Sporting Kansas City in the driving seat, Peter Vermes cautious of unwanted attention – MLS News
Sporting Kansas City were at the bottom of the Eastern Conference points table for most of the first half of 2011 Major League Soccer season. But the new LIVESTRONG Sporting Park seems to have become the change factor of late.
The http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Sporting-89-c40576 had a very long trip spanning over 10 games before the inauguration of the new stadium. While their first game at the new venue ended in a scoreless draw, the team remain undefeated at the site.
The Wizards are unbeaten in their last eight games, racking in four wins and as many draws. The 4-0-4 record has brought them from the depths of the conference table to 4th position, the last of the playoffs qualifying spots.
And it gets better. The team has not only drifted ahead in the home games but has also gained the momentum in away fixtures.
The team has improved to 2-0-3 (two wins and three draws) in the last five away matches and to top it off, they have allowed only four goals in the last 10 outings, and this marks a much needed improvement in the defensive line-up.
Peter Vermes and company are left with only four away outings and it’s all a showdown at home after that.
However, the head coach does not want to get his team in the limelight. “I don’t think we are anywhere near where anyone should be looking at us,” he said. “Those guys are all in the driver’s seat. We’re still just trying to get back into it.”
Although the team’s climb up the league ladder is hardly a twist of luck, the permanent home avenue has definitely played its part. The Home Depot Center for http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Los-Angeles-Galaxy-c39818 and Red Bull Arena for New York Red Bulls have proven the premise.
The Sporting had played as underdogs in the first half of the league, owing to away schedule but had always proved a tough contender in the opposing half. The missing spark was ignited by Livestrong.
“Everybody at the beginning of the season wanted to say, ‘It’s whatever. We approach it the same way.’ But it’s really tough,” CJ Sapong said of the extended road trip. “It’s a testament now, though. In our last three away games, we’ve gotten two wins and a tie. That’s all stemming from finally getting that win, being at home and having something to work off of.”
In addition to the MLS performance, the team has also notched a place in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup quarter-finals after two consecutive draws in the first round.
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