Sporting Kansas City Manager Peter Vermes
Thoughts on the match and if he saw a response from the players…
I think for sure our effort was excellent. It was excellent because of a couple of things. One is, sure, the response, the other is – this is weather that we haven't played in this year at all. So the heat was definitely going to be a big factor, but our effort was actually incredible. Everybody's work who came in, whether they started or they came into the game, they were solid. That part was good. Unfortunately, we score early, great goal. We get up and then we have a mistake, and the mistake hurts us. I think that didn't help us at all because at that point we probably finish out the half in zeros. We've been pretty good defensively up to that point. And then going in at halftime 2-1 – the thing that really killed us though was the third goal. But the fight still was in the guys and they worked their way back and shoot, even (Erik) Thommy hitting the crossbar. I know they hit the post as well. I'm just saying we had some good chances, but it definitely wasn't for a lack of effort today, just more of a couple mistakes that we made.
Sporting Kansas City captain Johnny Russell
On the team’s response in the match…
I think you can see the effort and the response is definitely there. The effort is something that should be there every week. It's not really something that you should be praised for. That should be the very little that you give. There was a definite response. I think you could see that. But ultimately, the same mistakes - individual mistakes and team mistakes and it cost us three points. On the road, it's actually a very good performance from us. We just make it hard for ourselves by individual and team errors. You can't continue to do that. At this level, you're going to get punished and we are right now. The response is there, but ultimately, we fall short again so it's another missed opportunity.
On the game-winning goal…
Conceding anytime is frustrating, but right before the half and right after the half is probably the most frustrating time to do it. The message at halftime is to continue to do the things we're doing. We made two mistakes in the first half and we get punished for it. That was all about just a little bit more energy. We were keeping the ball well. We knew in this heat that if we continue to do that, then we were going to break them down eventually. Then you go out in the second half and in the first attack you allow them to get across in the box. It's a great header. I think everyone knows the quality that the guy's got. It's an incredible header, but we shouldn't be allowing one ball over the top and then a cross into the box. That's another mistake by us. It’s another team error and it costs us.
On the week ahead…
It’s a huge, huge opportunity to bounce back and to try and get through in the round. We know it's a chance to go win something. We feel that way about every competition. It's such a historic competition in this country and one that we take very seriously. It's all about recovering quickly, bouncing back very quickly and it's an opportunity to get that feel good factor back in the team. To be at home, I'm sure the fans will be right behind us as they always are. Hopefully we can get a result that gets us through the competition. And then obviously shift focus back on the league in what's going to be another difficult away game against a team who is sort of floating around our position. That's a game that we have to go and win as well.
