Author: Brian Turrel

by Brian Turrel

An 88th minute goal for striker Erik Hurtado gave Sporting Kansas City a 1-0 victory over Minnesota United FC and kept the club within striking distance of making the MLS playoffs.

Although they played aggressively throughout the match and kept pressure on Minnesota’s defense, Sporting had trouble breaking through until Hurtado’s game-winner. Johnny Russell placed the ball neatly through a gap in the Minnesota defense. Hurtado touched the ball to his right to stretch out Loons goalkeeper Vito Mannone, and then played the ball back across at an angle for the score.

After the game, head coach Peter Vermes credited the team’s approach to the game.

“It was the relentlessness of the guys in pursuit of that goal,” Vermes said.  “That’s why we scored in the 88th minute, because we weren’t going to be denied.”

The victory brought Sporting Kansas City within 3 points of the final playoff position, but earning the playoff berth will likely require three to four more victories in the seven remaining games.

Sporting will play next against the Houston Dynamo on Saturday, Aug. 31.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

by Brian Turrel

Sporting Kansas City’s strong second-half play earned them a 2-1 come-from-behind win against the San Jose Earthquakes Saturday evening at Children’s Mercy Park.

Coming out of the halftime break with a one goal deficit and an urgency not to lose the game, Kansas City attacked early, picking up the equalizer in the 50th minute.

Johnny Russell floated a cross from the right-hand side of the 18-yard line which Jimmy Medranda headed into the path of Benny Feilhaber. Feilhaber placed the ball into the left side of the net with a screaming half-volley.

In the 76th minute, defender Graham Smith made the game-winner, his first professional goal.

Johnny Russell took a free kick from just outside the corner of the penalty area. The kick looked like it might curl into the upper corner of the goal, but instead ricocheted off the frame. Smith was at the far post and easily knocked in the rebound.

In comments after the game, head coach Peter Vermes credited his team’s effort in the victory.

“San Jose’s a good team,” the coach said. “They work really hard. They spend a lot of energy. They run. They play man-to-man. They’re a team that puts the work in. Tonight, we outworked them.”

Vermes also credited his team’s game plan in dealing with San Jose’s unique man-to-man marking style.

“We had the right game plan,” the coach said. “The guys played flawlessly to the game plan.”

Although he declined to spill the specifics of his strategy, he added, “What we did, I think, changed the way they had to play us, and that was a big difference.”

Even with three points in the standings for the victory, Kansas City still faces an uphill climb to reach the playoffs. They remain 6 points behind the final playoff position, with 8 games remaining.

Sporting has a quick turnaround, playing against Minnesota United FC on Thursday. The nationally televised game will start at 8:30 p.m. at Children’s Mercy Park.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

by Brian Turrel

Sporting Kansas City missed an opportunity to crawl back into the MLS Western Conference playoff chase, losing 2-1 to Real Salt Lake at Children’s Mercy Park on Saturday evening.

The home team scored first in the 31st minute. Felipe Gutierrez was taken down just inches outside the penalty area, giving Johnny Russell the opportunity to take a dangerous free kick. Russell launched his shot to the left edge of the goal, past Salt Lake goalkeeper Nick Rimando.

Salt Lake tied the game a few minutes later when it earned a free kick of its own. The kick bounced off the goalpost, but Salt Lake’s Corey Baird knocked in the rebound from close range.

Kansas City had the chance to go ahead in first half stoppage time on a penalty kick from Felipe Gutierrez, but the ball bounced off the woodwork. Salt Lake cleared the ball and ran out the first half clock.

Salt Lake got the game-winning goal in the 70th minute. Baird picked up his second goal of the night by putting away a fine diagonal pass from Jefferson Savarino.

Daniel Salloi was given a red card and ejected in the 84th minute for a dangerous challenge. Salloi had come on as a substitute in the 6th minute when Gerso Fernandes suffered an early ankle injury.

In post-game comments, head coach Peter Vermes returned to the theme of missed opportunities, which he has sounded several times this season.

“It’s our own fault,” the coach said. “We had all the chances in the world in the first half and we didn’t stick them away.”

Kansas City is 8 points behind the playoff line in the Western Conference standings, with only 10 games left in the regular season. The team will travel to play Orlando City SC on Wednesday, and then will return home for a game against the San Jose Earthquakes next Saturday evening.