Saturday, October 5, 2013

Kick it!

MLS Soccer comes towards it's regular season conclusion.  (And now I get to a place where I can get to watch my Sporting KC on the telly...agh!)

  • US Open Cup:  Sporting KC won the 2012 US Open Cup at "LiveStrong" Sporting Park.  Since then, the stadium's name has changed, Kei Kamara has got loaned, then transfered to a team in the UK, and Sporting KC got eliminated from the 2013 US Open Cup.
    In a Wigan-like run, DC United pulled more wins in Cup competition than in league play to this point.  Their chance for hardware would come at Rio Tinto Park, visiting Real Salt Lake.  (How'd they decide where to play?  Good question.)  And , like Wigan, DC ended up the winner, making a end-of-first-half goal stick.  This is their 3rd Cup win, to go with four Shield wins and four MLS Cup wins.  When counting Cup, Shield, and MLS Cup, DC now leads the league with 11, ahead of LA Galaxy's 10 and Chicago Fire's 6.
  • CONCACAF Champions League.  Sporting KC needs a home result (draw or win) to advance to the final eight in the CONCACAF Champions League.  Potentially, all four of the US-based MLS teams could advance to the final eight, and, potentially, all four of the Mexican teams could advance to the final eight.  (The way they're grouped, it can be an all US&MEX final eight).  We'd have to wait for March to see these teams try to make it through up to six games to claim glory.  (Wow, sounds like March Madness).  
  • Sporting KC is in prime position to make the playoff, but probably won't claim the Supporters' Shield, awarded to the team that finishes with the best regular season position (and, of course, a trip to next year's CCL).  As of right now, Seattle looks in best position to finish at the top of the table.

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