After a dominant 5-0 aggregate victory over Liga MX side Toluca, Sporting Kansas City are heavy favorites to overcome CA Independiente and reach the semifinals of the Concacaf Champions League.
Manager Peter Vermes isn't banking on it, though.
The Panamanian club was viewed as underdogs against Toronto FC, only to defeat Michael Bradley and Co., 5-1, over two legs.
"I don't think you can ever underestimate your opponent," Vermes told ESPN's Herculez Gomez. "Anybody can beat anybody on any given day. Our opponent wants to win as much as we do, so they're going to prepare and we have to make sure to do the same. Independiente is a tough team to play, they have incredible speed and are very good on the counter-attack."
Sporting play the first leg in Panama on Wednesday (7 p.m. CT | Univision, YahooSports.com).
In the club's first MLS match of the season, Vermes didn't make a change to his starting XI. He went with the same lineup that dominated Toluca a few nights prior, only for Sporting to drop points late against LAFC in a 2-1 road loss.
Vermes has identified the need for squad rotation and, as long as the club progresses, fans will see different faces in the team.
"I'm hoping that we keep advancing in the competition," Vermes said. "When we have a congested schedule, we'll be able to rotate some guys around. They'll be prepared to play and give us an impact."
There are six matches to be played for whoever lifts the trophy in just under two months, and Sporting hopes to be the first MLS team to win the competition.
Toronto FC came agonizingly close in 2018, falling in penalties to Chivas Guadalajara, then coached by current San Jose Earthquakes coach Matias Almeyda. Real Salt Lake also finished as runners-up in 2011 to Monterrey, while Montreal Impact lost in the in 2015.
"We'd like to be (the first MLS team to win the Champions League)," Vermes admitted. "It obviously takes a good team, a team that has experience ... Over the last three to five years in MLS, there has been an influx of foreign players into our league, because of more money in the system. There is a good nucleus of American players in our league that have experience in Concacaf. When you put those two together, you have higher-quality players."
