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| photo by Ryan Knapp |
- by Cole O'Brien, writing from Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
With a 1-0 win over D.C. United my childhood team found themselves first in the east and in the playoffs. Looking back to the start of the season no one, including Sporting themselves, would ever have imagined that they would be basking in the glory they are currently enjoying. Of course, the start of their season was spent under quite different circumstances. KC treaded through a 10-match away streak, stealing only six points from the spoils. This stretch included a devastating 6-1 loss to the Seattle Sounders, the very same team who months later barely stole a win thanks to Rosalez's heroics in the waning minutes of the match.
Sporting haven't always been a bad team, only the last couple of years have seen the team fall apart. In 2004 the Wizards, as they were known then, clinched first place in the league. This was the last real taste of enjoyment KC would taste. Now, seven years later, that same team are looking more dangerous than ever. The self proclaimed MLS Cup contenders boast one of the best records of the second half of the season, earning a tie with Cup favorites L.A. Galaxy and holding off several threats to KC's reign of the east.
Kansas City's second leg quarterfinal opponent will be decided in the coming week as the F.C. Dallas, Columbus Crew, and Colorado Rapids trash through the wild card round to earn the right to a chance at the cup. As many barbed comments were thrown at Major League Soccer for their new playoff structure, it created the amount of drama you'd expect on the last day of the EPL. What's most hard to believe is the drama is not over yet. Fans still have to endure a playoff series that will bring out the best and worst in teams. The same teams that found themselves riding a high into the playoffs can find themselves thrown under the boat and torn to pieces from the pressure.
Kansas City has accomplished the impossible the season. Going from a point where their own press portrayed them as the worst team in the league to winning the east in the final week of play. It wasn't easy and Sporting's record shows it. Even during their highs KC struggled to win, capturing ties with most of their opponents. Nonetheless, KC for a time held the longest unbeaten streak in the league until it was so suddenly ended by the Seattle Sounders courtesy of Rozales' two extra time strikes.
The blues shot a newfound sense of pride throughout their town that hadn't seen a successful sports team since 2004 (the last time the Wizards won the league). Soon enough Livestrong Sporting Park, also known as the "Blue Cauldron", was filled to the brim with sell out crowds. The new stadium even attracted the attention of the US Men's National Team who hosted their Gold Cup final group stage match against Guadoloupe in the heart of the midwest city.
In the summer I found myself visiting Overland Park and enjoyed a couple of matches inside the blue hell. The first match I laid eyes upon was the hyped up Gold Cup quarterfinals. Livestrong Sporting Park was host to Canada vs Panama and the US vs Guadoloupe. The passion of the fans was incredible. The supporters section is one of the most energetic you will ever find yourself engulfed in. The fans are singing songs of such passion that you find yourself tired and half deaf by the time the final whistle has blown. The fans center inside the corner of the stadium is host to over two dozen plasmas that host parties during away games and a great rest for anyone in the supporters section.
This very same $200 million stadium is the ground that Sporting won the rights to play at during both legs of their Semifinal playoffs. "It's great to have the home field advantage, but you've still got to win." head coach Peter Vermes said. "What I feel good about is the guys came on the road and they got a win. That's what you've go to do in this next round of the play offs."
Eastern Conference Champions or not, Sporting Kansas City are certainly a force to be reckoned with come play offs. Boasting a 12-3-9 record from June 9 forward it's no secret that the blues are one of the most consistent teams in the league, especially when playing at their home grounds. It's hard to see anyone else save maybe the recovering New York Red Bulls taking down the surging steam roller that is Sporting Kansas City.
Watch out L.A. Galaxy. It seems you may finally have a formidable opponent.
