The battle for MLS Cup glory will take place on Saturday Dec 7th in Sporting Park, Kansas City(pictured). Kick-Off 4pm ET.
By virtue of a better points total over the regular season, Sporting enjoy massive home-field advantage, and will hope to make it pay.
Both teams have similar records in the league this season, the only real difference being Real Salt Lake having scored 10 goals more, whereas Sporting have a better defensive record by 11 goals. The teams met once already this season where Sporting ran out 2-1 winners at Real.
Sporting, formed in 1995 as the Kansas City Wizards have won the MLS Cup once previously, in 2000. Managed by 47 year-old Patrick Vermes since 2009, Sporting have made great strides of late, reaching the Conference Final in 2011, winning the US Cup in 2012 and now the MLS Cup Final. Marshalled in defence by Frenchman Aureilien Collin, Americans Seth Sinovic, Chance Myers and Matt Besler, Sporting are quite mean, only conceeding 30 goals in 34 games. Collin needs to be careful though as he picks up a lot of bookings, 14 in 33 games, and with the intensity of the game on Saturday it would be a shame if he were to put his team under needless pressure by getting himself sent off. Its in midfield where Sporting really shine though as Brazilian Paulo Nagamura and American Graham Zusi(pictured) pull the strings. Zusi is having a wonderful season, with many man of the match performances, while Nagamura is just hitting form at the right time, having just returned from injury. He has a good eye for a no-look passso keep a close eye on him. They are ably assisted in midfield by Benny Feilhaber and young Spaniard Oriol Rosell. They play a pressing game, trying to win the ball high up the field and feed Zusi or Nagamura to set up an attack. how they fare with the pressing game will ultimatley decide the game. Up-Front Sporting rely on Claudio Bieler and Charles Sapong. Argentine Bieler has scord 11 goals ths season and is in good form. Lebanese striker Soony Saad regularly comes off the bench to very good effect and he scores goals, so expect him to make an appearance at some stage. All in all Sporting are good defensively with an exciting midfield and while their strikeforce is ok i think Saad, if he gets introduced, could be a major factor if Sporting are to suceed.
Real Salt Lake, who are managed by 40 year-old American Jason Kreis(pictured, left), who is hotly tipped to be leaving his post after this game to take up the managerial role at the New York FC, however he wont comment on this until after Saturdays game. Whether he goes out a winner or not remains to be seen. Having previously won the MLS Cup in 2008, as a 36 year-old, the youngest coachever to do so. He is obsessed with game preparation so don`t expect his team not to be prepared for all eventualities on Saturday. Real have a more experianced team in terms of age. Defensivley, Tony Beltran, Nat Borchers, Christopher Wingert and Chris Schuler are a sold unit, only conceeding 41 goals in 34 games. Midfield is made up of US International Kyle Beckerman, Argentine Javier Morales, Ned Grabavoy and Luis Gil. Javier Morales is having his best goascoring season for Real with 9 goals from midfield. Whether or not they have the creativity to trouble Sporting im not sure. In attack Real have real quality, Costa Rican Alvaro Soborio has scored 12 goals this season and has been passed fit this week to take his place. Also up-front is US International Robbie Findley(pictured, above right), 8 goals from 20 games is a very good return, and its good to see him back playin football after his sojorn to English football didnt turn out too well. A big blow for Real is the potential loss of young striker Devon Sandoval. The 22 year-old is a real doubt for this game with injury.
In summing up, Home advantage is key for me. A sell-out crowd of over 21,000, the majority of which will be Sporting supporters, will try to roar home the hosts. they have, for me the better quality in midfield and thats where the game will be won or lost. Zusi and Nagamura have so much talent that unless Real can find a way to stiffle them, then i think there can only be one winner. Either Claudio Bieler or young Soony Saad could very well be a Hero come Saturday night.
Published by@gersloveofsport 6 December
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