Sporting Kansas City's young players – new to the club, their positions or both – have helped the defending MLS Cup champions stay in the thick of the Eastern Conference race at the World Cup break, despite a rash of injuries and international absences.
Don't think the veterans – the ones still available for Wednesday's U.S. Open Cup match against NASL side Minnesota United FC – haven't noticed.
“They've been incredible,” left back Seth Sinovic told MLSsoccer.com after a recent training session. “It's not easy to play the way we play. We press. We play a certain style, and it's not easy to pick it up. These guys have really been thrown into it, and I think they've done an unbelievable job, and they're only going to get better.”
Sporting are without four of their top five defenders, two-thirds of their first-choice midfield and star winger Graham Zusi going into Wednesday's match. They're also still fresh off the transfer of defensive midfielder Uri Rosell to Sporting Clube de Portugal.
Still, forward Jacob Peterson – who made his own move to right back in a 2-0 away win over Houston earlier this month – said the youngsters' performances over the club's recent rough patch showed them more than capable of helping Sporting advance in Cup play.
“When you're put in tough situations, that's when you really find out the character of guys and what we're made of,” Peterson said. “Everybody who has stepped up these last six games has played very well. With the veterans, it definitely earns those guys some respect. We've got a lot of games coming up, with Open Cup and Champions League, and we know those guys are ready.”
And while Sporting's roster situation has been anything but ideal, Sinovic said, it has given the club's players a higher level of camaraderie and shared experience.
“I think it's big from a chemistry standpoint,” he said. “It's a quick way to get to know these guys. A lot of times when they're not getting everyday minutes, you don't experience that chemistry on that level. It's fun to see them out there. It's fun to see them express themselves and show a little personality out there, and I think it's going to pay huge dividends down the line.”
Steve Brisendine covers Sporting Kansas City for MLSsoccer.com.
