Sporting KC won because…
It all felt like taking care of business, right? Sporting KC has been one of (perhaps) the best teams in the West for quite some time and came into the playoffs full of steam after a big win against Minnesota on Saturday. San Jose had been riding high for a while and drove their empty car into a gas station on a decisive day with a 1-1 draw against Austin that looked like a game where neither team really wanted to play football that day.
Johnny Russell got things going early on offense thanks to an assist from Alan Pulido, and SKC were on the move from that point. They had too much firepower and glaring playoff dominance necessary for San Jose to even feel like they were in this. St. Louis are about to have their hands full and then some when Round One begins.
Like, really, really full. Matt Doyle ran the numbers, and since Alan Pulido and Gadi Kinda rejoined the lineup in early May, this group has averaged 1.71 points per game, the best in the West. A quiet start to the season means they have just one game left at Children’s Mercy Park. But this team is dangerous. Even on the road.