Sporting Kansas City saw its three-game winning streak snapped on Wednesday night following a controversial 1-0 defeat to FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.
Sporting (9-6-2, 29 pts.) fell behind late in the first half after Ryan Hollingshead put FC Dallas (6-4-6, 24 pts.) ahead, but Sporting was denied a late equalizer when referee Armando Villarreal, and his video assistant referee, Malik Badawi, decided to chalk off Johnny Russell’s goal for what they deemed a foul by Gadi Kinda.
Sporting rotated the starting lineup with five changes from Sunday’s victory over Nashville SC, as defender Andreu Fontas and forward Daniel Salloi each made their first regular-season starts of 2020, while Felipe Hernandez, Roger Espinoza and Erik Hurtado were also restored to the lineup.
The two sides traded decent chances early on, as Sporting right back Jaylin Lindsey blazed over the bar before Dallas’ Ryan Hollingshead nodded a corner over the bar within the opening 10 minutes.
Much-changed Sporting continued to soak up pressure as the half wore on, with Melia called into four saves – including a pair of impressive interventions to deny Franco Jara who had scored three goals in his previous two matches against Sporting KC.
Dallas eventually took the lead in the 43rd minute, and it took a major stroke of luck to beat Melia on the night. Bryan Reynolds floated cross from the right wing found Hollingshead crashing in at the far post, and his low finish rattled off the post before hitting Melia on the back and nestling into the corner of the net, giving Dallas a 1-0 lead at the break.
Peter Vermes introduced regular trio Ilie Sanchez, Gadi Kinda and Johnny Russell at halftime but it was Dallas that produced the first big chance of the second half. With the ball pinballing around the edge of the area, it eventually fell to Michael Barrios whose first-time shot from close range flashed wide of the post.
In the 57th minute, Jara spurned a golden opportunity to double the hosts’ lead, firing wide with only Melia to beat after being slipped through on goal by Barrios. Two minutes later, Melia was forced into action once again, diving to his left to claw away Fafa Picault’s effort from the edge of the area.
Sporting forced Dallas goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer into his first save of the game in the 62nd minute. Russell pounced on a poor Dallas pass in the midfield before finding Kinda on the left wing, but the Israeli’s powerful attempt was held by Maurer.
Hurtado, who scored a goal of the season candidate on Sunday, almost brought Sporting level in the 82nd minute when he fought off a center back to set up an open look at goal, but he blazed his volley over the bar.
Sporting had the ball in the net and thought they’d equalized in the 87th minute when Russell slammed home a loose ball after Maurer had spilled Luis Martins’ shot.
However, referee Armando Villarreal decided that Kinda had fouled Maurer while challenging for the ball and chalked the goal off. When the final whistle blew, it also snapped Sporting’s run of scoring in all 16 regular-season games in 2020.
Sporting KC remains on the road this weekend as the side travels north to take on Eastern Conference foe the Chicago Fire at Soldier Field. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, and will air nationally on Univision and TUDN, as well as locally on FOX Sports Kansas City and Sports Radio 810 WHB.
