Sporting Kansas City had a few reasons to be concerned heading into Thursday night.
The team was without its two center backs who had started for most of 2016 — Matt Besler and Nuno Coelho — and MLS scoring leaders LA Galaxy had bagged 18 goals in six previous home games at StubHub Center this season. But by the end of Thursday's 0-0 draw, Sporting Kansas City had limited LA Galaxy to a single shot all game, tied for the fewest by one team in MLS regular season history.
The suffocating defensive effort was spearheaded by center back Ike Opara, who reminded spectators just how good he can be when fully fit.