Month: September 2019

Sporting KC suffers late match loss, 2-1, and is out of playoff contention

Sporting Kansas City’s club-record eight-year playoff streak was snapped Wednesday night in a late 2-1 loss to Minnesota United FC at Allianz Field in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Botond Barath opened his MLS scoring account to give Sporting (10-15-7, 37 points) an early lead, but Minnesota (15-10-7, 52 points) responded with a 70th-minute equalizer from veteran Osvaldo Alonso before substitute Hassani Dotson struck in the 90th minute to seal the comeback and officially eliminate manager Peter Vermes’ side from postseason contention.

Sporting entered the night needing a victory in order to preserve their slim playoff hopes.

Wednesday’s result — the fourth straight loss in which Sporting scored first — means the club will miss the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2010.

The Loons, meanwhile, have clinched their first postseason berth in club history with two regular season matches to spare.

Vermes’ men will now turn their attention to Sunday’s home finale at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas. Kickoff against the Portland Timbers is set for 6:30 p.m. and tickets remain available at SeatGeek.com, with the first 5,000 fans through the stadium gates receiving a free headband.

The Western Conference clash will also air live on FOX Sports Kansas City, FOX Sports Midwest, FOX Sports GO, ESPN 94.5 FM and La Grande 1340 AM.

Four days removed from a 3-2 home defeat to the Colorado Rapids, Sporting rolled out three lineup changes against the Loons.

With Matt Besler serving a red card suspension, Ilie Sanchez took the captain’s armband and dropped from midfield into central defense. Academy product Gianluca Busio filled the resulting gap in the middle of the park, while forwards Erik Hurtado and Daniel Salloi replaced Krisztian Nemeth and Gerso Fernandes up top.

The visitors started brightly and needed just seven minutes to draw first blood.

Johnny Russell played a short corner kick to Zusi before settling a return ball with space on the right flank. The Scottish international whipped a teasing cross into the six-yard area, where Barath was on hand to poke home past Loons goalkeeper Vito Mannone for his first goal in a Sporting uniform.

Minnesota wasted a brilliant opportunity to draw level six minutes later when Mason Toye blasted high from point-blank range off a pinpoint Kevin Molino feed.

An equally big change went begging at the opposite end shortly thereafter, with Erik Hurtado latching onto Luis Martin’s superb service only to see his first-time effort carry inches wide of Mannone’s left-hand post.

Mannone produced a pair of fantastic saves in the 26th minute to prevent Sporting from doubling their advantage.

The Italian first dove at full extension to get his mitts to Zusi’s 22-yard piledriver, then reclaimed his footing to turn aside Busio’s deflected volley on the rebound.

Russell was next to take attacking initiative, splitting two defenders on 39 minutes and lacing a shot narrowly over the bar.

Two minutes shy of halftime, Busio flashed his undeniable skill by heading the ball past former Sporting defender Ike Opara and forcing Mannone into a reflex stop at his near post.

A half-chance would then present itself for Minnesota, but Darwin Quintero’s header lacked the power and placement to beat Melia.

Sporting remained on the front foot after the restart, and the increasingly confident Busio smacked the woodwork off a cushioned header from Daniel Salloi in the 64th minute.

The next good look fell to Russell, who muscled through a slew of defenders and prompted Mannone to sprawl low and make yet another save.

Minnesota made Sporting pay for its profligacy in the 70th minute. Jan Gregus’ corner was glanced across the face of goal by substitute Abu Danladi, allowing Alonso to stab home from close range to restore parity.

Agonizing misfortune continued to bedevil the visitors, as Ilie’s header off a Busio corner caromed off the crossbar just before Romain Metanire intervened heroically to prevent Gerso’s cutback pass from finding an open Busio near the penalty spot.

The final sting in the tale delivered all three points to Minnesota, as Dotson sliced into the box and uncorked a left-footed shot that deflected off Barath and past Melia in the 90th minute to send Allianz Field into euphoric celebration.

– Story from Sporting KC

U.S. representatives from Kansas comment on impeachment inquiry

by Tom Shine, Kansas News Service

The state’s four congressional representatives have weighed in after this week’s announcement from Speaker Nancy Pelosi that the House of Representatives will move forward with an impeachment inquiry of President Donald Trump.

Pelosi’s announcement on Tuesday follows reports that Trump asked the president of Ukraine to investigate whether Joe Biden — the former vice president who is running for the Democratic nomination for president — stymied a Ukraine investigation of his son, Hunter Biden.

The state’s three Republican congressmen — Reps. Ron Estes of Wichita, Roger Marshall of Great Bend and Steve Watkins of Topeka — denounced the inquiry.

Rep. Sharice Davids, 3rd District, of the Kansas City area, a Democrat, supported the move.

Neither of Kansas’ senators — Jerry Moran and Pat Roberts — have commented on the impeachment inquiry.

Here are the statements or tweets from the Kansas delegation:

Ron Estes statement

“Even before seeing a transcript, Speaker Pelosi has decided to surrender to the most radical voices in her party by moving forward with an impeachment inquiry over reports of a phone call between President Trump and the leader of Ukraine.

“While the president has vowed to release a full transcript, which I look forward to reviewing, I believe starting an impeachment inquiry today is irresponsible and will only succeed in further dividing the American people.

“Since the day after the 2016 election, Democrats have vowed to impeach President Trump and have since spent more than two years searching for a reason to do it. Instead of impeachment, Congress should focus on priorities like the USMCA and accomplishing results for the American people.”

Roger Marshall on Twitter

“Democrats will stop at nothing to impeach our President. If only they devoted the last three years and energy to helping make American’s lives’ better…”

“Read the transcript. Once again, the left wing witch hunt fired before aiming.”

“Russia was the first attempt at a made-for-TV witch hunt. Ukraine seems to be the sequel.”

“Oversight committees need to do their job. And during the circus, some of us will still focus on helping the American people through expanded trade and security. Hope more will join.”

Steve Watkins on Twitter

“Impeachment is designed for high crimes and misdemeanors, not unconfirmed, secondhand accusations. This is nothing more than Democrats waving the white flag on 2020 and trying to impeach a President they know they can’t beat.”

“Democrats have been on a three-year witch-hunt to sabotage and delegitimize a democratically elected President whose success makes them irate and irrational.”

Sharice Davids statement

“When I was sworn into office, I took an oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States and I take that responsibility very seriously.

“The reports that the President asked Ukrainian officials to help him investigate a political opponent, if true, represent a clear abuse of power and mean he invited foreign interference into our democracy for his own political gain.

“Not only that, the President and his administration continue to stonewall investigations into this and many other allegations. This continued pattern of corruption threatens the fabric of our democracy and the safety of the American people.

“No one is above the law, not even the President. Our country has laws to protect whistleblowers and to protect the security of our elections, both of which are fundamental to our democracy.

“On Thursday, the Acting Director of National Intelligence Joseph Maguire will testify before the House Intelligence Committee. The rule of law requires the Administration to turn over the whistleblower report. The Administration should also turn over the transcript of the call between the President and the Ukrainian government, so the American people have all the facts.

“If the Acting Director or any member of this Administration does not comply, they must be held accountable to the full extent of the law.”

Tom Shine is director of news and public affairs at KMUW. Kansas News Service stories and photos may be republished at no cost with proper attribution and a link back to kcur.org.

See more at https://www.kcur.org/post/us-representatives-kansas-comment-impeachment-inquiry

Today, high of 76, storms in forecast for Friday

Storms are possible Friday afternoon and evening. (National Weather Service graphic)
Damaging winds, hail and flash flooding are possible with Friday afternoon and evening storms. (National Weather Service graphic)

Today’s weather will see a high of 76, while Friday, there is a slight risk of severe weather in the afternoon and evening, according to the National Weather Service.

The main features of Friday’s storms may be damaging winds, large hail and flash flooding, the weather service said.

Some non-severe storms are possible early Friday morning before the main storm in the afternoon.

Missouri River flooding could be enhanced by local rainfall. The Missouri River at Parkville, where the gauge is on I-435 between Wyandotte and Platte counties, is in action stage and below minor flood stage.

The Missouri River at Parkville, where the gauge is on I-435 over the Missouri River between Wyandotte and Platte counties, is in action stage. (National Weather Service – USGS graphic)

Today, it will be sunny with a high near 76, and an east northeast wind of 5 to 8 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon, the weather service said.

Tonight, it will be mostly cloudy with a low of 68 and a south wind of 8 to 14 mph, gusting as high as 21 mph, according to the weather service.

Friday, there is a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1 p.m., the weather service said.  It will be cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 86. A south southwest wind of 14 to 20 mph may gust as high as 37 mph. Between a quarter and half-inch of rain is possible.

Friday night, there is a 90 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, with some of the storms producing heavy rainfall, according to the weather service. The low will be around 62 with a south southwest wind of 6 mph becoming light and variable after midnight. Between 1 and 2 inches are possible.

Saturday, there is a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, with a high near 76, the weather service said. A northeast wind of 6 mph will become south in the afternoon. Between a quarter and half-inch of rain is possible.

Saturday night, there is a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, with a low of 68, according to the weather service. Between a tenth and quarter-inch of rain is possible.

Sunday, there is a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1 p.m., with a high near 83, the weather service said.

Sunday night, it will be partly cloudy with a low of 72, according to the weather service.

Monday, it will be partly sunny with a high near 85, the weather service said.

Monday night, it will be mostly cloudy, with a low of 71, according to the weather service.

Tuesday, there was a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, with a high near 84, the weather service said.

Tuesday night, there is a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, with some storms capable of producing heavy rainfall. The low will be around 65.

Wednesday, there is a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, with a high near 74, the weather service said.