I had the opening to this article all planned out. Then, I did the research… My optimistic mindset had ignored the truth I knew. The scary truth. I considered what Manager Peter Vermes has been saying, that every match from here on to MLS Cup 2020 is a final. Well, I said to myself, Sporting is pretty darn good in one-off matches.
Then, I found… from 2011 on, Sporting Kansas City is 1-5 in MLS playoff win-and-move-on (there goes my optimism again), or lose-and-hang your head in shame-go-home knockout matches. Yep. One win in six.