Peter Vermes’ Sporting Kansas City teams have always been close. Consistent. Reliable. Determined. Resilient. They have always been on the cusp of roaring MLS success. But it has never quite happened for them, especially when it matters most in the postseason — after their 2013 MLS Cup victory, they have suffered four successive losses at the knockout stages.
Now, there are many reasons for this. They have never quite had the star power of the likes of Toronto FC last season, for instance. But perhaps the biggest influence for their inability to convert strong campaigns into trophies and titles is simple: Goals.