Let’s evaluate Sporting KC through 3 MLS matches (all draws) to open 2024 season

Sporting Kansas City will look for its first win of the season on Saturday night against the San Jose Earthquakes. Kickoff from Children’s Mercy Park is at 7:30 p.m.

Through three matches to open the 2024 campaign, Sporting KC (0-0-3) has played to three draws: at Houston, a 1-1 final score; vs. Philadelphia, also 1-1; and at LAFC, 0-0.

Three ties in three weeks ... it’s left us plenty to ponder. Here are three observations about Sporting KC’s play thus far:

Progress is evident

While the results are all the same on paper, Sporting KC’s growth from game to game has been evident.

The team wasn’t quite in sync at Houston on opening weekend, but Sporting turned it up a notch in the home opener against Philly. If not for a series of questionable officiating decisions, Kansas City might’ve turned this one into a victory.

And Saturday’s performance in L.A. was Sporting KC’s best year in 2024. The visiting side, Sporting held a majority of possession and took more shots (and put more of those shots on target). Sporting KC’s game model involves breaking teams down in possession, and manager Peter Vermes prefers to defend by having the ball.

Now Vermes and company need to work on scoring more goals. Vermes often says that’s one of the last things to come as a team solidifies its identity during early-season matches. Sporting has just two goals thus far, but that’s not so strange — 11 of the league’s 29 teams have yet to score a third goal.

“We’re creating chances,” Vermes said. “We’ve got all the players on the field to do it. No concern.”

In MLS, it’s not about how a team starts the season, but rather how that side is playing by season’s end. Remember, Sporting KC was winless through its first 10 matches of the 2023 season, scoring just three goals total during that span.

But then Sporting KC scored 42 goals in its next 24 games, averaging 1.75 goals per outing. Only two teams had a higher season-long goals-per-90 ratio: Atlanta United and eventual champion Columbus.

The goals will come along this season, too.

Engine room running smooth

The Sporting KC midfield has been solid through three games. Erik Thommy and Remi Walter have scored the team’s first two goals — both on excellent left-footed strikes.

Part of Sporting KC’s game plan is knowing when to take risks with the ball, and when not to. Overall, the KC midfielders have been relatively risk-averse in their decision-making.

When they do take risks, they do so in a manner that doesn’t leave the team exposed. When they’ve lost the ball, they’ve recovered quickly and snuffed out counter-attacks while providing cover for the back line.

Communication has been one prime element here; the other is having an excellent anchor in Nemanja Radoja, who is playing his best soccer yet in a Sporting KC kit.

Vermes called him a “different guy” thanks to his fitness. “He does a good job of recovering well into that position,” Vermes said. “He doesn’t expose us by leaving that position too often.”

The KC manager also said members of the midfield group cover for each other when one leaves to hunt the ball. Such moments might otherwise expose the team and, more specifically, the back line.

Defense showing early signs

Speaking of the back line …

This position group has opened 2024 in stingy fashion. If you argue that Philadelphia’s goal should never have happened (you’d have a good case), Sporting KC has otherwise conceded just once through three matches.

Regardless, two goals through three games is very good. Only three teams have conceded fewer.

Dany Rosero and Andreu Fontás’ partnership at center back has reached another level. Like the midfielders, Rosero covers deep when Fontás plays his important role of pushing up — sometimes even into the midfield — in order to help jump-start Sporting’s attack.

“I think your back four has to realize they’re going to be on an island sometimes,” Vermes said. “And they have to be able to not only recognize it, but also make good decisions within that environment: how to delay, and how to give the worst of all the choices to the opponent.”

Jake Davis and Tim Leibold have done an admirable job in not giving away much in the wider spaces. The first goal SKC allowed this season might’ve come on their watch, but that’s been the lone hiccup for this position group through three matches.

And Sporting KC will gladly take that.