The north goal was overflowing with blue confetti Wednesday night. So much, in fact, the grounds crew had to haul out leaf blowers at halftime to rid the box of four goal celebrations.
Cleanup was need in the second half as well, as Sporting Kansas City tacked on two more goals in their 6-2 rout of FC Dallas in U.S. Open Cup play. Dom Dwyer made history with four goals and a first-half hat trick. Krisztian Nemeth continued his impressive form with a brace that included a mind-boggling, curling flick on the end line, which he later answered “both” to when asked whether it was a shot or cross.
Sporting KC manager Peter Vermes was pleased with his side’s effort in their highest-scoring effort since 2005, but it didn’t come without criticism.
“I’m a little unhappy that we gave away the two goals, I really am,” Vermes said after the match. “I think they’re cheap goals that we gave away. From that side of it, we have to deal with that, but getting six goals was big for us.”
Michael Barrios scored FC Dallas’ first goal three minutes after Sporting KC went up 5-0 in the 59th minute. Eleven minutes later, following a 25-yard free-kick goal scored by Dwyer, Kellyn Acosta snuck behind the Sporting KC backline and slotted home his team’s second goal of the night.
“Going up 5-0 before we got scored on, I think we naturally took our foot off the gas a little bit, as anyone would and as we should have,” Sporting KC goalkeeper Tim Melia said. “They were some lax goals, but the important thing is that Dom is on fire again, Krisztian is clicking, our midfield is clicking and all the guys are doing really well.”
The slight displeasure doesn’t stem from poor form. Quite the opposite, actually, said Melia. Entering Wednesday, Sporting KC had shutout opponents in five of six matches and nine times overall across all competitions. The team tallied just 13 shutouts across all competitions in all of 2014.
“I’ve always said since I’ve been the coach that we have always been a really good defensive team because of the way our front five go about their business,” Vermes said. “When they’re pressing and doing their job, it makes it so easy as a defender in behind.
“Don’t get me wrong about defenders and Tim — obviously Tim has come up with some incredible saves since he’s become the No. 1 — but it really starts with those guys up front.”
Collectively, Sporting KC’s defense ranks sixth in MLS with a 1.07 goals against average. However, since Melia took over in goal against Chicago on May 3, Sporting KC’s goals against average is a staggering 0.62.
The feat is especially impressive considering Sporting KC’s backline has been forced to be interchangeable for much of the season due to injuries and international call-ups.
“It speaks volumes to Peter and the diagram he puts in place for us to play in,” Melia said. “It doesn’t matter if our right or left back is out, or if we’re changing a centerback. Whatever it is, the guys know their assignments, they know their jobs. We all get on the same page pretty quickly when we get out there.”
After Real Salt Lake snapped a 311-minute shutout streak on June 21, Melia and company regrouped and held Colorado to just two shots on goal in a ninth shutout. Despite allowing two goals again Wednesday evening, Melia isn’t concerned with his team’s defensive form. He’d rather focus on the results.
“If we score six goals every game, we’re not going to lose many,” Melia said.
