Swope Park Rangers head coach Nikola Popovic
On the team’s performance…
It was fantastic. Once again, we showed a lot of belief. When you’re in the playoffs, it’s different from the regular season. You have some moments that are different. I think the whole team showed a lot of personality and a lot of confidence. We deserve to be in the semifinal.
On showcasing the team’s depth…
What I say always to all the players on the roster, we are a team. Everybody will have a chance. I can only play 11 but everybody has to be ready when they are called upon. Darrin (MacLeod) and Dakota (Barnathan) are two players that didn’t have a lot of minutes during the regular season but they have shown they have a lot of quality.
On the weather delay…
Sometimes it can be good. Sometimes it can be bad. Of course, for me, this was two different games. The first one I think we dominated a lot. On the second, we lost control of the game many times. But I think we made some corrections during the game and then in extra time. We were able to make a good comeback.
On his message to the team…
I think we have a very big heart. This team, not only this year but also last year, has showed we have a lot of character. We will always give our best. I think in this case, our best was enough.
Swope Park Rangers defender Amer Didic
On his goal…
We had pushed up. Lebo (Moloto) had the ball and (Kharlton) Belmar was in front of me. I was just hoping for a good ball in. The ball went in, Kharlton tried to get a head on it to put it on frame. Instead, it popped up and that’s always an opportunity for me to go in and attack. I had to make sure to put it in the right spot because there were a couple guys in the net that were trying to block me out. I was fortunate to put it off the post and go in.
On the weather delay…
It’s always going to be a big difference, especially in a playoff environment like this. Last night we had to stop a couple hours and sit in the locker room and wait. Then (we) go back out and warm up just to have it called off and scheduled again for today. It’s difficult but it’s just part of the game. We just had to adapt to it. I think we did a great job going down a goal and then being able to come back and win it.
On the team’s comeback…
That’s our motto. It goes back all the way to last year. Believing. Believing. Believing. That Orange County game last year defined who this club is as Swope Park Rangers and Sporting KC – just everything that we’re about with the hard work we put into training and these games. It’s definitely something we pride ourselves on as a club.
On the play of Darrin MacLeod…
He was fantastic. I told him, ‘This game is going to come down to you right now’ in the penalties. He was magnificent. He obviously got that save and we got the win so kudos to him and kudos to the team.
Swope Park Rangers goalkeeper Darrin MacLeod
On the team’s performance…
We dug ourselves a hole there in extra time but managed to fight our way out.
On making the most of his opportunity…
We have a big group of goalkeepers here at SKC and Swope Park Rangers. Whichever gets the nod on the day, I think we’re all capable and ready to make big plays when needed. Now that I got my opportunity, obviously I’m enjoying it and just trying to help the team as best I can.
On the comeback…
We have a belief. We knew that we were going to win after we tied it. It’s penalties, at the end of the day we came out on the better end.
On the pressure in penalties…
Actually, I enjoy it. To be honest, there’s no real pressure on the goalkeeper. You’re supposed to score penalties. It was nice to get that first one out of the way just to calm the nerves and the guys to get ahead early.
Swope Park Rangers forward Lebo Moloto
On the pressure of taking a penalty…
There’s always pressure. It doesn’t matter what the competition is, there’s always pressure. I’m glad to have converted and win it for the team.
On the weather delay…
It made a huge difference. I felt like we had the momentum last night. It was a good 45 minutes and they were starting to get tired. The weather gave them a break and they came out strong today, energized. We did pretty good overall.
On the contributions from the full squad…
I always tell the guys, ‘You always have to be ready’ as an older guy on the team. Guys like Darrin (MacLeod) and Dakota (Barnathan, who) came in to the midfield at defensive mid against (Didier) Drogba. It’s good to have a squad that only has one goal. Everyone is on the same page whether you’re playing week in and week out. Like Nikola says, you’ve always got to be ready.
On the spirit of the team…
Belief. Belief. That’s what (Christian) Duke said. We gotta believe. We gotta believe and push each other. It was a good comeback, a really good comeback. It felt good.
