KANSAS CITY, Kan. – With temperatures in the low 90s at the kickoff of Sunday's match against Seattle Sounders FC, Sporting Kansas City took a calculated risk.
Press high, press hard, and hope to grab a goal in the opening minutes, and make the visitors try to overcome both a deficit and the heat.
“I don't think we ever want to try to chase a game here at home,” manager Peter Vermes said afterward. “I don't think anyone wants to ever try to do that. But especially today, I think the heat had a major impact on the way this game was going to be played.