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I imagine Peter Vermes was right upset after the loss to the Vancouver Whitecaps, as he should have been. That was a lousy performance.
What we saw last night was more or less the opposite of that.
Another new lineup (a new lineup every game! I almost want to see the trend continue for the rest of the season) and this time, a new result. A 4-1 spanking of Toronto FC. On the one hand, it could have maybe been worse. Two early penalty kicks put TFC into a hole that made them come out and play a more open game, which I think always benefits Sporting Kansas City, and then Jackson did... well, that. Just Jackson being Jackson I guess? I don't know that I've ever seen a 3 on 0 go as wrong as that did honestly, but I'll take it. Jon Kempin (whom, henceforth, shall be known as Tiny Puma) did well enough on that play to position himself in a way that gave Aurelien Collin enough time to back track and make a fine play.
And how about that Soony Saad strike, eh? ♪♫ Oh my god, it's a mirage, I'm telling all ya'll it was Soony Saad! ♫♪
Anyway, let's look at some numbers.
| Toronto FC | Key Stat | |
| Joe Bendik | 4.3 | 4 goals conceded |
| Justin Morrow | 4.3 | 4 goals conceded |
| Doniel Henry | 4.6 | 8 CBIs |
| Nick Haglund | 4.3 | 5 recoveries |
| Collin Warner | 5.8 | 1 assist |
| Jonathon Osorio | 4.9 | 91% pass accuracy |
| Jackson | 4.6 | 1 big chance missed |
| Michael Bradley | 4.6 | 3 accurate long balls |
| Kyle Bekker | 4.3 | 7 minutes played |
| Luke Moore | 4.6 | Honestly, pretty invisible |
| Gilberto | 6.4 | 1 goal |
| Dominic Oduro | 5.5 | 1 assist |
| Bright Dike | 4.3 | 1 shoe lost |
| Daniel Lovitz | 4.3 | 17 minutes played |
| Team Average | 4.7 | |
| Sporting Kansas City | Key Stat | |
| Jon Kempin | 4.9 | 1 Big Save |
| Aurelien Collin | 4.9 | 1 Big Clearence |
| Lawrence Olum | 4.6 | 82% pass accuracy |
| Matt Besler | 4.6 | 5 recoveries |
| Seth Sinovic | 4.6 | 85% pass accuracy |
| Igor Juliao | 4.6 | 5 CBIs |
| Benny Feilhaber | 5.2 | 1 Penalty Earned |
| Graham Zusi | 5.8 | 1 Assist |
| Sal Zizzo | 4.6 | 4 recoveries |
| Jorge Claros | 4.3 | 93% pass accuracy |
| Dom Dwyer | 8.3 | 2 penalty kicks converted |
| Soony Saad | 7.4 | 1 goal |
| C J Sapong | 5.8 | 1 goal |
| Claudio Bieler | 4.3 | 11 minutes played |
| Team Average | 5.3 | |
So, yeah. I feel bad giving MotM honors to Dom Dwyer for converting two PKs, even if it's not that easy. But, ignoring Dwyer, let's give a nod to Soony Saad. He played really well, and, honestly, damn. What a good goal.
Disagreement in the comments. Go.