Month: June 2021

Sporting comes back to win 2-1 against LAFC

Alan Pulido and Daniel Salloi struck second-half goals to spark a dramatic comeback victory as Sporting Kansas City (7-3-2, 23 points) edged 10-man LAFC (3-4-3, 12 points) in a 2-1 thriller at Children’s Mercy Park on Saturday afternoon in Kansas City, Kansas.

In a game that entertained from beginning to end, Sporting suffered a setback in the first half when Kim Moon-Hwan fired the visitors ahead against the run of play. As they have done so often this season, manager Peter Vermes’ men responded with Pulido equalizing near the hour mark — shortly after LAFC defender Tristan Blackmon was sent off — and Salloi continuing his red-hot run of form by sinking an 87th-minute winner.

The result lifts Sporting within a point of Supporters’ Shield leaders Seattle Sounders FC and gives the team a remarkable 16 points from losing positions this year, 10 more than any other club. Just 12 games into the 2021 campaign, Sporting has equaled a regular season club record with five comeback wins.

A raucous Children’s Mercy Park atmosphere provided the perfect setting for a nationally televised clash on ESPN as Vermes made one change to Sporting’s lineup from a 3-1 home triumph over the Colorado Rapids on Wednesday night. Pulido replaced Khiry Shelton at the tip of a three-pronged attack, flanked by Salloi and captain Johnny Russell.

Hot and humid playing conditions paved the way for Sporting to assert early dominance in territory and possession. After four minutes, Russell and Salloi combined on the left edge of the box before the latter sent a cutback pass to Jaylin Lindsey, whose blistering strike from the opposite side of the penalty area fizzed narrowly over the crossbar.

LAFC weathered an early barrage of Sporting pressure and grew into the game, taking a 1-0 lead in the 24th minute.

Jose Cifuentes slipped a diagonal ball to Kim, who cut centrally from the right side and finished inside the near post for his first goal of the season. It marked the ninth time in 12 matches this season that Sporting has trailed, but the hosts showed their grit over the next 65 minutes.

Lindsey was the victim of a hamstring injury five minutes before intermission and was forced to exit, prompting the introduction of veteran defender Graham Zusi. With his introduction, the 34-year-old logged his club-record 350th appearance for Sporting in all competitions.

LAFC entered the weekend with an MLS-leading nine points dropped from winning positions and added to that total on Saturday, but not before nearly doubling their advantage 42 seconds into the second half. Kim’s low cross was met firmly by substitute Corey Baird, but his effort smacked off the head of outstretched goalkeeper Tim Melia and the score remained 1-0.

The complexion of the game changed significantly in the 58th minute when Blackmon was given his marching orders for denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity by hauling Salloi to the turf just outside of the box.

Gianluca Busio’s ensuing free kick rattled the crossbar and looped out of play, much to the chagrin of the 20,213 fans in attendance.

Undeterred, Sporting claimed an equalizer in the 61st minute. Salloi’s in-swinging cross from the left channel was repelled only as far as Pulido, who expertly picked out the right corner on a left-footed blast from the top of the penalty area.

In doing so, Pulido extended Sporting’s club-record home scoring streak to 22 matches and became just the third MLS player to bag six goals in each of the last two regular seasons.

Less than 15 minutes after pulling his side level, Pulido left the contest with a foot laceration that required stitches. Sporting didn’t miss a beat, however, and Zusi twice combined with Felipe Hernandez in the 72nd and 78th minutes.

Hernandez hammered a volley wide on the first chance and LAFC goalkeeper Tomas Romero made a save on the 23-year-old’s diving header shortly thereafter.

Sporting earned its go-ahead goal in the 87th minute on a buildup in the attacking third. Zusi fed Busio, who sprayed a pass wide left to Hernandez.

The midfielder took a touch and rolled the ball to Salloi, who unleashed a right-footed curler into the far corner to ignite celebrations inside the stadium. Salloi ranks third in MLS with seven goals this season and places second with 10 combined goals and assists.

Substitute Carlos Vela was on the receiving end of a final chance for LAFC in second-half stoppage time, but the Mexican star dragged his shot inches wide of Melia’s left-hand post and Sporting held on for all three points. In doing so, they pushed the 2021 home record to 5-0-2 and extended the regular season home unbeaten run to 10 matches dating back to last fall.

With two home wins in four days under their belts, Sporting will recuperate over the next week before visiting the LA Galaxy (6-3-0, 18 points) at Dignity Health Sports Park in California on Sunday, July 4. The Fourth of July fixture will kick off at 7:30 p.m. with live coverage on Bally Sports Kansas City.

  • Story from Sporting KC

Another walk-off win for Saltdogs over Monarchs

It was heartbreak for the third time on the road trip for the Kansas City Monarchs in the Nebraska state capitol. The Lincoln Saltdogs (17-16) rallied from a 4-0 deficit late to walk off winners 5-4 over the Monarchs (19-15).

Former Kansas City T-Bone Forrestt Allday drew a bases-loaded walk with one out in the bottom of the ninth off Monarchs pitcher Jacob Lindgren (0-1) to send the Monarchs’ losing streak to three and to drop to 2-4 on the seven-game road trip.

The walk off spoiled what looked like a great evening for KC. Left-handed pitcher Cody Mincey tossed seven shut-out innings, scattering just three hits and a season-high seven strikeouts to set the tone on the mound.

On the other side, Lincoln starter Keenan Bartlett matched Mincey during the first three innings, holding the Monarchs scoreless.

The Monarchs offense got to work in the top of the fourth, with Colin Willis drawing a lead-off walk and moving to third on a double by Charcer Burks. Then, thanks to a sacrifice fly by Kevin Santa, Willis ran it home to get the Monarchs on the board.

Lincoln’s oldest player, Bryan Warner, at 46 years old, to a hit in the top of the fifth. Warner, who signed to a one-day contract, holds just about every offensive record in Saltdogs history and was signed due in part of the ongoing 20th anniversary celebration of the Saltdogs coming to Lincoln.

The Monarchs turned up the heat in the top of the eighth. Gabby Guerrero doubled and moved to third on a fielder’s choice to first by Casey Gillaspie.

Colin Willis slapped a single to the right side of the infield, scoring Guerrero to make it 2-0. Charcer Burks hit a double and advanced Willis to third. Burks then advanced to third thanks to a passed ball, allowing Willis to score to make it 3-0.

Kevin Santa then hit a single past a drawn-in infield on the left side, scoring Burks to make it 4-0 going into the bottom of the eighth.

Brian Ellington came in for Mincey, who went seven innings, allowing four hits, one walk and recording seven strikeouts.

Ellington struck out Warner but then walked the bases loaded. Ryan Long grounded out to first to score a run to make it 4-1 in favor of the Monarchs. David Vidal hit a three-run homerun off Ellington to left to tie the game at four. Jacob Lindgren struck out Skyler Weber for the third out.

In the top of the ninth James Pugliese worked a 1-2-3 frame to set up the bottom of the ninth. Lindgren struck out Edgar Corcino to start the inning but then hit Patrick Adams with a pitch, and walked Gunnar Buhner and Dusting Byrd.

With the bases loaded Lindgren walked Allday on a 3-1 count to give Lincoln its fourth win over KC this season in four tries.

The Monarchs will take on the Saltdogs in the final game of the three-game series Sunday afternoon in Lincoln and complete the longest road trip of the season. First pitch is slated for 1:35 p.m. The game can be heard on the Monarchs Broadcast Network with the pre-game beginning at 1:10 p.m. and the video stream airing on aabaseball.tv.

The Monarchs return to Legends Field in KCK Tuesday to begin a six-game homestand. The first game is a special 11 a.m. start against the Sioux Falls Canaries on Tuesday, June 29.

Tickets to Monarchs games can be purchased by calling 913-328-5618 or by visiting monarchsbaseball.com.

  • Story from Emerson Peavey, Monarchs

Washington wins women’s soccer match, 2-1

Kansas City NWSL concluded its stretch of three games in six days with a heartbreaking 2-1 loss to the Washington Spirit in front an energetic crowd celebrating Pride Night at Legends Field in Kansas City, Kansas.

Captain Amy Rodriguez opened the scoring in the third minute of the game, giving Kansas City a 1-0 lead that would last most of the match.

However, Washington responded late in the second half with two goals of its own from Ashley Sanchez and Trinity Rodman to hand Kansas City the 2-1 defeat.

The fans were barely in their seats as Kansas City immediately started the game on the attack.

Forward Jéssica Silva drove down the left flank, then beat her defender coming up the end line towards goal. Silva delivered a perfect pass to a slashing Rodriguez who fired the ball one-time into the back of the net. Rodriguez nearly added a second goal in the fifteenth minute after a misplay by a Washington defender, but Spirit goalkeeper Aubrey Bledsoe denied the attempt.

Kansas City continued to dominate the first half offensively and defensively. KC’s Mallory Weber, in her first start on the backline, was a stand-out for much of the match. She was strong in preventing attackers from getting past her and making aggressive tackles to get the ball back to the offensive end. Goalkeeper Abby Smith also strongly contributed with several point-blank saves.

Despite pressure from Kansas City on the attacking end, Sanchez finally answered the call for the Spirit in the 78th minute. She found the back of the net after a long pass from rookie Rodman to tie the game at 1-1.

Smith was forced to leave the game in the 80th minute with an injury, bringing in veteran Nicole Barnhart to close out the game. Barnhart made two unbelievable saves late, but Rodman took it upon herself in extra time to score a crafty goal – creating space in the box and firing a shot into the corner of the net.

“It hurts, it hurts a lot,” head coach Huw Williams said. “We have a locker room full of players that gave it everything they’ve got and played awfully well for the vast majority of this game. It’s a couple of moments, and those moments are key, and those moments are difference makers.”

Kansas City will now shift its focus to the next game on the road at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey, versus NY-NJ Gotham FC on Friday, July 2. Kickoff is slated for 6 p.m. and will be broadcast on Paramount+.

  • Story from KC NWSL