Sporting Kansas City's interim head coach, Kerry Zavagnin, didn't mince words following his team's disheartening defeat to Austin FC. He expressed his frustration, stating that Sporting KC didn't deserve even a single point from the match, labeling their performance as "lifeless." Despite playing on their home turf, Children's Mercy Park, the team struggled to maintain control and capitalize on opportunities.
The match began with promise for Sporting KC when Dejan Joveljic converted a penalty in the 16th minute, putting them ahead. However, their lead was short-lived. Austin FC's Owen Wolff responded with an equalizer before halftime, shifting the momentum. Wolff continued to be a thorn in Sporting KC's side, assisting CJ Fodrey's winning goal just eight minutes before the final whistle.
Statistically, Sporting KC appeared to have the upper hand in the early stages and even finished the game with a higher expected goals (xG) value of 2.06 compared to Austin's 1.16. However, they failed to convert this advantage into a tangible lead after Joveljic's initial goal. Zavagnin pointed to the team's inability to defend set pieces as a critical factor in their downfall. Austin's winning goal originated from a corner, highlighting a recurring vulnerability for Sporting KC throughout the season.
"It's kind of a microcosm of the season. You give up a goal that's very much preventable, and set pieces have done us in over the course of this year," Zavagnin lamented. He highlighted the recurring nature of this issue, noting that they had conceded a significant number of goals from set-piece situations this season. "If I’m not mistaken, that might be the 13th set piece [goal] that we’ve taken this year. Going back all the way to the beginning of the year, they won 1-0 on a set piece, and now we find ourselves in a similar fate."
Despite having a significant share of possession, Zavagnin felt that Sporting KC struggled to create clear-cut scoring opportunities. "We had a lot of the ball tonight, but I don’t necessarily think we created incredible chances with it. I think we leave a lot to be desired from the game, knowing that with a better performance, we could have got a better result." He acknowledged the players' effort but criticized the overall lack of dynamism and urgency in their play.
"All the players on the field gave effort. I just think the game played out in a very lifeless way," Zavagnin stated, encapsulating his disappointment with the team's performance. Ultimately, he concluded that Sporting KC simply wasn't good enough on the day to secure a positive result.
Data Debrief: Wolff's Impact
Owen Wolff, the young midfielder for Austin FC, continues to impress. The twenty-year-old has now been directly involved in eight goals in his last seven MLS appearances, scoring five and assisting three. His contributions have been instrumental in Austin's push for a playoff spot in the Western Conference. He is now considered both the team’s top scorer and assist leader this season.
Moreover, this victory marked Austin's first win after trailing in a match since July 2024, ending a streak of 19 MLS games without a win after conceding the first goal. This win underscores Austin's resilience and ability to bounce back from setbacks.
