KC Reporter

Sporting Kansas City fell 3-1 to Orlando, with interim head coach Kerry Zavagnin addressing the team's struggles in the second half. Zavagnin highlighted adjustments made during the match, including changes in personnel and formation, but said these were not enough to turn things around.

"I think we played a wonderful first half. We had a few personnel changes within the group with Mason (Toye) and Dejan (Joveljic) up top with (Santi) Munoz coming underneath. It felt like things were happening for us as we went into halftime. We created some really good opportunities. As we came into the second half, we started losing possession of the ball in important areas. It made it really difficult for us to get out. In our 4-4-2, Orlando was really pushing us back and we were disorganized in our low block. We wanted to get pressure to the outside backs as they came up the field. They brought (Alex) Freeman on, who plays even a bit further up the field, and so we couldn’t get adequate pressure out there. We couldn’t get pressure out to the ball, and it compounded when we did win possession because we couldn’t advance up the field. That cyclical sequence of the first 15 minutes of the second half put us in a position where we had to make some changes. Quite frankly, some of our guys were losing their energy and steam. That was a little bit of a collective, but Mason (Toye) hasn’t played a lot in a long time. Some of the decisions in taking Mason off in the 58th minute and (Santi) Munoz in the 68th minute started to unravel the group a bit. So we went back to three central midfielders to see if we could get a little more pressure out wide and drop Bartlett into the backline. We thought that would help things and at the end of the day, it didn’t. As good as our first half was, the second half really had us struggling and we suffered a lot. Ultimately that was the result and the reason for the game," Zavagnin said.

Zavagnin pointed out that maintaining performance throughout an entire match remains an area for improvement: "It’s a clear example that the game is 90 minutes. Over the course of the season, when we’ve been the ones to come out slow in the first half only to recover the result in the second half, I think the idea is that we need to start quicker. Although we gave up a goal in the opening two minutes of the game, I think we composed ourselves in the first half. As we came into halftime, I think it’s a really good learning lesson that the game is 90 minutes. As much as we’ve come back in the second half this year to turn a result, this time around we just didn’t have it in us. It’s a great learning lesson for all of us that the game is 90-plus minutes and when you play against a good team like Orlando, if you’re not locked in for that duration, you won’t get the result you’re looking for."

The match experienced an extended weather delay before kickoff but Zavagnin noted both teams faced similar conditions: "Orlando went through the same delay. The game did shock us a little bit in the first few minutes with their goal. Maybe we were a little slow out of the gates, but the energy in locker room during delay was good...That can happen in any game whether it starts on time or after three hours...Unfortunately over course of 90 minutes...we were unable push new level recover game."

Looking ahead at Sporting's final eight games this season amid ongoing club transition efforts, Zavagnin said: "This is heck process big transition time club...trying best version team...allowing believe themselves trust each other put performances...As suffer from result get back field Tuesday going try do same thing preparing ourselves ready difficult Seattle team...concentrating making sure can best every player best group...looking forward getting back field Tuesday going go after it...always show up always give best effort finding lot about group terms which players prepared next level part next phase club try progress project."

Midfielder Zorhan Bassong also reflected on issues during play: "There were lot things went wrong (second half). If take away first two minutes game first half really good...Everybody really committed defend...attacking transitions amazing strong performance team first half should have scored more goals...first 10 minutes second half okay then I don’t know…not going say started being lazy but not as compact maybe lack concentration…a bit more open made lot little mistakes…got step up our game if want make playoffs those aren’t things can happen every single one has got step up those mistakes cannot happen because deserve better deserve better than that."

Bassong described his experience captaining Sporting Kansas City for first time: "It’s honor…I was surprised when Kerry (Zavagnin) told me pre-match meal today…only gives more motivation…I see coach trusting me…If able have armband today because team as well…helping me trust me amazing teammates wouldn’t possible without them…it just gives motivation want push more do more team want fight club only beginning hopefully just want do more now keep pushing forward."

He commented positively on playing alongside Jake Davis: "I really love playing with Jake…I think he’s bit like me guy bring lot energy midfield both cover lot ground able take extra step win balls play forward fast able play with ball bring stability good transition from back moving forward love playing him…I got switched left back second half when (Jacob) Bartlett Nemanja (Radoja) came Bartlett has potential Radoja experience maybe changed dynamic game think guys did job when came little mistakes for us wasn’t certain players whole team energy little down have better those moments when concede goal have keep head up keep pushing forward cannot keep heads down let everything happen like again happy about collab Jake middle complement each other well love playing him."

Regarding how weather affected preparations Bassong said: "It breaks rhythm but cannot say excuse both teams waited three hours ready warmed up then stay locker room long time again this both teams so not excuse can talk however want about but first half didn’t look delayed everybody committed don’t think pull card talk bad result tonight."