In the 31st minute of last Saturday’s match at Vancouver Whitecaps, Sporting Kansas City Captain Johnny Russell, playing on the left, turns playmaker:
Russell failed. The pass did not connect. But the pass forced the Whitecaps’ center back to clear quickly for a throw in deep in their own end. Why? Because Ranko Veselinovic was 1v1 with Sporting’s Felipe Hernandez, in his own box. If Hernandez doesn’t find the space and Russell doesn’t play that pass, Veselinovic has little to worry about. Little to do if Russell chooses a “safer” outlet for his pass.