Sporting Kansas City captain Matt Besler joined Sports Radio 810 WHB on Tuesday to recap an exciting 5-1 win over the San Jose Earthquakes and look ahead to Sunday’s battle with the Philadelphia Union.
In his customary appearance on The Border Patrol with hosts Nate Bukaty, Steven St. John and Jake Gutierrez, Besler remarked that Sporting KC is flying high after collecting their six win in seven games to take hold of first place in the Western Conference.
“We’re trending in the right direction and everyone’s feeling great right now,” Besler said. “There are still six games left in the season, so we have to put our blinders on and be ready. But everyone is confident and excited, and it’s a good time of year to be playing well. We’re already looking forward to our next game on Sunday in Philadelphia, and hopefully we can keep this going.”
Besler and Sporting KC rolled past San Jose in impressive style, scoring five goals on the road for the first time since 2000—the same year the club won its first MLS Cup. Gerso Fernandes was the star of the show with two goals and two assists, while further goals came courtesy of Felipe Gutierrez, Ike Opara and Krisztian Nemeth.
“Everything was going to plan and unfolding exactly as we draw it up on the training ground, and it’s a great feeling when that happens in a real game,” Besler said. “To go on the road and play like we did, it’s exciting that we were able to put on a show like that for our traveling fans.”
Sporting KC will end a two-game road swing this Sunday with a visit to the Philadelphia Union, who are currently navigating a crowded fixture list. Philadelphia visits Seattle Sounders FC on Wendesday night before traveling cross-country back home to host Sporting KC on Sunday. Three days later, the Union will venture south to battle the Houston Dynamo in the 2018 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final. Consequently, Manager Peter Vermes’ men could see a rotated Philadelphia squad when the sides square off this weekend.
“We don’t know how they’re going to approach this,” Besler said of Philadelphia. “If I had to guess, they would save some of their starters for the Open Cup next Wednesday. At the same time, there are only six games left in the season. They are fighting for a playoff spot and they’re playing at home. It could go either way for me. I wouldn’t be surprised if they played all of their reserves and saved their starters for the Open Cup, but I might be expecting a mix of starters and reserves.
“We have to focus and put a lot of emphasis on ourselves, but we’ll also be ready for a couple different situations.”
Sunday's game at Talen Energy Stadium will kick off at noon CT on ESPN and ESPN Deportes, while Sports Radio 810 WHB will carry a local radio broadcast with Bukaty calling the game live with Carter Augustine from No Other Pub in the Kansas City Power & Light District. No Other Pub will host the official watch party for the match with $4 Bud Light drafts and an all-you-can-eat buffet with bottomless sodas and domestic draft beers.
Listen to the full podcast below.
