Swope Park Rangers head coach Nikola Popovic
Overall thoughts on the performance...
I think it was a difficult match for us. I think everybody understands it’s the international week and the impact that has on our team and players. When you lose 6-7 players, it’s a different team. I think in the first half we lost control of the game. We couldn’t keep the ball the way we wanted, but still we had some chances, we hit the post multiple times. In the second half we made some tactical changes with the players and we were much better and had the position we wanted and created chances. We scored two goals and I feel like we could have scored three or four.
On ending the regular season with a win...
I think of course we knew these two games would be very difficult because of the international weeks. Being a B team it will always be difficult for us. We have to congratulate the players for a fantastic year, we made more points than last year, more goals, more wins. We put four players in the first team, more minutes to the first team and more minutes to the academy players, so I think it was a fantastic regular season. Playoffs are a completely different animal, it’s one game.
On the potential to face Phoenix in the playoffs...
We have to wait for the end of the season, but we could face them. They're a fantastic team with Didier Drogba, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Omar Bravo. They are a fantastic team and they are having a good season. It would be a very difficult game.
Swope Park Rangers forward Lebo Moloto
On his seven goals this season...
It’s a good way to finish the season. You can always score more goals, but I’m happy with having seven goals. We needed that win, so I’m happy to contribute and score the first goal.
On ending the season with a win...
You always want to start the playoffs on a good note, you always want to start with a win. I think it’s a confidence booster and to hopefully start the first playoff game with a home field advantage. I’m looking forward to the first game of the playoffs.
Seattle Sounders FC 2 head coach Ezra Hendrickson
Thoughts on the match...
We fell short, we had a game plan, we had a really good first half and was able to go up 1-0. We came out in the second half and we had to make a change and take Harry Shipp out, which kind of hurt us a little bit. I think some calls didn’t go our way that I think should have, which got us rattled and guys started worrying more about the ref than playing and I think that took away from us. But they’re a good team, we came to their place and I think we put up a decent fight, but it just wasn’t good enough.
On the penalty decision...
I’ll have to look at it again. According to the player he didn’t touch him. A penalty is a penalty when the ref calls it. I’ll have to look at it to see what happened, but you can’t change it now. Those kinds of calls change momentum and changes games and I think that’s what happened tonight
On Zach Mathers' 11th goal of the year...
He’s developed really well these past couple of years. Zach has really come into his own. He’s still developing, but we like what we’ve seen from him so far and I think he has a bright future. This was a very productive year for him and I think he stepped up and took on the role of the guy that is going to produce our goals and assists.
Seattle Sounders FC 2 goalkeeper Tyler Miller
Thoughts on the match...
It was an evenly fought match, both teams had chances. We obviously put one in early and it’s always a dangerous game when you put a goal in early because you don’t want to become complacent and drop back and I feel like once we scored our goal KC stepped up a bit and put us under a little more pressure.
On his six saves...
KC was pushing for another goal and we were pushing for one as well. As a goalkeeper that’s what I’m there for. I’m there to make those saves and keep our team in it. Tonight I was able to do that and it’s a good way to build a good rhythm for me moving forward.
