Sunday, March 16, 2014

Sporting Drop More Points Late

For the second straight league game Sporting KC allowed points to slip away. This time instead just one point, KC dropped two as they allowed Dallas to score a goal in the 90th minute to allow them to secure a point with their only shot on goal all game.

KC had a good opportunity early on from their high pressure. In just the fourth minute a long ball over the top found Sal Zizzo on the wing. Dallas goalkeeper, Chris Seitz came off his line but got stranded as Zizzo chipped the ball over him. The ball was going wide but CJ Sapong raced in at the far post to try to knock it home but his shot was blocked out for a corner. KC continued the high pressure and in the 12th minute Zizzo had another opportunity. KC forced a turn over in Dallas' end. Sapong ended up with the ball and played it to Benny Feilhaber who dribbled towards the box before dishing off to Dom Dwyer. The ball got poked away from Dwyer right into the path of Zizzo. To lose his man, Zizzo turned and then fired a shot that Seitz pushed away. In first half stoppage time Dallas had their first good look at goal as Blas Perez got the ball at the top of the box, but fired his effort just wide.

KC inserted Jacob Peterson into the lineup to start the second half and he caused issues for Dallas down the left. He had a penalty shout in the 52nd minute as he nutmeged Keyln Accosta and dribbled into the box, he appeared to be grabbed a bit by Accosta as he entered the box. Andrew Jacobson got a touch to the ball knocking it away from Peterson, but he caught back up with it at the same time as Accosta and both went down. Originally it appeared that replacement referee Abbey Okulaja pointed to the spot, but he was actually calling the foul on Peterson. KC kept pushing the game and finally found their goal in the 81st minute. Off a Benny Feilhaber corner, Aurelien Collin got space in the box and headed the ball past Seitz and into the net to make it 1-0.

After the goal, Dallas became the aggressors pushing the game. Then in the 88th minute, David Texeira went down about 25 yards from goal under little contact from Oriol Rosell. Whether Texeira was fouled or made a meal of it, Michel stepped up and played a nice ball into the box where Matt Hedges met it, heading it past Eric Kronberg and into the net. It was the fifth time in four games against FC Dallas that KC has allowed a goal in the 88th minute or later. The big question that has to be asked about the play is why KC's best header of the ball, Collin, was set up in the wall. I understand that Michel is a good free kick taker, but it makes no sense for Collin to be in the wall there. With the game level, KC threw numbers forward trying to find another goal. They almost got one in the second minute of stoppage time off a free kick. The ball was played quick to Alex Martinez down the line. He raced into the box and fired a shot on goal that beat Seitz, but was knocked away by Hedges to keep the game level. Another game that will frustrate KC fans.

Wizards Man of the Match - Aurelien Collin - Another goal for the Frenchman, he's scored four of KC's last nine goals in all competitions. Did a good job shutting down Dallas' attacks, only question was why he was in the wall on Dallas' goal.

Player Ratings - Kronberg 6, Jerome 5, Collin 6, Besler 5, Sinovic 6, Rosell 5, Feilhaber 6, Medranda 5, Zizzo 5, Dwyer 4, Sapong 4. Subs Peterson 6, Martinez 6, Bieler 5.

2 comments:

hartley said...

Well, I blame the loss in Seattle on PV. He made a poor substitution and paid for it. But this draw that feels like a loss is totally on the ref. It is hard to beat the other team and the ref. He gives a free kick on a phantom foul yet doesn't give a PK on a clear foul on JP in the box. This one should really be under protest. And I really think this ref should be released from duty or at the least should never call an SKC game again.

Yes, we should have scored another goal. And yes, the draw is disappointing. But after we succeed in the CCL, we can move on in the league and also in the Open Cup.

Anonymous said...

Collin was in the wall for the same reason low probability shots are taken over and over, why restarts in the back are so horrible and dangerous, why they keep flubbing throw ins, why tall players cross to short ones, why long ball then foul is the game plan, why the offense cannot score and on and on and on.

That reason is that PV is a scout and physical fitness coach. He knows nothing else. It is the same every season.