If football teaches us anything, it’s that the rollercoaster of emotions can sometimes be merciless. And, my friends, Sporting Kansas City felt that rollercoaster first hand when they took on the Columbus Crew.
The first half began with Sporting Kansas City showing what they are made of. The tactical organization was good, hard work was evident and their determination was palpable. Peter Vermes seemed to have found the perfect symphony to counteract Columbus Crew’s momentum. The opposing team ran into the wall with every attack. The lines were tight, space was minimal and the pressure was relentless.
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But just before the end of the first half, a brief mistake occurred, a split second of inattention, and Columbus Crew pounced on its prey like a predator that senses its prey’s hesitation. A goal that hit Sporting Kansas City like a bucket of cold water.
Before the second half, everyone expected a comeback, a recapture of control. What we saw, however, was a team that seemed to have left its soul in the dressing room. The organization from the first half? Gone. The tactical discipline? Gone.
Peter Vermes tried to reorganise things. Substitutions were made to bring some freshness and new dynamism into the game. But as we all know, when the ship is sinking, it cannot always be saved by substituting rowers. Mistakes piled up, decisions were made in a hurry and, to top it all off, the players seemed to be mentally exhausted.
Vermes acknowledged the opponent’s performance, but did not hold back in his criticism of his team’s disorganization and lack of decision-making ability. He admitted that the team had lost its tactical orientation and that individual errors had been costly. Johnny Russell, with frustration written all over his face, was even more blunt. He acknowledged Columbus Crew’s superiority and made it clear that it was unacceptable for a competitor to feel so far removed from the quality of the opposition.
Sporting Kansas City needs to take a long look in the mirror and think. Where is the team that started the game with so much determination? What happened at halftime that caused the team to collapse like a house of cards?
