Player B: 13,101 minutes played (154 GP, 149 GS), 50 goals, 51 assists

Player A has three MLS Best XIs, three All-Star appearances and an MVP award to his name. Player B has received none of those individual plaudits. Player A lost to Player B in MLS Cup 2015, a game that cemented Player B’s legacy.

Player A is Pipa, Columbus’ quiet genius. Player B is Portland’s Diego Valeri, near universally and rightfully revered. My point? With a few different bounces in 2015 and a little more national publicity, Higuain’s profile would be a lot different. He’s underrated, don’t @ me on this one.

WING: Ignacio Piatti (Montreal Impact)

This pick is more of a “Bradley Wright-Phillips Lack-of-Appreciation Team” selection than underrated or overlooked. Piatti is the name every single defender who visits the MLSsoccer.com studios mentions as the toughest 1v1 matchup in the league. He’s got back-to-back years of 17 goals and six assists. That’s best in show stuff, but I never hear his name mentioned among the league’s best players. He’s earned that recognition, and if Montreal make a run this year, it’ll largely be because their talisman willed them there.

WING: Alphonso Davies (Vancouver Whitecaps)

Alphonso Davies | USA Today Sports Images

Yeah, Davies has a hype train chugging along behind him already, and yet he’s still underrated and overlooked. If Davies was American, the whole country would be salivating at the combination of potential and production the 17-year-old wunderkind has already shown in his young career. He’d be the Next Great Hope, a player to help us forget about the disappointment of Russia 2018. But he’s not ours, and he’ll likely help our northern neighbors eventually reach the promised land along with a raft of other young players. Congrats to Canada and Vancouver. I am jealous. Davies is that good, and he’s just scratching the surface.

CF: Dominique Badji (Colorado Rapids)

Finally, our namesake finishes out the squad. Every single offseason, this one included, we talk about the Rapids needing a game-changing forward. Meanwhile, Badji’s just out here quietly producing. He bagged nine goals and six assists last year without a ton of help, six and four the year before and already has four goals in three games this season. Maybe Colorado doesn’t need more strikers. Maybe they need to feed the beast they already have. Congrats on the hatty, Dom!

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Wiebe: Presenting the All-Underrated Best XI, aka the Dom Badji All-Stars was originally published on 365 Football

#AllStars #AllUnderrated #Badji #best #presenting #Wiebe

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