Sporting Kansas City Vs. Houston Dynamo, MLS Cup Playoffs 2011: Dynamo Advance Despite Brad Davis Injury

Sporting Kansas City were the hot team heading into their Eastern Conference final against the Houston Dynamo and they had the match at their home, Livestrong Sporting Park, where a packed house was awaiting them. Then Houston's MVP candidate Brad Davis went down with an injury and it seemed like Sporting would have no problem booking their spot in the MLS Cup final. Sporting failed to show any cohesion or competent attack though and Houston took advantage, scoring on a set piece then adding a late goal to ice it as they shocked Sporting by winning 2-0 in Kansas City to book their spot in the MLS Cup final.

From the start, Kansas City controlled possession. Spurred on by a loud home crowd, they took the ball early and didn't give it up, but for all of their possession they were unable to create chances. Peter Vermes' decision to leaves Omar Bravo on the bench proved to be a bad one as the front line trio of Kei Kamara, Teal Bunbury and C.J. Sapong failed to create any chances. Their speed didn't mean much with the Dynamo falling so deep and Sporting couldn't create a thing.

In the 39th minute, Davis went down though and in most people's opinion, Houston had no chance anymore. The midfielder lunged for a loose ball and immediately grabbed his right leg. After being tended to by the training staff, Davis hopped off the field without putting any weight on his leg before going straight to the dressing room. When he came back out, he was on crutches.

As the second haf started, the Dynamo looked out of options in the attack without Davis. Then they got a free kick in the 53rd minute and Adam Moffatt did his best Davis impression, hitting a great ball to the back post that Jermaine Taylor was able to head on goal. Jimmy Nielsen was there to make a good save on it, but the rebound fell to Andre Hainault to knock home and the Dynamo were in front.

Amazingly, Vermes didn't think any changes had to be made. He stuck with his ineffective and idealess team, watching them flounder around until the 75th minute before making a change. Even more amazingly, it took until the 85th minute for him to bring Omar Bravo on, a man who they sorely needed from the opening minute, but Carlos Costly made sure Bravo's entrance didn't matter.

With Sporting pushing for an equalizer, the Dynamo caught them with too many men forward in the 87th minute. Luiz Camargo jumped on a ball and quickly hit a gorgeous through ball into the path of a streaking Costly. He was in all alone on Nielsen and slotted the ball into the net, sealing this one and sending the Dynamo to the MLS Cup final.

For more on the two teams, check out Sporting KC blog The Daily Wiz and Houston Dynamo blog Dynamo Theory. For more on this match-up, the rest of the MLS playoffs and the entire world of soccer, check out SB Nation Soccer.

The Houston Dynamo will play in the MLS Cup final. It looked likely that they would as they held a 1-0 lead late in this Eastern Conference final against Sporting Kansas City, but now Carlos Costly has come in to knock in another goal to make it 2-0. With a two-goal lead and just one minute plus stoppage time to play, this one is over. All f the Dynamo supporters can go and book their plane tickets to Los Angeles, CA for the MLS Cup final now.

Sporting was throwing numbers forward and trying to find a equalizer, which left them exposed at the back. Luiz Camargo picked up the ball in the midfield and exploited it, thread a through ball into the path of Costly, who was running in behind the Sporting defense. He calmly slotted the ball home and Houston were up 2-0 to put this match on ice.

For more on the two teams, check out Sporting KC blog The Daily Wiz and Houston Dynamo blog Dynamo Theory. For more on this match-up, the rest of the MLS playoffs and the entire world of soccer, check out SB Nation Soccer.

So check this out. Apparently, Omar Bravo is alive and capable of playing. This was made clear when Sporting Kansas City brought him in with five minutes left, otherwise know as 85 minutes too late. He should have started the match, but Peter Vermes wouldn't do it. He should have come on at halftime when it was clear that Sporting wasn't going to break down the deep lying Houston Dynamo defense with speed, but no, Vermes didn't bring him on. It took until the 85th minute. THE 85TH MINUTE!

Now Bravo is finally on, but it might be too late. Houston already leads 1-0 and they're content to defend until this one is over. With the big, strong defenders they have, they can probably do it too. Bravo could have made the difference 10, 30 or 85 minutes ago. Probably not now though.

For more on the two teams, check out Sporting KC blog The Daily Wiz and Houston Dynamo blog Dynamo Theory. For more on this match-up, the rest of the MLS playoffs and the entire world of soccer, check out SB Nation Soccer.

Nobody wants the referee to decide a game, but a referee cannot ref a match scared of deciding a game and that's how Mark Geiger has refereed this match. He's been petrified of making a decision that will alter this match and it's a shame. Two players should have been sent off for clear second yellow card tackles and Geiger wouldn't do it. Sporting Kansas City should have had one, if not two penalties and once again, Geiger wouldn't do it. He's refereeing scared.

First, Calen Carr should have been sent off for a clear yellow card tackle in which he came in very late. It would have been Carr's second yellow card, but Geiger just talked to Carr. Julio Cesar did the same with a studs up challenge for what should have been his second yellow, but again, Geiger just talked to the player. Aurielien Collin was mauled in the box on a free kick, but Geiger was scared to whistle for a penalty. Brian Ching took down Davy Arnaud right on the edge of the box for what would have been a dangerous free kick or penalty, but Geiger didn't want to make that call either. A scared ref is not a good ref.

For more on the two teams, check out Sporting KC blog The Daily Wiz and Houston Dynamo blog Dynamo Theory. For more on this match-up, the rest of the MLS playoffs and the entire world of soccer, check out SB Nation Soccer.

Hey, look! It's Davy Arnaud! He's actually coming on. That means that Peter Vermes is actually alive on the Sporting bench, which has been a major doubt for the first 75 minutes of this Eastern Conference final. After all, Sporting Kansas City has been getting beaten around tactically as they play without a plan, but Vermes hasn't bothered with a change. So maybe they won't have a tactical change or plan now, but at least they have made a substitution so we know that Vermes is alive down there.

It's tough to defend Vermes for anything in this match. As far as getting pencil whipped goes, Vermes has to be the poster boy after today. It's just been abysmal as Sporting has looked clueless and Dominic Kinnear has his Houston Dynamo team looking confident and assured in everything they are doing.

For more on the two teams, check out Sporting KC blog The Daily Wiz and Houston Dynamo blog Dynamo Theory. For more on this match-up, the rest of the MLS playoffs and the entire world of soccer, check out SB Nation Soccer.

We're through almost 70 minutes now and we're still waiting for Peter Vermes to do anything resembling coaching, which I have been told is a part of his job description as Sporting Kansas City manager. He made the wrong choice in not starting Omar Bravo and he's yet to fix that by bringing him off the bench. He hasn't shown any sort of tactical adjustment to the fact that Sporting's only "plan" of attack is to run faster than Houston and now they are nearing 20 minutes from elimination. Peter, you might want to wake up now.

Sporting could still use Bravo. Davy Arnaud could make a difference here too. Any sort of tactics would also be helpful. Instead, Vermes is just going to sit there and look upset, but not actually do anything. On the flip side, Dominic Kinnear has managed his Houston Dynamo side brilliantly. If something doesn't change in the next 20 minutes, the managers are the difference because Houston has no business beating Kansas City.

For more on the two teams, check out Sporting KC blog The Daily Wiz and Houston Dynamo blog Dynamo Theory. For more on this match-up, the rest of the MLS playoffs and the entire world of soccer, check out SB Nation Soccer.

Maybe referee Mark Geiger took pity on the Houston Dynamo because they had already lost Brad Davis to injury. Maybe he was just scared to send a man off and have such a big impact on such a big match. Whatever the reasoning though, Geiger didn't show Calen Carr the second yellow he deserved and Houston is lucky to still be playing with 11 men.

It was a simple play in which Carr came in very late on a tackle and clipped a Sporting Kansas City player's ankle. Nothing malicious or anything of the sort, but it was a play that is a yellow card every single time, except for this time of course for reasons that only Geiger can explain. 

For more on the two teams, check out Sporting KC blog The Daily Wiz and Houston Dynamo blog Dynamo Theory. For more on this match-up, the rest of the MLS playoffs and the entire world of soccer, check out SB Nation Soccer.

The injury to Brad Davis was supposed to be the end of the Houston Dynamo's biggest advantage over Sporting Kansas City, set pieces. Apparently, someone forgot to tell the Dynamo that because they've just gone in front of Sporting Kansas City on a free kick thanks to a finish by Andre Hainault. Now they hold a 1-0 lead in the 53rd minute and if they can hold on, will move onto the MLS Cup final.

Because Davis was out, Adam Moffatt took the free kick and he hit a good one. It went all the way to the back post where Jermaine Taylor was waiting to head it on frame. Tally Hall made the save on Taylor's attempt, but the rebound fell right in front of the net where Hainault was waiting to knock home the go-ahead goal. If the Dynamo can hold on now, it will be the game-winning goal and the one that sends them to MLS Cup.

For more on the two teams, check out Sporting KC blog The Daily Wiz and Houston Dynamo blog Dynamo Theory. For more on this match-up, the rest of the MLS playoffs and the entire world of soccer, check out SB Nation Soccer.

With Omar Bravo back from an abductor injury, there was question as to whether Peter Vermes would put him in the starting lineup or stick with the three-man front line of Kei Kamara, Teal Bunbury and C.J. Sapong that got them through the conference semifinal. He chose to leave Bravo on the bench and he might be regretting that decision now. With the Houston Dynamo defending deep, as expected, having three speedsters up top isn't doing Sporting Kansas City much good.

They could really use Bravo at this point. Someone who has a little more creativity and skill on the ball to break down the Houston defense. Sporting isn't going to run in behind the Sporting defense so they might want to try something new now. Bravo is that something new. Peter Vermes might want to try him. 

For more on the two teams, check out Sporting KC blog The Daily Wiz and Houston Dynamo blog Dynamo Theory. For more on this match-up, the rest of the MLS playoffs and the entire world of soccer, check out SB Nation Soccer.

Brad Davis is out with a right leg injury so what does the Houston Dynamo do now? That's a good question and as this Eastern Conference final gets near halftime, it's something Dominic Kinnear is going to have to figure out because there is no obvious answer. Davis was the guy for Houston this season, picking up assist after assist after assist as he led the way for the Dynamo to finish second in the East and possibly picking up a MLS MVP trophy too.

Up front, the Dynamo have a big Brian Ching to get on the end of Davis' crosses and a fast Calen Carr to run onto Davis long balls. Adam Moffatt and Luiz Camargo aren't exactly game breakers in the attack either. At this point, the Dynamo will probably have to defend as well as they can and hope for a Sporting Kansas City mistake at the back, which they very well could get considering how leaky Sporting's defense can be. There aren't many other options. Davis was really it for them and now he's out. If Sporting can't get a win at home now with Davis out, they have some real problems.

For more on the two teams, check out Sporting KC blog The Daily Wiz and Houston Dynamo blog Dynamo Theory. For more on this match-up, the rest of the MLS playoffs and the entire world of soccer, check out SB Nation Soccer.

If there was one player most likely to change this Eastern Conference final it was Brad Davis. Unfortunately for the Houston Dynamo (and all the neutrals watching), he's now out of this match as a right leg injury has forced him off in the 39th minute. Je-Vaughn Watson has been brought in for Davis, but who has come in for Davis doesn't really matter. The MLS MVP front runner is out of this match and Houston are in a lot of trouble.

Davis went in for a 50/50 ball, as did Sporting Kansas City's Graham Zusi. Davis got to it first and Zusi didn't appear to make a lot of contact with the Dynamo man, clipping him just a bit as he went by, but Davis' leg appeared to hit the turf awkwardly as he lunged for the ball. He immediately grabbed his leg and after the trainers came out to treat him, he hobbled off without putting any weight on his right leg before going straight to the dressing room. What in his right leg he hurt or to what extent is unknown beyond the fact that he couldn't put any weight on it.

Houston's biggest threat this match was what they could do on set pieces, but now that Davis isn't out there to hit those dead balls, it might not be anymore. Frankly, it's tough to see where Houston's attack comes from now. The Dynamo's MLS Cup final hopes have really taken a hit with this one injury because it's the one injury they could least afford.

For more on the two teams, check out Sporting KC blog The Daily Wiz and Houston Dynamo blog Dynamo Theory. For more on this match-up, the rest of the MLS playoffs and the entire world of soccer, check out SB Nation Soccer.

The first card of this Eastern Conference final goes to Julio Cesar as he is put into the book for a sloppy, late tackle. That has to be a bit of a worry for Sporting Kansas City, who are asking a lot of Cesar in this match. With Graham Zusi pushing as high as he is, Cesar has had to come into the center and make many of the tackle deep in the midfield. He's done so brilliantly thus far and has been Sporting's best player, but now he's going to have to do it with a yellow card. The threat of a second yellow card is there and there's almost an hour left in this one.

That it took so long for the first caution is a surprise. There are a ton of incredible athletes out there for both Sporting and the Houston Dynamo and with this match being played at a very fast pace, there have been several nearly bad tackles. At some point, one of those was going to connect and draw a card. There are certainly more cards in this one too.

For more on the two teams, check out Sporting KC blog The Daily Wiz and Houston Dynamo blog Dynamo Theory. For more on this match-up, the rest of the MLS playoffs and the entire world of soccer, check out SB Nation Soccer.

Sporting Kansas City knew they would probably control possession. They had the most dynamic finishers too with their young, fast forwards and they also had the best central midfielder in the match in Graham Zusi. In the run of play, this one was going to go Sporting's way, but there was one great equalizer and that was set pieces. With all of the Houston Dynamo's big guys and Brad Davis whipping the ball in, set pieces were going to give Houston a chance.

The key for Sporting was not giving away free kicks and until the 27th minute, they didn't. Luckily for them, they've survived Houston set piece and surprisingly, it was because Davis put in a terrible ball. The Dynamo midfielder has been seemingly perfect on dead balls this year, but that one never even got into a dangerous place. Sporting lucked out once, but they'd be wise to avoid giving Houston more chances on set pieces.

For more on the two teams, check out Sporting KC blog The Daily Wiz and Houston Dynamo blog Dynamo Theory. For more on this match-up, the rest of the MLS playoffs and the entire world of soccer, check out SB Nation Soccer.

Of course, as soon as I praise Julio Cesar he makes a big mistake that opens up the best chance of the game. The Sporting Kansas City midfielder gave the ball away easily in the center of the pitch and the Houston Dynamo were off. One pass later Calen Carr was in alone on goal and it looked like Houston would go ahead. That is until Carr's shot was mediocre at best and Jimmy Nielsen got up to make a good save on the Dynamo striker.

Deep breaths at Livestrong Sporting Park as it looked like all of their early possession was going to go for nothing as the Dynamo came so close to taking the lead. There has to be concern that for all their possession, the Dynamo have the two best chances of the game now. Someone is going to have to shore up that Sporting back line because they've failed both of their tests thus far.

For more on the two teams, check out Sporting KC blog The Daily Wiz and Houston Dynamo blog Dynamo Theory. For more on this match-up, the rest of the MLS playoffs and the entire world of soccer, check out SB Nation Soccer.

A lot of the talk about Sporting Kansas City is about their forwards and Graham Zusi. It's for good reason too considering how influential all of them have been for the team this season, but through 15 minutes the best player on the field for the home side has been Julio Cesar. The midfielder has gotten forward a few times to create opportunities, but more importantly, with Zusi pushing a little higher than Peter Vermes probably wants, he's had to slide in the middle and be midfield tackler.

If Zusi continues to play as high as he is, the onus will really fall on Cesar and Roger Espinoza to do the dirty work. It's a dangerous plan of attack for Sporting because it leaves them vulnerable if just one other player gets forward or out of position, but it looks like that's what they'll be doing. That means Cesar will have to be as good as he's been all match.

For more on the two teams, check out Sporting KC blog The Daily Wiz and Houston Dynamo blog Dynamo Theory. For more on this match-up, the rest of the MLS playoffs and the entire world of soccer, check out SB Nation Soccer.

The first really good chance of the game went to the Houston Dynamo. That's a surprise, considering it was the first time they really went forward all match and had looked completely ineffective in the midfield to that point, but it's true as they got a look at goal in the eighth minute.

Brian Ching found a little hole in the Sporting Kansas City back line and burst through it. The ball was played right into his path and he was in alone on the keeper. He only had enough room for one tough and he didn't make much of it, trying to chip Jimmy Nielsen despite Nielsen never coming far off his line. It was a poor decision from the veteran and the first chance of the game went wasted.

It's unlikely that Houston will have much possession. Kansas City is going to have the bulk of it and the chances will be few for the Dynamo unless they get a bunch of set pieces. When they do get chances, they need to take advantage and Ching didn't with their first chance.

For more on the two teams, check out Sporting KC blog The Daily Wiz and Houston Dynamo blog Dynamo Theory. For more on this match-up, the rest of the MLS playoffs and the entire world of soccer, check out SB Nation Soccer.

It didn't take even two minutes for Sporting Kansas City to generate something. It wasn't the greatest of chances, but it was the first half chance of the game as Kei Kamara let rip low from 25 yards and forced Tally Hall to get down for the save. Most importantly though, it showed what Sporting hopes to do the rest of the way in this Eastern Conference final against the Houston Dynamo.

Kamara came a little deeper than usual and gathered the ball. it shouldn't have been much as he could have been closed down, but Chance Myers got up from his right back spot and gave an option wide. That forced Corey Ashe to stay back and not close down. Kamara stepped into his shot and while it was saved, it was what Sporting wants. They want their speed, be it on overlaps from people like Myers or from their forwards, to push the Dynamo defense deep and create space in the midfield. So far, it's working.

For more on the two teams, check out Sporting KC blog The Daily Wiz and Houston Dynamo blog Dynamo Theory. For more on this match-up, the rest of the MLS playoffs and the entire world of soccer, check out SB Nation Soccer.

If the owners of Sporting Kansas City needed a match to justify the $200 million they spent building Livestrong Sporting Park, they have it. Sporting's Eastern Conference final against the Houston Dynamo has just kicked off and the stadium is absolutely packed to the gills. It feels like the entire city is there singing as the echo from the fans' singing and chanting echoes around the place.

The question is whether Sporting can parlay this kind of support into a win. While their turnaround from last place in June to the top seed in the East by the end of the season was remarkable and memorable, if they lose at their home ground today there will be considerable disappointment. At this point, they expect to be in MLS Cup, which means they need a win today, no excuses.

For more on the two teams, check out Sporting KC blog The Daily Wiz and Houston Dynamo blog Dynamo Theory. For more on this match-up, the rest of the MLS playoffs and the entire world of soccer, check out SB Nation Soccer.

Omar Bravo is back and healthy, but Peter Vermes isn't going to change his starting XI. Sporting Kansas City are going with the same players that got them to today's Eastern Conference final, most notably with a front line of Kei Kamara, Teal Bunbury and C.J. Sapong in lieu of Bravo. They'll have plenty of help from a loud home crowd too, which is already beginning to fill up Livestrong Sporting Park.

For the Houston Dynamo, it is as expected with their starting lineup. There isn't a surprise in the bunch as they hope to book their spot in the MLS Cup final with a win in Kansas City today. They're a hot team, having not lost since September, but that loss did come at the hands of Sporting and it was in Kansas City by a score of 3-0.

Sporting Kansas City (4-4-2): Jimmy Nielsen; Chance Myers, Aurielien Collin, Matt Besler, Seth Sinovic; Julio Cesar, Roger Espinoza, Graham Zusi; Kei Kamara, Teal Bunbury, C.J. Sapong

Bench: Eric Kronberg, Birahim Diop, Soony Saad, Michael Harrington, Davy Arnaud, Omar Bravo, Jeferson

Houston Dynamo (4-4-2): Tally Hall; Andre Hainaut, Bobby Boswell, Geoff Cameron, Corey Ashe; Danny Cruz, Adam Moffat, Luiz Camargo, Brad Davis; Brian Ching, Calen Carr

Bench: Tyler Deric, Jermaine Taylor, Carlos Costly, Will Bruin, Je-Vaughn Watson, Hunter Freeman, Alex Dixon

For more on the two teams, check out Sporting KC blog The Daily Wiz and Houston Dynamo blog Dynamo Theory. For more on this match-up, the rest of the MLS playoffs and the entire world of soccer, check out SB Nation Soccer.

Apparently the wide world of television isn't giving the MLS Eastern Conference Final a whole lot of love. If you're in the United States, it'll be easy to catch the playoff clash between Sporting Kansas City and the Houston Dynamo, but if you live elsewhere, you are apparently shoot out of luck. It's understandable given the high-profile nature of the Western Conference Finals, but I wish that this game got some love in Canada and the UK. Oh well, here's all of the information you need on the game.

Sporting Kansas City Vs. Houston Dynamo - Eastern Conference Final (MLS Cup Playoffs Semifinal)

Game Date/Time: Sunday, November 6, 5:30 pm ET

Venue: LIVESTRONG Sporting Park, Kansas City, Kansas

TV: FOX Soccer Channel (USA - English), FOX Deportes (USA - Spanish)

We'll have live coverage of the Eastern Conference Final in our Sporting Kansas City vs. Houston Dynamo StoryStream. For more on the two teams, check out Sporting KC blog The Daily Wiz and Houston Dynamo blog Dynamo Theory. For more on the rest of the MLS playoffs and the entire world of soccer, check out SB Nation Soccer.

In a wild, wide-open MLS MVP race, Houston Dynamo midfielder Brad Davis has emerged as a leading candidate. He's an excellent passer and creative force for his team from open play, but the majority of his production this season has been due to his proficiency on set pieces. On corner kicks, indirect free kicks and direct free kicks, Davis is constantly a threat to score or create scoring chances for his teammates. His ability and his targets in the penalty area make Houston a threat to win games where they're completely overmatched.

Theoretically, the Philadelphia Union should have been able to do something to neutralize this threat. Danny Califf and Carlos Valdes are big, strong central defenders who are good in the air while Faryd Mondragon has a great command of his penalty area. It didn't work out that way as the Union were burned twice by Davis and his big targets in the box. The Dynamo played mediocre soccer throughout the two legs, but their set piece prowess guided them to an easy win.

Coming into the series against the Dynamo, the Philadelphia Union had allowed eight total goals on set pieces that were not penalty kicks, as well as nine total headed goals, either from set pieces or open play. Two goals were added to each of those totals after the Dynamo series. Coming into the Eastern Conference Final, Sporting Kansas City has allowed eight headed goals, along with 14 goals on non-penalty dead balls and 11 on indirect free kicks and corner kicks combined.

The central defense pairing of Matt Besler and Aurelien Collin isn't exactly small, frail or bad in the air, but they haven't been completely dominant in the air this year. Houston has scored 13 headed goals and Brad Davis is in spectacular form. Houston scoring on a set piece is a good bet. If they do it early enough, they'll sit on their lead, and they're just as good at that as they are at scoring on set pieces.

Sporting Kansas City are in very good form and they're playing at home. They will probably have more of the possession in this match. They will almost certainly play the prettier football, and they have more players capable of scoring goals from open play. If Houston scores on a set piece early - a distinct possibility - none of that will matter. The Dynamo won't look like the better team on Sunday night, but Brad Davis and their big bodies make that completely irrelevant.

We'll have live coverage of the Eastern Conference Final in our Sporting Kansas City vs. Houston Dynamo StoryStream. For more on the two teams, check out Sporting KC blog The Daily Wiz and Houston Dynamo blog Dynamo Theory. For more on the rest of the MLS playoffs and the entire world of soccer, check out SB Nation Soccer.

Sporting Kansas City rolled into the Eastern Conference final with two dominating legs against the defending MLS Cup champion Colorado Rapids. A brace by Teal Bunbury handed Sporting a 2-0 win in Colorado then they picked up another 2-0 win at home, giving the Eastern Conference's top seed a spot in the conference final at home against the Houston Dynamo. They did so without Omar Bravo though, their designated player who missed the two matches as he recovered from an adductor strain, but now returns and Peter Vermes is faced with the question of whether to put him back in the starting lineup.

In the conference semifinals, Sporting showed no signs of missing Bravo, but that was against the Rapids, who didn't have anyone as good as Brad Davis or a back line with Geoff Cameron. As good as Kansas City looked, can you play the "if it broke, don't fix it" card against a team that is miles better than the one they just faced? Can you play a 4-3-3 with a front three of all out-and-out strikers, none of whom like to come back and get the ball?

Bringing Bravo into the team for any one of Bunbury, C.J. Sapong or Kei Kamara will give Sporting a forward who will spend more time on the ball and help them hold the ball. He would also attract some more attention from Adam Moffatt when he drops back, keeping Moffatt from chasing Graham Zusi around at all times. Most importantly, if he can help Sporting keep the ball, it cuts into the time that Houston can get the ball to Brad Davis and throw all their big bodies in the box, especially on set pieces.

So what is Kansas City to do? Do they go with a little different style by throwing Bravo in there to better match their opponent or do they play with the team and the way that beat down on the Rapids? It could be the decision that determines whether Sporting are booking their tickets for MLS Cup or getting ready for 2012.