How has Sporting Kansas City turned things around on defense? A forward, for starters

Sporting Kansas City has been searching for solutions across the back line in 2024. And one of the answers has come from the forwards group.

Following a 4-0 loss in Columbus on June 29, Sporting had conceded 45 goals in 20 regular-season matches, an average of 2.25 per game.

In the 13 matches in all competitions since, Sporting has conceded just 16 goals, good for a mark of 1.23 per game. And that actually includes another 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Columbus in the Leagues Cup.

Put another way, in its last eight MLS matches, Sporting has conceded exactly eight goals.

While defending and keeping the ball out of the net is a team-wide effort, some individuals have been key.

Enter the solution of Khiry Shelton, with whom Sporting has posted a record of 5 wins, 2 losses, 1 draw, while only conceding seven goals in his last eight starts at right back.

Shelton was named a member of the MLS Team of the Week for his performance in Sporting’s 1-1 draw last Saturday.

“I’ve been working hard,” Shelton told reporters early in the week. “(But) that’s a team effort, you know? I get that for the team and everyone working hard.”

Sure enough, Sporting’s drastic defensive turnaround can’t only be attributed to one player. But Shelton’s work is part of it.

Sporting manager Peter Vermes has long credited Shelton’s attitude and work ethic, so when he says that’s what helped Shelton go from looking to score goals to trying to prevent them as his primary responsibility, it’s not a surprise.

Shelton credits his military background for that. Growing up on an Army base in Germany with a mother who loved soccer not only gave Shelton a love for the game, but also the right attitude.

“Being willing to listen,” Shelton said. “That’s one of my strong characteristics, and that’s what I live on.”

As he was approached about the position switch, Shelton leaned on that open-minded attitude.

“I listen in to everything the staff talks about with each player and in every position,” Shelton said. “I try to learn as much as I can. And even when I’m not playing certain positions, I’m listening and taking it in.”

At a news conference on Friday, Vermes drew a comparison to longtime MLS right back Ezra Hendrickson. Shelton and Hendrickson each stand at 6-3, which creates a size advantage over most wing players.

“(Ezra) always outmatched the winger that he was playing against, and it was tough for teams to stay with him,” Vermes said. “He had long strides, (covered) a lot of ground.”

Adding another large body to help defend on set pieces — a prominent weak spot for Sporting over the past few years — is another bonus.

When you combine his physical presence, attitude and mentality, you have a recipe that might work for a player to make the positional switch Shelton has been asked to make.

But mentality and attitude can only get you so far.

“You can still always have a good mentality and a good attitude, and it doesn’t mean you’ll be a good defender,” Vermes said.

The simple question of whether it would work was whether Shelton — who has spent his whole career as an attacker — could defend.

“That’s where maybe we’re a little bit more surprised,” Vermes said. “His one-v.-one defending has been excellent.”

Vermes added that Shelton has picked up the concepts required of the position and on the back line. He said it’s paying off on the stat sheet.

Shelton and Sporting KC will take on the Seattle Sounders on Sunday, with kickoff at 6:15 p.m.

MLS terminates contract of Felipe Hernandez

On Wednesday, MLS terminated the contract of Sporting KC midfielder Felipe Hernandez. Hernandez was suspended in June following an allegation that he violated the league’s gambling policies for a second time.

Hernandez was also suspended in 2021. The allegation included that he violated the terms of his reinstatement in 2022. Hernandez is eligible for reinstatement on January 1, 2026.

Daniel Sperry covers soccer for The Star. He can be reached at sperry.danielkc@gmail.com.