Sporting KC: MLS Predictions Based Off CONCACAF Play

Will Gerso Fernandes take Daniel Salloi’s playing time and replace him as the leading scorer for Sporting this year?

Not by himself.

Fernandes was phenomenal in both legs of the opening CCL round. He was easily the man of the match(es), scoring a momentum-shifting goal in each match and notching an assist on top of that. Him and Niemeth together were delightful to watch—and given that the pair must replace Rubio’s production of last season, I sincerely hope that their offensive contributions continue.

It’s possible that Fernandes only started over Salloi because of Salloi’s minor preseason injury. Fernandes’s touch isn’t as smooth as Salloi’s, and he has historically been inconsistent throughout his tenure with Kansas City; but his athleticism and ability to get in the right place at the right time makes him a real competitor with Salloi for the position.

Whether Salloi’s preseason injury was serious or not, he is also in the middle of North America’s biggest soccer competition while barely out of his teenage years. As Salloi also went through his high and low points last season, a slower introduction to CONCACAF-level pressures may be what’s best for him right now.

Regardless of whether Salloi or Fernandes become the consistent starter during the regular season, the other will most likely be rotated in frequently enough to make a significant impact in the attack.

I still expect Salloi to be an offensive firepower, and I don’t expect Fernandes to outperform Salloi by himself. However, I also wouldn’t be surprised to see the Fernandes-Niemeth pairing becoming the new powerhouse of the squad this season.