A dramatic Decision Day didn't go the way Sporting Kansas City wanted.
Sunday's 2-1 loss at Real Salt Lake, coupled with Houston Dynamo's 3-0 win over the Chicago Fire, means Manager Peter Vermes' men will begin their playoff campaign on the road in the knockout round for the fourth consecutive year. No. 5-seed Sporting KC will visit No. 4-seed Houston in a single-elimination showdown Thursday at 8:30 p.m. CT on FOX Sports Kansas City, FOX Sports Midwest and UniMas.
Casting aside the disappointment of a missed opportunity to host the Knockout Round, Sporting KC still ends the 2017 MLS regular season as one of the best defensive sides in league history.
In addition to boasting among the lowest goals conceded totals and goals against average, Sporting KC became just the fourth MLS club all-time to go an entire regular season without conceding three or more goals in a game. The only other sides to accomplish the feat are the 2003 LA Galaxy, 2010 FC Dallas and 2010 Real Salt Lake.
More broadly, Sporting KC's 29 goals allowed were the third-fewest in a 34-game regular season in MLS history, while their 0.85 goals against average with the fifth-lowest all-time.
FEWEST GOALS ALLOWED ALL-TIME
(MLS SINGLE-SEASON, 1996-PRESENT)
<strong>GA</strong> |
<strong>Club</strong> |
<strong>Year</strong> |
<strong>Games</strong> |
20 |
Real Salt Lake |
2010 |
30 |
23 |
Houston Dynamo |
2007 |
30 |
26 |
LA Galaxy |
2010 |
30 |
27 |
Sporting KC |
2012 |
34 |
28 |
LA Galaxy |
2011 |
34 |
28 |
Chivas USA |
2007 |
30 |
28 |
FC Dallas |
2010 |
30 |
<em><strong>29</strong></em> |
<em><strong>Sporting KC</strong></em> |
<em><strong>2017</strong></em> |
<em><strong>34</strong></em> |
29 |
LA Galaxy |
1999 |
32 |
29 |
Sporting KC |
2000 |
32 |
29 |
Houston Dynamo |
2009 |
30 |
29 |
Seattle Sounders FC |
2009 |
30 |
29 |
New York Red Bulls |
2010 |
30 |
29 |
San Jose Earthquakes |
2001 |
26 |
LOWEST GOALS AGAINST AVERAGE ALL-TIME
(MLS SINGLE-SEASON, 1996-PRESENT)
<strong>GAA</strong> |
<strong>Club</strong> |
<strong>Year</strong> |
<strong>Games</strong> |
0.67 |
Real Salt Lake |
2010 |
30 |
0.77 |
Houston Dynamo |
2007 |
30 |
0.79 |
Sporting KC |
2012 |
34 |
0.82 |
LA Galaxy |
2011 |
34 |
<em><strong>0.85</strong></em> |
<em><strong>Sporting KC</strong></em> |
<em><strong>2017</strong></em> |
<em><strong>34</strong></em> |
0.87 |
LA Galaxy |
2010 |
30 |
0.88 |
Sporting KC |
2013 |
34 |
0.91 |
LA Galaxy |
1999 |
32 |
0.91 |
Sporting KC |
2000 |
32 |
Sunday's contest also saw Graham Zusi finish one of the best playmaking seasons MLS has ever witnessed among defenders. The U.S. international tallied his eighth league assist of the year, equaling Sporting KC's all-time high for assists among defenders in a single season. The long-time record holder was Jose Burciaga, who notched eight helpers in 2006.
Zusi also ended the year with 60 chances created, the most by an MLS defender in a single season since Opta began tracking the statistic in 2010.
MOST CHANCES CREATED BY MLS DEFENDERS
(MLS REGULAR SEASON SINCE 2010)
<strong>Year</strong> |
<strong>Player (club)</strong> |
<strong>Chances Created</strong> |
<strong>Games Played</strong> |
<strong><em>2017</em></strong> |
<strong><em>Graham Zusi (SKC)</em></strong> |
<strong><em>60</em></strong> |
<strong><em>24</em></strong> |
2015 |
Chris Tierney (NE) |
58 |
31 |
2011<br>
2016 |
Chris Tierney (NE) |
48 |
27<br>
28 |
2012<br>
2013 |
Chris Tierney (NE) |
44 |
28<br>
29 |
2011<br>
2017 |
Sebastian Miranda (CLB)<br>
Joevin Jones (SEA |
37 |
34<br>
30 |
