Author: Brian Turrel

by Brian Turrel

Johnny Russell’s streak of strong play was not enough to keep Sporting Kansas City from a second home loss this week. Orlando City scored twice in the first half and then held off Kansas City through the second half to fly away with the 2-1 win.

Russell scored in his third straight game, and posted his third goal of the week just after the half. Graham Zusi brought the ball up the right side then played a diagonal ball forward to Gerso Fernandes on the left boundary of the penalty area. Gerso settled the ball then lofted it across the goal mouth to find Russell waiting at the far post to head in the cross.

Sporting spotted Orlando a two-goal half-time margin, giving up both goals in a span of 2 minutes late in the first half. Orlando controlled the ball for most of the first half, but had trouble finding shot opportunities until their its barrage.

After the game, head coach Peter Vermes traced a common theme in the team’s last two losses, giving away goals due to poor defensive decision-making.

“In the last game we scored more than enough goals to win,” Vermes said, “but we gave up three just absolute terrible goals. And we did that again tonight. I’ve already told the guys that’s just got to change.”

The loss drops Kansas City to third place in the increasingly crowded Western Conference standings. Only 4 points separates first place Seattle from Salt Lake in the eighth and final playoff position.

Sporting will play next at the Colorado Rapids on Sunday, Sept. 27. Major League Soccer recently announced the remaining season schedule. Kansas City will play 10 more regular season matches, extending through Nov. 8.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

by Brian Turrel

A late giveaway by Sporting Kansas City defender Graham Zusi cost the team its opportunity to retake the top spot in the MLS Western Conference. The 82nd minute goal by FC Dallas put it ahead 3-2, overcoming a second-half brace by Johnny Russell.

Franco Jara scored Dallas’s first goal in the 42nd minute, diving to head in a cross from defender John Nelson. He scored again just after halftime by knocking in the rebound off a Dallas corner kick.

Kansas City battled back from the two-goal deficit, with its halftime tactical and personnel changes paying off in scoring opportunities. To create more offensive action, head coach Peter Vermes brought in center midfielder Ilie Sanchez. Sanchez, missing from game action since Sporting left the MLS Is Back tournament in late July, got a warm reception from the fans.

Russell scored his first goal in the 53rd minute by sending back an attempted clearance off a Sporting corner kick. The ball zipped low just inside the left goalpost and gave Dallas goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer little chance of a save.

Russell struck again in the 83rd minute, redirecting a free kick from Gianluca Busio into the upper right corner of the net. After the game, Russell commended Busio’s assist.

“Busio strikes it great,” he said, “and any touch from us, Dallas players, or even if it misses everyone, is on target. With that power, it can always go in.”.

Russell’s enthusiasm after his score fired up the limited-attendance crowd with visions of a come-from-behind victory, but those visions departed moments later when longtime defensive standout Graham Zusi hit a weak back pass to goalkeeper Tim Melia.

With the ball stranded between Zusi and Melia, diminutive Dallas forward Michael Barrios seized the opportunity. Melia blocked Barrios’s attempt, but the rebound fell to forward Ryan Hollingshead to put away the winner.

Dallas’s delaying tactics late in the game drew the wrath of its opponents, the crowd, and the officials, who handed out four yellow cards for time-wasting. Dallas midfielder Bryan Acosta was also sent off in the 90th minute for a foul that earned his second yellow card of the match.

Even with the man advantage and six minutes of stoppage, Sporting wasn’t able to earn the equalizer, and a direct kick opportunity in the closing seconds was stopped by Dallas.

The loss, combined with Seattle’s Friday night win, drops Sporting KC to second place, jostling for playoff position in a crowded field. Sporting will play at home against Orlando City FC on Sept. 23 at 7:30 p.m.

by Brian Turrel

Sporting Kansas City put on a show of offensive dominance against Minnesota United FC, but it was all nearly for naught until Johnny Russell raced onto a long direct pass from Graham Zusi and buried it in the net in the 80th minute of Sunday night’s contest.

The win over their Midwestern rivals puts Sporting back on top of the MLS Western Conference standings after a four-game winless streak had dropped them to second behind the Seattle Sounders.

The rapid pace of Gadi Kinda and Gerso Fernandes up front helped Sporting create opportunities in the attacking half, and the defensive persistence of midfielder Felipe Hernandez kept Minnesota from advancing the ball cleanly.

Sporting held a 15-to-1 advantage on shots going into halftime, but hadn’t found the net. Manager Peter Vermes felt the team could break through if they stayed patient. After the game he recounted his halftime message to the team.

Vermes said, “The biggest thing that can’t happen is that we lose our discipline to our shape and we can’t get impatient with the fact that we’ve created a bunch of chances and we just haven’t put one in the goal yet.”

As the game neared the final minutes, Sporting found its winning opportunity in response to a rare burst of Minnesota offense.

Defender Matt Besler intercepted a Minnesota pass, heading it to Graham Zusi in the center of the field. Zusi spotted Russell sprinting ahead through Minnesota’s spread out defense and laid the ball into his path. Russell struck the ball low to the right corner of the goal, beating Minnesota goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair.

After the game, Zusi recounted, “I just curled it right down the middle of the field and let Johnny’s momentum take him into the path of the ball. He did the rest.”

The game was played before a limited audience of fans, but the offensive show on the field kept them at high volume throughout the game. Covid-19 protocols were in evidence throughout the stadium. One Sporting player tested positive earlier in the week, but the team has not identified the player.

MLS has announced their schedule through the end of September. Sporting will play at home on Sept. 19 against FC Dallas, quickly followed by another home match against Orlando on Sept. 23.