Sporting Kansas City saw its four-game winning and shutout streak snapped on Saturday afternoon, suffering a 3-1 defeat to Seattle Sounders FC at CenturyLink Field despite Diego Rubio’s early goal.
Rubio now has five goals in his last five games, and has recorded either a goal or an assist in seven straight matches.
The Chilean’s form earned him a re-call to the Chile National Team for the first time since 2011, as he left following Saturday’s match and is joined on international duty by Johnny Russell (Scotland) and Daniel Salloi (Hungary).
At the other end of the field, Tim Melia saw his season-high 387-minute shutout streak snapped when Seattle equalized in the 12th minute of the contest. The shutout streak was the fourth-longest in MLS this season and the eighth-longest in club history.
Sporting KC got off to a dream start when Rubio lashed home his eighth goal of the season, continuing his fine form since the start of August.
Gerso Fernandes battled for a loose ball in the Seattle area before the ball dropped to Rubio 18 yards out, and he smacked a half-volley into the side-netting to give his side a second-minute lead.
The lead lasted just 10 minutes as Seattle equalized in the 12th minute.
Moments after Melia had produced an excellent stop to deny Cristian Roldan, Brad Smith was sent free down the left wing and picked out Raul Ruidiaz in the middle of the Sporting KC penalty area.
The Peruvian had snuck behind the Sporting KC backline and tapped the ball home from close range to make the score 1-1. It was the first goal Sporting KC had conceded since July 28, snapping its 387-minute shutout streak.
In the 21st minute, Roger Espinoza picked out Daniel Salloi following a turnover, but his left-footed strike was deflected narrowly wide as he was bearing down on goal. Three minutes later, Fernandes was set free in the Seattle penalty area with only Stefan Frei to beat, but his touch took him wide of the Sounders goalkeeper and eventually out of play.
Ike Opara almost produced one of the more stunning goals of the season in the 40th minute when he strode out from the back, exchanged a one-two with Espinoza to send him in on goal, only for Frei to get the slightest of touches on his effort that took the ball inches wide of the target as the two sides headed into the halftime break with the score locked at 1-1.
Seven minutes after the interval, Seattle took the lead for the first time. Harry Shipp reached the byline down the left and his attempted cross clipped Graham Zusi and looped over the head of Tim Melia into the side-netting to make the score 2-1 in the 52nd minute.
Moments later, Seattle continued to pile on the pressure as Smith’s cross ricocheted off the upper arm of Opara from point-blank range, and referee Baldomero Toledo pointed to the penalty spot. Nicolas Lodeiro stepped up, tucking the ball into the corner and extending the Sounders’ lead to 3-1.
Sporting KC rattled the Seattle woodwork in the 68th minute as Peter Vermes’ side looked to claw their way back into the game.
Substitute Johnny Russell’s corner kick was deflected at the near post and clipped the outside of the upright. Just moments later, Fernandes hustled to keep a ball in play inside the Seattle area and cut a pass back toward Rubio, but the 25-year-old was unable to double his tally as he lofted his shot over the bar.
The visitors kept pushing and in the 74th minute, Felipe Gutierrez crashed a powerful volleyed attempt into the side-netting after a loose ball had dropped into the area. Seconds later, Seattle had a chance to add a fourth as Ruidiaz was sent clear but his chipped attempt sailed harmlessly over the bar.
Seattle was reduced to 10 men in the 81st minute when center back Chad Marshall was shown a straight red card for a foul on Russell that was initially missed by Toledo. Video Assistant Referee Dave Gantar brought the play to the head referee’s attention, who produced the red card after consulting with the video monitor behind the Sounders goal.
Moments after the restart, Russell’s cross found fellow substitute Krisztian Nemeth at the far post, but he was unable to score as Frei made the stop.
Sporting KC returns home next weekend to take on Eastern Conference side Orlando City SC at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas, on Saturday, Sept. 8.
Orlando currently is in the basement of the East and has won just one of their last 16 games, coming either side of a nine-game losing streak and their current six-game winless run. Tickets are available via SeatGeek.com as Sporting KC looks to improve on their 8-2-3 record at home this season.
– Story from Sporting KC
