Swope Park Rangers Head Coach Paulo Nagamura
On tonight’s game…
It was a tough game against a very good team. They gave us a great challenge tonight. I think in the first half we were okay. I think we were moving the ball a little better. We had a few chances. In the second half we struggled to keep that possession and I think Saint Louis did a very good job in the second half on pressing us and putting us in the backfield. At the end of the day, it was a great challenge for us. Hopefully the young guys learn from this game and we can improve going forward.
On defending all night…
I think it is about attitude. We came in with a game plan for tonight and I think we did not execute that well for the 90 minutes. Like I said, I think Saint Louis is a good team and they gave us a very difficult game. You are going to play games and you are going to face difficult opponents and it is about how we react to that.
On players' performances with pressing…
I think it is big in our team, we like to press of course, but there are going to be teams as well that they are going to be able to get out of that pressure. Overall in the first half, we did okay. Overall in the second half, we were not sharp enough to make those plays and keep possession there on our offensive half.
On missing (Kharlton) Belmar…
Belmar is a great player and I am glad that he got a chance to go with the first team. To be honest, we were not focusing on one guy. We always have guys coming from the Academy and guys we have on the roster, so that is why we have Swope. To give those guys playing time and make sure they are evolving and getting closer to the first team.
On adapting to the bigger venue…
I think very well. I think it fits the way we want to play. This is one of the best stages in the United States so we could not ask for a better venue to play on. It is a work in progress. We have a lot of young guys who are trying to improve and move to the next step and that is what we have to keep doing.
Swope Park Rangers goalkeeper Darrin MacLeod
On his second start…
I mean obviously it feels good to get in as many minutes as possible, but team effort. I feel like everyone is a little disappointed by the result. I felt we should have got away with three, but overall happy to get 90 minutes in.
On the goal in the 86th minute…
To be honest I do not know what led up to it. The guy just whipped the ball across between the six and the eight and we just did not have our marks. It was an easy finish from there. We have to do a better job closing out games and making sure everyone is accounted for when we get into the box.
On next week…
It is clear we have a good team no matter who is in the starting lineup. We kind of rotate players in, but I think we show that every single player is capable of putting in a good performance and I think that just continues next week against OKC.
Swope Park Rangers forward Hadji Barry
On sensing the goalie’s movement…
It was a quick reaction. Once the center back went for a header and he missed it and I looked up and I saw the keeper was off his nine and I just took my chance and it luckily went in.
On the new venue…
It is a big field so we are getting used to it, especially with the way we play with our possession oriented game so it helps us a lot.
On settling for a tie…
For sure, disappointing. We wanted to come out with three points, especially at home. We want to win all of our home games. We just have to move onto the next one.
Saint Louis FC forward Kyle Greig
On the crossing pass and finishing the goal…
Another sub got on the field and our subs always try to make a difference. He got in behind and smashed the ball across and I just took a chance and gambled on the back post.
On pressing in the second half…
That is kind of the way the game goes. I think Swope Park possessed the ball very well the first half, but there is always lull in the game usually around the 60’ minute. That was when we were able to capitalize on it and create more chances going forward.
On getting a point on the road…
Yeah, definitely, especially on a big field like this with the other team having a lot of possession, it is hard to really stick through that and be patient. It was definitely good to come away with a point, obviously you want to come away with three points every game but away from home, we will take the point.
