Sporting head coach Peter Vermes made two changes to the team that played to a scoreless draw with the Houston Dynamo at Livestrong Sporting Park. Peterson Joseph came into the midfield for Graham Zusi, and Soony Saad 81 started up top in place of C.J. Sapong. SPORTING KANSAS CITY (4-2-3-1): Jimmy Nielsen - Chance Myers, Aurelien Collin, Matt Besler, Seth Sinovic - Paulo Nagamura, Roger Espinoza - Kei Kamara, Peterson Joseph (Michael Thomas 72), Jacob Peterson (C.J. Sapong 38) - Soony Saad (Teal Bunbury 52). TEAM NEWS After losing back-to-back games, Sporting have now won two of their last three in a three-game unbeaten run – both victories coming away from Livestrong Sporting Park. “I think we were really solid defensively, we didn’t give much away,” said SKC manager Peter Vermes. “I think it was hard for them to break us down and I think they got a little frustrated. We scored a great goal early on, we talked about finding some seams in behind …in the end we defended very well we really grinded the game out and that was huge for us.” Jacob Peterson scored his second goal in the last three games – his third of the season – to send SKC on their way to the win in Columbus. “We came here in the middle of a 10-day road swing and we got the three points which is what we set out to do,” said Peterson. “We scored two great goals and Jimmy [Nielsen] made some good saves back there and it kept them out of the back of the net.” But there was a downside when Peterson was forced off before the end of the first half with an injury. “I saw him when I was walking in at halftime and I asked him how he was doing, and he said, ‘Ah, I’ll be OK,’” Vermes said. “I don’t know what that means. I don’t think that’s a technical medical term. … He’s a tough dude. I know he won’t prolong this thing by any means. He’ll try to get back on the field as soon as possible.” Making his second start of the season in the attacking midfield role, Peterson Joseph – the “Haitian Xavi” – recorded his first career MLS assist. “It was a fantastic through ball to hit Jake’s run,” Vermes said. “Great run by Jake as well, but that was a great through ball. At the end of the day, when you get a through ball and a finish like that, it puts a lot of pressure on them early in the game.” Soony Saad also returned to the starting lineup after four league appearances off the substitutes’ bench, his second start of the season (first since June 20). “Having to burn that sub in the first half, that hurt a little bit,” Vermes said. “We also had Soony (Saad) and (Peterson) Joseph that I knew wouldn’t be able to go 90 minutes, so I already knew that was two subs there. So that really put us in a bind, but at the end the guys did a great job and figured out a way to get it done.” Goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen was credited with his eighth shutout of the season, tying him for the MLS lead with Vancouver goalkeeper Joe Cannon. “I think they created their chances but unfortunately for them it wasn’t their night,” said Nielsen. “They hit the crossbar and had another few good chances but I am very happy with the win and with the way we reacted on the field. It is a performance to be proud of.” SKC’s Roger Espinoza left following the weekend’s matches to join the Honduras team for the 2012 London Olympic Games.
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