Sporting KC
Sporting KC flames out 5-0 in Chicago
Chicago Fire broke through and did not stop scoring.
Sporting Kansas City returned to the road this week for a third straight away game. After a scoreless first half, the Chicago Fire FC scored on a penalty kick, and then the floodgates opened. Chicago added four more to make it a 5-0 final score.
Gregg Berhalter’s starting lineup.
Sporting KC head coach Raphael Wicky’s starters in his return to the city where he once lived and coached.
The first half went well. At least as well as Sporting KC could hope. The two teams both had some chances, including a shot off the post for SKC winger Calvin Harris. It was a nice buildup for SKC, Capita Capemba played it to Dejan Joveljić, who then setup Harris. Wicky’s team played compact and limited chances, making it to the half with a clean sheet. Offensively, they had the aforementioned chance but not many more opportunities on goal.
The second half was similar to the first until a Chicago shot was blocked by Ian James. Referee Brandon Stevis immediately pointed to the spot. Broadcast replays were not conclusive. VAR did not find enough evidence ot overturn the call on the field.
Belgian DP striker Hugo Cuypers stepped up to take the penalty. SKC keeper John Pulskamp made the save, but the ball rebounded back in front of goal. Chicago players reacted quicker than Sporting KC. In the mad dash scramble, Philip Zinckernagel managed to touch the ball across the line.
Pulskamp, a very vocal keeper, protested that he was interfered with in the scramble in front of goal. VAR did not intervene, and the goal stood.
Sporting KC had kept the game close until that point. Once the goal was scored, SKC started pushing and opened themselves up to Chicago’s superior attack. After the Zinckernagel goal in the 51st, he followed it up in the 65th. Cuypers added one in the 73rd and another in the 98th. Those sandwiched a score by Maren Haile-Selassie in the 79th.
Sporting KC are 1-7-1 with just 4 points and returns home to face fifth-place Seattle in their next match.
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Wicky out.
No. Fire the General Manager. Things are in shambles since he started last year. While Wicky can go, the GM owns this.
Wicky had been out of work for 22 months when we picked him up. He signed a seven year contract. It appears there was a reason why he had been out of work.
1-1-7 Makes you proud.
Lee has had one window. He’s had to completely build a technical staff from scratch. Way too early to be Lee Out.
Nah. I can’t stand this trend of “blame the coach for everything” in any sport. This is still Lee and Wicky being handed a sh!t sandwich by years of previous mismanagement. I’m going to give Mallouk time to make good on his pledge to reinvest in this team and give Lee a chance to build from the crater he started with.
Of course, I’m not watching the games so I’ll grant it’s easier for me to stay somewhat aloof from the current tire fire while enjoying the NHL playoffs.
I agree give the new owner a chance, but he needs to do something decisive. This is not acceptable and it hasn’t been acceptable for years.
And I think he will, but it takes time. This is NOT the time to do some frantic “look at me” signing just to paper over the problem. SKC is not exactly a top destination right now, and that adds complexity.
Long ago, even before Vermes left, it was acknowledged that a rebuild would take at least 3 windows. The Peter left, new guy comes on and the roster is totally (virtually) cleared in the post-season. That restarts the 3 window window – unfortunately. We’re one window in – and some of those signings aren’t even showing up until mid-season. It sucks, it’s embarrassing, but it is what it is. We really don’t know if Wicky can coach or not. We really don’t know if Lee can build or not. We don’t know if the new owner is serious about spending his money or not.
I’m cool with embracing the suck but at least lower ticket prices 😂
Yeah, I’m all for “desperate measures” when it comes to showing fans you care. Slash ticket/concession prices. Introduce other benefits. Be aware that you’re hemorrhaging support. Actions like that won’t cripple the roster long-term and might just keep the team a little more relevant in the meantime.
It is so odd that this team played together and worked mostly as a unit in preseason and at the start of the year. From the CO game forward, zero chemistry or teamwork…they look like 11 individuals. I just don’t get it…even poor rosters can play well when working together. This team has a bad roster and doesn’t work together. Not sure if they can fix it…looks badly broken from the cheap seats.
I’m still going to the Seattle game…should have lots of goals just not for SKC. Sigh
They have like 5 new starters and they started pre-season with barely 18 on the roster. Chemistry literally doesn’t exist now.