In a 36-day span that commenced Saturday in Commerce City, Colo., the Sporting Kansas City schedule features six MLS opponents. All of them reside in the Western Conference.
So as his club departed for the mountains a couple of days ago, coach Peter Vermes quipped that if Sporting KC earned results in all six matches, it would likely be sitting comfortably in the Western Conference playoff race.
That plan died quickly.
Colorado dealt Sporting KC a 1-0 defeat Saturday, the second straight shutout for Sporting KC after a five-game unbeaten streak.
The game turned on one play.