“In the Box”: The necessary urgency of now for Sporting Kansas City

In the 81^st minute of Sporting Kansas City’s 1-1 draw with visiting Austin FC Saturday afternoon, left back Luis Martins understood. Just as Austin attacker Rodney Redes is about to put his side ahead off a back post cross from Manny Perez into an empty net, Martins nudges Redes, forcing him to alter his body position and push his shot just wide of Sporting’s goal.

Any later, Redes scores. Any sooner, Martins is whistled for a penalty. Martins understood the necessary urgency of now.

Too often in the first half Saturday, the necessary urgency of now was not recognized by the home side.