United States international Graham Zusi (blue jersey) is expected to play against Cruz Azul in a CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal on March 12, 2014. (Photo: Jamila St. Ann)

KANSAS CITY, Kansas – When they take the field at Sporting Park on Wednesday, it will be a battle between the team that won the 2013 MLS Cup and the one that currently sits atop Liga MX, when Sporting Kansas City hosts Cruz Azul in the first leg of their the CONCACAF Champions League (CCL) quarterfinal series.

“Sporting KC is a very tough team to play against,” said Cruz Azul head coach Luis Fernando Tena, who was also in charge of the club when it last won the CONCACAF club title in 1997.  “We have studied their style of play since they won the championship.  They haven’t changed much this year as for players besides their solid and dynamic style, which will make it harder for us.”

Cruz Azul lost for the first time in the Clausura on Friday, falling to Tigres, 3-0.  Tena, though, does not believe that the team will be impacted negatively by that setback.

“The defeat against Tigres did not affect our mentality,” he said.  “My players are experienced and strong-minded.  Fortunately for us, soccer gives us the opportunity to play four days later and we will try to get back on the victory path.”

Sporting Kansas City is also looking to rebound from a tough 1-0 at the Seattle Sounders in both team’s Major League Soccer opener on Saturday afternoon. 

Chad Barrett, who has three career CCL goals himself, scored the lone goal four minutes into second-half stoppage time on an assist from United States international Clint Dempsey.

“I think we can take positives from it,” Sporting midfielder Graham Zusi said after the game.  “If we’re that hard to play against and that hard to break down we’re going to come out on top in games like this more often than not.  Defensively, I thought we were very good.  We can take that into Wednesday.”

While he’s unsure about the availability of fullbacks Chance Myers and Seth Sinovic, KC head coach Peter Vermes said defensive midfielder Uri Rosell is expected to return for Wednesday’s showdown.

All three were held back from the weekend’s MLS encounter.

“I have to see how they line up [Tuesday] when they come back, so we’ll see,” Vermes told MLSsoccer.com.  “I’m hoping to know tomorrow.  Some of it may be, I don’t want to say ‘game time’ but it might be early afternoon on Wednesday.”

Sporting KC will be without French defender Aurelien Collin, who is serving a one-game suspension for yellow card accumulation.

“We have to get a good result at home because going down to Mexico City will be tough,” Collin said.  “I am confident my teammates will get the win this Wednesday.” 

 

[do action="article_quote"]GAME NOTES
Sporting Kansas City vs. Cruz Azul[/do]