It wasn’t simply that the shot was well-placed — both low and near his feet — and hit with just enough power to trouble. There was also Krisztian Nemeth on his doorstep, ready to scoop up any rebound and give visiting Sporting KC the lead.
John McCarthy had few good options, so he got creative. Following the path of the ball as it bounced on the turf in front of him, McCarthy looped his arm behind and scooped the ball into the air, propelling it wide and behind the far post. Nemeth, anticipating his follow-up finish, put his hands on his head. Johnny Russell, certain too that his side was about to take the lead, also made motions of disbelief. Felipe Gutierrez, the shooter, skipped away to find a less absurd reality to live in.
McCarthy had been called in to start at the very last moment when Andre Blake had to bow out with a sickness. The Pennsylvania native had been in net when KC defeated the Union on penalty kicks in the 2015 US Open Cup, so he had revenge on his mind when Peter Vermes’ men bared down on goal.
That save, along with five others, helped Philly hang on until Jay Simpson could rock the house with a brace and lead the team to victory. Jim Curtin calls for a “next man up” attitude, and John McCarthy had it that day. And that’s why he won the September Save of the Month.
