Sporting Kansas City Pre Game: Columbus Crew
After beating the Montreal Impact 3-1 on Saturday, Sporting Kansas City overcome major travel woes on a short week and are back in action Wednesday night against the Columbus Crew.
Who: Sporting Kansas City at Columbus Crew
When: July 16th, 2014 at 6:30 PM CDT
Where: Columbus, Ohio
Streams: KMCI (38 The Spot), SKCTV, MLS Live
Radio: 810 AM WHB, La Gran D 1340 AM
Sporting KC currently sit second in the Eastern Conference standings with 29 points in 18 games played. They currently only trail D.C. United who have 31 points in 18 games played.
The Columbus Crew are currently sitting in the middle of the table, just one spot out of the final playoff spot with 20 points in 18 games played. A win on Wednesday would go a long way to helping them get back in the playoff picture.
May 4th, 2014 at Kansas City
Sporting KC and the Columbus Crew had their first match up of the season on May 4th, 2014 in Kansas City. On a night where Sporting KC were presented their 2013 MLS Cup Championship rings, Sporting KC also had the opportunity to take over first place in the East with a win against Columbus.
Sporting KC was on the attack early when Chance Myers received the ball up the right flank and sent a ball rolling across goal, and Paulo Nagamura attempted a shot but it deflected off a Columbus player and fell for Jacob Peterson at the far post who drove the ball into a wide open goal to give Sporting KC the 1-0 lead in the 10th minute.
Columbus came close to evening the scoreline in the 31st minute but Kronberg saved the ball right on the goal line and Sporting KC went in to half time with the 1-0 advantage.
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Columbus almost tied things up once again in the 65th minute but Kronberg rose to the occasion with a beautiful double save against a wide open forward inside the box.
Sporting felt confident as ever when Sporting had a breakaway opportunity and Wil Trapp took down Benny Feilhaber from behind and was given his second yellow which resulted in an automatic red card and ejection. Columbus would have to attempt to make a comeback in the last 10+ minutes with only 10 men.
Sporting KC was able to seal the victory when Graham Zusi chipped from the left wing over to a wide open Claudio Bieler in the middle of the box, and Bieler took his time and calmly slotted the ball into goal to give Sporting KC the 2-0 lead in the 90+5 minute. Sporting KC walked away victorious and in the top spot in the East.
ICYMI
Could Dom Dwyer play a role on the USMNT? Sporting KC CEO Robb Heineman thinks so as well as mlssoccer.com’s Steve Brisendine.
.Imo, it's time to get the process going 4 @Ddwyer14 2 b a part of the #usmnt #sportingkc
— Robb Heineman (@RobbHeineman) July 14, 2014
Heineman added another tweet regarding Dwyer’s eligibility.
As a follow up, @Ddwyer14 will b eligible in 2017, aka, #wc2018 starter
— Robb Heineman (@RobbHeineman) July 14, 2014
Noteworthy
Following Dwyer’s two goal performance against Montreal he has now scored 14 goals this season and trails only New York Red Bull’s Bradley Wright-Phillips who has 15 so far. Dwyer is on pace to break the Sporting KC/KC Wizards club scoring record that was set by Preki in the inaugural season for the then KC Wizards of 18 goals.
Following the injury to Eric Kronberg, Andy Gruenebaum will get his chance to face his former team the Columbus Crew on Wednesday. Gruenebaum spent 8 years with Columbus before coming to Sporting KC in the 2014 off season.
Be sure to check out KC Kingdom throughout the day for news on the Chiefs, Royals, Sporting KC, Tigers, Wildcats, and Jayhawks.
Go Sporting!