Sporting KC Manager Peter Vermes
On if the team really needed the win tonight...
I think every game we need. I would say that those were three massive points for us. The biggest reason why they were massive were because of the way that we played. The energy on the field and the players with the work they put in the game showed that we left everything on the field. That’s why we got rewarded with the three points. On top of that the fans were fantastic throughout the game; even on the stretch there where we were trying to push forward and even with the changes we made to get back into the game. The offensive guys did not just settle for the point. I think that was big way to end the game and we did a great job.
On bringing Matt Besler on as a substitute..
Lawrence [Olum] was getting a little tight in his groin so we didn’t want to have a situation where it got too severe. It was an easy decision to bring him off. The great thing is that they both are big players for our team. They produce and both Matt [Besler] and Graham [Zusi] both had a major impact on the game. That is what is important. You look at the fight of the team and it was huge. Everybody rallied around each other and got the job done.
On opinions if that is the best combined games for Besler and Zusi in awhile…
I don’t think of it like that. They have been away and we have been going with a good rhythm here recently. And for them now to come back and have the impact that they did is huge. We needed that. And they needed that. It was a huge confidence builder for everyone, but more importantly, the points were massive for us. Graham was very efficient tonight in this game. It was a fantastic goal that he scored.
On reasons behind Matt Besler not starting...
It was just my decision. He is healthy and good to go.
On the high intensity levels from both teams..
We are playing at home. We realize that there are things we have to do here. One of those is that we have to drive the game and we don’t want to make it easy for someone to come in here and play. I thought the guys again came and played with our identity and our DNA. That was what the game was like from the beginning to the end. We did not lose ourselves even though we were down one nil. We found a way to get back. And all the sudden we go up and then they comeback to tie us. We still found a way to end the game. That is the kind of perseverance that you are looking for in the team. That is a good step forward and hopefully that can continue.
On extending the loan for Diego Rubio…
We wouldn’t have extended the loan if we didn’t think he was someone that would be important to keep around. He has had a great attitude since he has been here. It is hard for foreign players to come to our league. They need time to see how the league is played, what the players are like, what the style, the pace, and the physicality of the game is. I think he has gotten some good opportunities, but at the same time his fitness level has been built up to the way that we want to play. Come the rest of this season, he is going to have a lot of opportunities, specifically the fact that we play in champions league which will provide good opportunities for him. We are excited to extend and have him play for the rest of the season.
On Matt stepping up and finishing..
Normally Matt [Besler] stays back in those situations. He does pretty well organizing so we don’t get countered. Before he went in, our assistants told him to go up on the set pieces, but to just make sure to send someone back. Normally he would be back, but he made the decision to go up on that play. It’s one of those things that you feel and it’s great he felt it. He made the right decision out of it.
Sporting KC Midfielder Roger Espinoza
On the change of emotions in the winning moment for Sporting KC...
That’s the Sporting I know from over the years. We have been in tough situations and it has not happened to where we have been a man up in this year to where we were able to tie up the game and then punch back. I think today was that day where all of the players were able to come and find the way to win the game.
On style of play in the game...
We played our game tactically. I don’t think that we were physical. We played just like they were, but we were just tactically good on the field. We were pressuring them and won balls in great areas. I thought we should have scored more.
Sporting KC Midfielder Benny Feilhaber
On the match tonight...
We are very happy with the three points. Obviously, they are vital at this point in the season. Our thought process is that I don’t think we played our best game. There were some really good moments at times, but at the same time, there were some moments that we need to do away with if we want to continue to get results.
On the team's mistakes...
There are giveaways, there are easy passes through us, there are too many breakaways where Tim [Melia] needs to come up huge. You can’t expect to win a lot of games when you are giving up two goals at home and giving up those 100% chances.
On Graham Zusi's performance...
You could tell Zus was on another level tonight. I think he came back with a lot of confidence from Copa America. We need him to be like that. He showed it from his goal, to his free kick to a few other things he did. He was all over the field and we need that continuously.
Sporting KC Defender Matt Besler
On the goal...
When I went in, we were going over set piece responsibilities and Zoran [Savic] said I could make the call if i wanted to go up or not. The moment I went into the game, we were tied 1-1. When you are up 2-1, you probably make the decision to stay back and protect, but we needed a goal at that moment so that’s why I went up.
On getting three points...
It was a big win for us. We really need it at this point in the season, especially at home. Honestly, it didn’t matter how we got the job done tonight or who scored the goals. The fact is we got the three points and hopefully we can gain some momentum from this and move forward.
On Graham Zusi's performance...
He played great. I think you could tell from the opening whistle that he was aggressive with the way he was taking people on and when he had a yard of space he was unleashing his shot. The goalkeeper made a couple nice saves on him, but I was glad he was able to make that run and get the goal because he deserved it tonight.
On coming off the bench tonight...
Coming in as a sub is different. There are challenges that go along with it, especially as a central defender it does not happen too often. Fortunately, I have had some decent experience playing with the national team and having to be available off the bench. Tonight, was no different. I had to be ready to play if my number was called.
Columbus Crew SC Head Coach Gregg Berhalter
On the team's energy level to start the match...
I think our intentions were good. We showed we wanted to come here, control the game and create goal-scoring opportunities. It's a very interesting place to play, a very good environment. We didn't back down. It was important for us to have a good mentality from the start, and I think we did.
On Ola Kamara's two goal performance...
Ola [Kamara] had an excellent game. I've been telling a lot of our local media and some of the national media, his movement is outstanding. He gets in very good spots. I think he could have had a hat-trick today.
On the frustration not to bring home some points...
I addressed this to the team, in my opinion, we worked too hard and were too strong not to get something out of this game. I told the guys I was extremely proud of their effort after going down a man and getting back into the game and sticking with it. So that's disappointing, but it's also soccer. That's how it goes, you know? We're not naive, we understand that the game's not over 'til the whistle blows.
On Dilly Duka's first Crew SC appearance...
I think to get Dilly involved was a plus, I think he showed his quality. He's going to be a player that can help our team. It was good to get him some minutes in a difficult environment and in difficult conditions, being down a man.
On Ola Kamara's goals being a product of movement or timing runs...
It's both. You have to have awareness. You have to have awareness of what your opponent is giving you. Football is about two teams, not just one team. You have to be aware of what the opponent is doing then you have to do the movement yourself.
On Ethan Finlay and Justin Meram's ability to penetrate pockets in Sporting defense and counter against the press...
That was a focus for us, getting into those pockets with our wide attacking-midfielders. Justin [Meram] got into some good spots, Ethan [Finlay] did as well. That allows our fullbacks to push a little higher up the field. I think the mindset and the intentions of the team was to be very aggressive, even though we're playing away from home, to put the opponent on their heels, and in the meantime, play entertaining soccer for the fans.
Opinion of the red card...
I'm not a referee so I'm just lucky I don't have to make those decisions.
On Hector Jimenez' performance and distribution as an attacking midfielder...
Hector [Jimenez] is an interesting one because he's the ultimate team player. It's not easy for a player to be switched and play all these different positions but he does it without skipping a beat. That's his 100th game in MLS and you can see why he's had a long career. It's because he's adaptable and he's a total team player. Performances like that will help this group.
Columbus Crew SC Midfielder Hector Jimenez
On tonight's match...
I felt comfortable. I think in the first half we actually created some really good chances in the first half to potentially get a bigger lead, but unfortunately, that’s how the game goes sometimes.
On how the team was able to create the early chances...
Early in the first half, our shape defensively was really good and we were able to counter pretty well. Tim [Melia] had a good save on Ola [Kamara] and I think if we go up 2-0, it turns out to be a completely different game. We are just so unlucky right now. Sometimes the game is really cruel and we just can’t seem to find the rhythm moving forward.
On how the team rebounds from the loss...
It’s not so much about getting a win. It’s about trying to finish a complete game. As you saw there, at the end of the second half we fell asleep at the last play of the game and that’s the difference between going home with a point and going home with nothing.
Columbus Crew SC Defender Corey Ashe
On the game plan coming in to today...
We knew we had to match their intensity. Obviously, with the crowd we knew they were going to be up for it and we needed to start the game well. The plan was to get behind their lines. They like to press so we knew if we could break that pressure and find midfielders in good spots, we would be in good shape. We were able to fight back after the red card to pull one back, but we just let our guard down in the end. Overall, it was a pretty good performance.
On rebounding from the loss...
It’s always tough, but it’s soccer. We have another good opportunity against New England. We will go back, review the video to see what we did wrong, correct our mistakes and move on.
