Brian Turrel – Page 115 – Welcome to Wyandotte Daily!

Sporting KC advances to U.S. Open Cup semifinals

KC forward Latif Blessing took a shot in the first half. (Photo copyright 2017 by Brian Turrel)

Dallas midfielder Ryan Hollingshead made a sliding last-second block on a shot by Gerso Fernandes that had gotten past the Dallas goalkeeper. (Photo copyright 2017 by Brian Turrel)

Story and photos by Brian Terrel

Sporting KC advanced to the U.S. Open Cup semifinals over FC Dallas Tuesday night in a tough extra-time game marked by three ejections.

Sporting broke open a scoreless game with three goals during the 30-minute overtime period to win the game 3 to 0. The Open Cup is a single-elimination tournament played among the U.S. professional and semiprofessional leagues.

Kansas City moves on to face the San Jose Earthquakes in the semifinals. The location and date of the game will be announced Friday.

Sporting KC honored its late owner Neal Patterson with a tribute and moment of silence before the game, and with armbands worn by both teams.

In the first half, Dallas gained a man advantage early when Sporting defender Seth Sinovic was given a red card for tripping Dallas’s Michael Barrios on a breakaway in the 15th minute.

Shorthanded, Sporting still attempted to continue its attack through the remainder of the first half, but by the second half it had settled into its own end, parrying a series of Dallas attacks.

Homegrown talent Erik Palmer-Brown won multiple challenges in the penalty area and goalkeeper Tim Melia made some timely saves to keep Dallas off the board throughout regulation time.

The overtime period followed the same pattern of Dallas control until Dallas defender Maximiliano Urruti was ejected in the 101st minute for his dangerous high kick that sent KC defender Ike Opara out of the game on a stretcher.

With the teams even at 10 men, Sporting struck. Forward Latif Blessing, whose frantic pace drove his team all night, scored off an assist by midfielder Benny Feilhaber.

Sporting gained a man advantage when Dallas midfielder Javier Morales was ejected in stoppage time, and then Blessing quickly struck again, putting the home team up 2 – 0.

KC forward Daniel Salloi closed out the scoring with a goal in the second overtime period, counter-attacking FC Dallas and knocking in a pass from Feilhaber.

Opara was held at a hospital overnight with a concussion. Sporting KC plays next in an MLS match at Real Salt Lake on July 22.

Sporting KC forward Latif Blessing vented his frustration as his header sailed left of the goal during first half stoppage time. (Photo copyright 2017 by Brian Turrel)

Gerso Fernandes was taken to the ground by Dallas defender Hernan Grana. (Photo copyright 2017 by Brian Turrel)

Tempers flared between the teams as the medical staff treated Ike Opara on the field. (Photo copyright 2017 by Brian Turrel)

Latif Blessing did a cartwheel and back flip to celebrate his second goal in overtime. (Photo copyright 2017 by Brian Turrel)

Goalkeeper Tim Melia made a diving stop in overtime to keep Dallas scoreless. (Photo copyright 2017 by Brian Turrel)

Latif Blessing worked the ball past Hernan Grana. (Photo copyright 2017 by Brian Turrel)

Forward Daniel Salloi knocked in a goal to make the score 3 – 0. (Photo copyright 2017 by Brian Turrel)

Latif Blessing celebrated the victory with some dancing in front of the North End fans. (Photo copyright 2017 by Brian Turrel)

More photos from the Sporting KC match Saturday

Defender Benny Feilhaber headed the ball toward the Portland goal in the first half. Sporting KC and Portland tied, 1-1, in MLS soccer action Saturday night at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo copyright 2017 by Brian Turrel)

Defender Seth Sinovic crossed the ball in front of the Portland goal in the first half. (Photo copyright 2017 by Brian Turrel)

Sporting forward Daniel Salloi watched as his first MLS goal sailed into the net past Portland goalkeeper Jake Gleeson. (Photo copyright 2017 by Brian Turrel)

In the closing seconds of second-half stoppage time, Sporting forward Diego Rubio was taken to the ground in the penalty area by a hard challenge from Portland defender Vytas Andriuškevičius. No foul was called, and the game concluded in a 1 – 1 tie. (Photo copyright 2017 by Brian Turrel)

Portland midfielder Darlington Nagbe chatted with Kit Van Sickle and her father Cory. Kit is a participant in Sporting KC’s Project Victory and was recently declared cancer-free after completing her treatment at Children’s Mercy. (Photo copyright 2017 by Brian Turrel)

Season ticket holders had the opportunity to take pictures with team members after the game. These fans brought helmets as props for the players. (Photo copyright 2017 by Brian Turrel)

Season ticket holders had the opportunity to take pictures with team members after the game. This young fan posed with Sporting forward Soony Saad. (Photo copyright 2017 by Brian Turrel)

Sporting KC midfielder Ilie Sanchez posed after the game with his mother, who is visiting from Spain. (Photo copyright 2017 by Brian Turrel)

T-Bones sweep Salina with 3-2 win

In the sweep of Salina on Sunday, the T-Bones grounds crew got some assistance from team mascot Sizzle. (Photo copyright 2017 by Brian Turrel)

The Kansas City T-Bones survived shaky starting pitching with a solid bullpen and just enough power to walk away with a 3 – 2 win over the Salina Stockade on Sunday. The victory gave the T-Bones a sweep of the weekend series against the Stockade.

Right fielder Chantz Mack provided all the power the home team needed with a three-run home run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Second baseman Marcus Lemon started the fourth with a fly ball that appeared to be lost in the sun by the Salina outfield. Lemon wound up at second base on the play. The first baseman followed with a walk that set the table for Mack’s long shot to right field.

T-Bones starting pitcher Darin Gorski wobbled in the first two innings, loading the bases in both innings, but giving up only one run. Luis Paula replaced Gorski to start the third inning and pitched two scoreless, low-drama innings to right the ship. Three more relievers followed, allowing only a single run over the remaining five innings to close out the game.

The T-Bones play Monday at 7:05 p.m. against the Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks, and the T-Bones have a “kids eat free” special for the game. The homestand continues through next Sunday, June 25.