by Brian Turrel
Yohan Croizet called it the best goal of his career, and it was a stunner — an unlikely 20-yard volley that gave Sporting Kansas City the lead over FC Dallas in the game’s final minutes Saturday night in Kansas City, Kansas. A high rebound off a Dallas defender fell to Croizet, who didn’t hesitate to bury it into the upper left corner of the net.
Croizet himself was a late addition, coming into the game in the 85th minute to replace Daniel Salloi, who had scored the team’s two previous goals.
Salloi picked up his first goal in the 43rd minute, sliding in to finish off a ball headed to the goal line by Ike Opara. The goal evened the game at 1, giving SKC an even field to start the second half.
Salloi’s second goal came in the 66th minute. Seconds after having a shot parried away by Dallas goalkeeper Jesse Gonzalez, Salloi got a pass from rookie Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal and knocked it home from 6 yards. This was Salloi’s first multi-goal game with SKC.
The win moves Sporting Kansas City into the quarterfinals of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The Open Cup is a single-elimination tournament played among all the U.S. professional and semi-professional leagues. Sporting has won the Cup four times, including two of the past three.
Sporting KC returns to MLS play next Saturday at home against the Houston Dynamo.
