By SKYLAR ROLSTAD
Graham Zusi hasn’t had the kind of year Sporting Kansas City fans have grown accustomed to him having, but during Friday’s win against FC Dallas, Zusi looked more like the old Zusi.
Though Benny Feilhaber grabbed the headlines Friday with his two goals, Zusi looked livelier than he has in a while, and his mobility and constant movement helped keep FC Dallas unsettled defensively.
“I had more energy tonight going forward than I have had all season,” Zusi said. “It’s a testament to how we were defensively, not just the back four, but all of us.”
“When we lost the ball, there was an immediate reaction to pick it up right away again.”
Sporting KC won 17 tackles on the night to FC Dallas’ 13. The win ended a run of only one point in the last five games for the team.
After having some trouble with injuries over the course of the season, Zusi returned to cause a lot of trouble for the FC Dallas back line. Benny Feilhaber was Sporting’s lifeline as usual, but Zusi registered three shots in the game. All three came in quick succession during the second half.
Zusi had not recorded three shots in an MLS game since Oct. 10, 2014, a game in which he scored a goal and tallied an assist against the Chicago Fire. Vermes said Zusi’s re-emergence is a result of his return to fitness.
“He’s getting to a place where he’s closer to feeling 100 percent in regards to his physical capacity,” Vermes said. “For a while, he struggled over the course of the season. He’s played a lot of games injured or not even close to being 90 percent, so I think it has a lot to do with him getting healthier.”
Vermes also pointed out that Zusi thrived when given the initiative to attack. As injuries and absences pile up over the season, Zusi has, at times, been looked to as a do-it-all type of player.
“When he is playing as a winger, he is so much more effective.” Vermes said. “We’ve asked him to do a lot this season-play the middle, play defensive midfield. Sometimes that’s not fair to him, but credit to him as well. He understands that he has to do whatever he can to help the team.”