When the draw for the 2019 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League Round of 16 took place last December in Miami, it was widely reasoned that Sporting Kansas City had become victims of bad luck.
After all, Sporting was the only MLS club placed in Pot 2 and paired against a Liga MX team in the opening round of the tournament. Before the competition had even started, Manager Peter Vermes’ men were behind the proverbial eight ball.
Facing an in-season and well-oiled Toluca side in the first competitive match of the new year? Not ideal. Traveling at 8,750 altitude for the second leg in a country the team has never won?