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Besler gets warm welcome, 2-1 loss, in KC return

Sporting Kansas City midfielder Gadi Kinda celebrated his game-winning goal, which put Kansas City ahead 2-1 in its Sunday evening match against Austin FC. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

by Brian Turrel

Sporting Kansas City defeated MLS newcomers Austin FC 2-1 on an unseasonably chilly Sunday evening. The game marked the return of two long-time Sporting stalwarts, Graham Zusi and Matt Besler.

Zusi returned in Sporting blue from a season-ending foot surgery he underwent in October 2020. Native Kansas Citian Besler, released in the off season, returned in the black and green of Austin’s expansion team. Both received a standing ovation from the crowd at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas.

Austin struck early, getting a goal in the 7th minute from forward Jon Gallagher, who received a beautiful pass through from Jared Stroud and slid the ball under a low dive from Kansas City goalkeeper John Pulskamp.

Kansas City created the most dangerous opportunities in the remainder of the first half, but they failed to convert on some favorable chances from close range, leaving the halftime score 1-0.

In the second half, Austin looked as if it might be able to keep Kansas City contained, until Austin captain Alex Ring was disqualified in the 67th minute for his second yellow card.

Sporting used the man advantage to accelerate its scoring chances, quickly reasserting itself after any loss of possession. The offensive pressure finally paid off in the 82nd minute when Ilie Sanchez headed in a Johnny Russell corner kick for the equalizer.

Kansas City still looked capable of more, and got it from late substitute Gadi Kinda on the edge of regulation time. Luis Martins crossed the ball in from the far left side to Khiry Shelton for a flick on to Kinda, who headed it home.

Kansas City saw out the 7 minutes of stoppage time to wrap up the victory, the first at home this year.

“I actually can’t describe in words what it felt to be back in front of the fans,” Zusi said after the game. “It kind of caught me off guard, I was a bit emotional when I came out for warm-ups. It felt fantastic to be back and to cap it off with a win as well.”

Sporting will head to Houston for a Wednesday night game against the Dynamo. The team will return home for a Sunday afternoon match with the Vancouver Whitecaps. The game will kick off at 1 p.m. at Children’s Mercy Park.

Goalkeeper John Pulskamp dived to his left to knock away an Austin shot. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

Midfielder Ilie Sanchez headed in a corner kick from Johnny Russell to tie the score at 1-1 in the 82nd minute. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

Long time Sporting Kansas City defender and team captain Matt Besler returned to Children’s Mercy Park as a member of MLS expansion team Austin FC. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

Tripped by Austin midfielder Alex Ring, Gianluca Busio didn’t even wait to hit the ground before asking for a foul call from the referee. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

Defender Jaylin Lindsey went all out to save a ball near the Austin end line. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

Defender Kaveh Rad made his home debut for Sporting Kansas City. Rad came on as an injury replacement for Roberto Puncec in the 58th minute. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

Forward Johnny Russell sliced between two Austin defenders to push the ball to the center. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

Austin midfielder Tomas Pochettino nudged Gianluca Busio off the ball as he surged toward the Austin goal. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

Forward Alan Pulido’s shot was narrowly off target in second half stoppage time. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

Piper twins post terrific track times

Piper’s Dominique Herrig-Brittian raced in the boys’ 100-meter dash. Herrig-Brittian won the event with a school-record time of 10.72 seconds. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

by Brian Turrel

Piper, Bonner Springs, Turner and Bishop Ward high schools participated this Friday in the De Soto Relays, held this year at Basehor-Linwood High School due to ongoing construction of a new athletics complex in De Soto.

Piper’s Dominique and Divante Herrig-Brittian won the boys’ 100- and 200-meter dashes, both setting school records.

Davis Capps won the 800-meter run for the Pirates, also breaking his own previous school record. The boys’ 4×800-meter relay took 1st place, and Tony Cobbs won the boys’ shot put. Logan Ladish set a school record in the boys’ javelin.

The Piper girls finished second in team competition, behind Eudora. The Lady Pirates won the 4×100 and 4×400-meter relays. Grace Hanson won the 800-meter run. Kaitlin Lindstrom took first place in the girls’ pole vault. Kinley Brown finished 2nd in both the 100- and 200-meter dashes.

Bishop Ward’s K.J. Smith’s fourth place finish in the boys’ 100-meter dash highlighted the afternoon for the Cyclones.

Turner’s M’Liyah Anderson finished sixth in the girls’ 400-meter dash and ninth in the 100-meter dash.

For Bonner Springs, Esther Solomon-Holland finished fifth in the girls’ 300-meter hurdles.

Official meet results have not been posted, and we will update as additional results become available.

Turner’s Arianna Ortiz crossed the finish line in the girls’ 800-meter run. Ortiz finished sixth with a time of 2 minutes, 37.08 seconds. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

Bonner Springs senior Cortland Hervey cleared the bar in the boys’ high jump. Hervey finished second in the event. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

Bishop Ward’s K.J. Smith ran in the boys’ 100-meter dash. Smith finished fourth with a time of 11.19 seconds. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

The Piper girls’ 4×100-meter relay team (Ella Buff, Evelyn Vazquez, Ryann Clark, and Kinley Brown) posed together after the winning the race. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

Piper senior Evelyn Vazquez leaned across the finish line to earn her team first place in the girls’ 4×100-meter relay. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

Piper’s Grace Hanson led the pack in the girls’ 800-meter run. Hanson won the event with a time of 2 minutes, 26.90 seconds. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

Bonner Springs’ freshman Esther Solomon-Holland raced in the girls’ 100-meter hurdles. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

Bonner Springs’ Jason McConico cleared the first hurdle in the boys’ 110-meter hurdles race. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

Piper’s Divante Herrig-Brittian cruised to the finish line of the boys’ 200-meter dash. Herrig-Brittian won the event with a time of 22.31 seconds. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

Piper’s Davis Capps ran down the home stretch in the boys’ 800-meter run. Capps won the event with a time of 2 minutes, 0.23 seconds. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

Piper’s Sophia Derks raced in the girls’ 100-meter hurdles. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

Piper senior Kinley Brown crossed the finish line in the girls’ 100-meter dash. Brown finished second in the event with a time of 12.60 seconds. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

NWSL starts new chapter for KC women’s soccer

Kansas City forward Michele Vasconcelos slipped between two Houston defenders to get clear for a goal-scoring shot. Vasconcelos scored Kansas City’s only goal in a 3-1 loss to the Houston Dash. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

by Brian Turrel

Children’s Mercy Park turned a slightly different shade of blue on Monday night as thousands of teal-clad fans of the new Kansas City NWSL women’s soccer team turned out for the franchise’s first home game. The game was sold out, although COVID restrictions limited the attendance.

The Houston Dash played the spoiler at Kansas City’s debut, defeating the hosts 3-1. Kristie Mewis scored a brace for the Dash, and Rachel Daly added one by penalty kick. Michele Vasconcelos scored Kansas City’s lone goal in a second half comeback effort that ended short.

In the first half, Kansas City controlled most of the possession, but Houston was more dangerous with its chances. The Dash got on the board in the 25th minute when USWNT member Mewis unleashed a left-footed blast from about 15 yards out.

Houston went up 2-0 in first half stoppage time. Houston’s Rachel Daly tangled with defender Rachel Corsie just inside Kansas City’s 18-yard box. The collision earned Daly a penalty kick that she took herself and converted.

After the half, Houston continued to press its advantage, and Mewis scored again in the 71st minute. Nichelle Prince streaked up the field and connected with Mewis for the goal.

Kansas City head coach Huw Williams made some late substitutions to create some offense, including bringing on forward Michele Vasconcelos in the 69th minute. Lo’eau LaBonta found Vansconcelos as she slipped between the two Houston center backs and fed her the ball to earn the goal for Kansas City.

Williams made a couple more late substitutions, but Kansas City was unable to break through again.

The match was part of the NWSL Challenge Cup, a tournament that kicks off the NWSL season. Kansas City will play its last Challenge Cup game on Monday, May 3, at 8 p.m. against the OL Reign of Seattle. The game will take place at the Field of Legends, home ballpark of the Kansas City Monarchs.

The regular season schedule will be announced later.