Thoughts about tonight's game, witnessed by 20,618 fans in attendance at Children's Mercy Park, are reflective of only my own head. Agree or don't, that's okay.
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The first sign this night wasn't going to go according to plan was probably even before the game started. While KSHB meteorologist Gary Lezak was giving the forecast (pre-recorded) that said it would stay dry, it started to rain. Some in the crowd used a chant they usually reserve for officials ("You Don't Know What You're Doing"). I may give the weather guys flack for what they say or how they say it, but as Bryan Busby from KMBC would say, "Predicting the future is hard."
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During the match, I was asked for my "off the top of your head" reason that I thought this team wasn't very good right now. I said too many turnovers in the defensive third and not enough good finishing. Now, there wasn't really anything that Sporting could have done about the second goal. I mean it's hard to do anything with a ball the defender, Brad Davis in this case, can't see coming.
I think it's fair to say, though, you can't really put much blame on goalkeeper Tim Melia for either of the other two goals. He got hung out to dry by his defense. It's hard to fault him for the third one. Tim came out to cut down the angle and Movsisyan chipped it over him. It's just one of those things.
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Considering how talkative RSL manager Jeff Cassar was at his postgame press conference, you would think the club would have an open locker room after the match, as they're required to do by league policy.
Evidently, that's what you get for thinking. After trying to get into the RSL locker room, Sam McDowell of the KC Star came back to the SKC locker room to talk to public relations head honcho Rob Thomson, telling him RSL had refused him access to the locker room. For those who've never gotten the 25 cent tour of Children's Mercy Park, there is a sign on the door to the locker room that says media access is granted 15 minutes after matches. It's not just league policy, but an order from MLS commissioner Don Garber. When the man in charge says to do something, you really need to do it.
I could possibly see not wanting to give access after a bad loss, but RSL won their second straight game in Kansas City for the first time in franchise history. This isn't so we can embarrass professional athletes talking about stupid stuff. This is so we can tell people about the game that just happened, just in case they couldn't watch it, or if they did, give them more context about what went on that night. MLS needs to make sure RSL is following league policies, or what do they even have rules on this stuff for, honestly.
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It's a short week as they return to Children's Mercy Park on Friday to take on Handball United, also known as DC United. Sporting will be without Graham Zusi and Matt Besler as they've been called into the USMNT for Copa America Centenario. Here's hoping the time away can help them find whatever it is that's missing from their games. I wish them, and the US team luck in the tournament, even if I do want Jurgen Klinsmann to get fired.
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