In the 86th minute of last season’s Western Conference semifinal – 47 minutes after Minnesota United FC’s Bakaye Dibassy put the visitors up 3-0 permanently – Sporting Kansas City’s Johnny Russell is in the middle of the center circle. It is the right place to be, even for a right winger far from his flank: Sporting needs the ball and Russell wants it.
There, he instinctually intercepts a Kevin Molino pass and efforts to begin a Sporting attack. Yet his fatiguing touch lets him down and the moment passes. Far after the game is lost, still three more Herculean efforts come from Russell before the final whistle, including lifting a stagnant opponent up off the pitch so the two can carry on playing.