Peter Vermes has assembled a side capable of attacking from the moment the back line gains possession. The challenge now is making sure Sporting Kansas City’s young defensive corps knows when to make those runs and when to stay home.

“It’s something we’ve been working on in the preseason,” Vermes said on Tuesday in a conference call from Sporting’s training camp in Tucson, Ariz. “You have to have that balance. We’re an entertaining team, which means we go forward a lot, but you have to recognize when to go forward.”