Author: Brian Turrel

by Brian Turrel

Snow filtered down into Children’s Mercy Park, pushed about by sub-freezing breezes under gray skies. The outcome of the match was slightly more positive — a 2 – 2 Sporting Kansas City draw against the previously winless and goalless Seattle Sounders.

Veteran defender Graham Zusi scored the equalizer in the 78th minute. After serving up crosses to his teammates earlier in the game, this time Zusi instead dribbled in from the right side to about four yards before chipping the ball past Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei.

Seattle had taken a 2 – 1 lead five minutes earlier on Cristian Roldan’s shot from just outside the penalty area, set up by well-executed passes from Alex Roldan and Will Bruin. The buildup beat the Sporting defense, which was caught off guard by the challenge.

Seattle scored its first goal of the season in the final seconds of first half stoppage time, tying the score at 1 – 1. Midfielder Will Bruin received a long throw-in from Nicolas Lodeiro just in front of the goal and slipped it under Kansas City goalkeeper Tim Melia.

Sporting KC opened the scoring in the 34th minute when Ilie Sanchez scored on a penalty kick. The penalty was awarded when forward Johnny Russell was brought down in the penalty area by Seattle’s Nouhou Tolo.

Sporting kept Frei busy all night, placing eight shots on goal, including a header by Ilie Sanchez in the 83rd minute that would have put Kansas City on top.

About 200 fans stayed after the game for a Faith and Family event moved indoors because of the frigid temperatures outside. Former KU and NBA star Wayne Simien led Sporting Kansas City’s Seth Sinovic, Ike Opara and Matt Besler in a discussion of how their Christian faith affects their lives on and off the field.

Sporting KC remains on top of the MLS Western Conference, four points ahead of the Los Angeles Galaxy. The draw extends their unbeaten streak to six games. Sporting will play at home this Friday evening against the Vancouver Whitecaps, kicking off at 8 p.m.

by Brian Turrel

Felipe Gutierrez wasted no time extending his scoring streak, knocking in the game-winning goal just three minutes into Sporting Kansas City’s 1-0 victory over D.C. United on Saturday evening at Children’s Mercy Park.

Gutierrez intercepted a clearance by United along the left sideline and dribbled straight toward the goal, shooting the ball between the legs of United defender Frederic Brillant, and getting a fortunate bounce off Brillant’s boot.

The midfielder has scored in each of Sporting’s first five games and leads the league, but he left the game in the 53rd minute with a possible injury.

Sporting’s defense made the early goal hold up, eliminating the mistakes that made them porous in the first four games. Goalkeeper Tim Melia posted a shutout for the first time this season, stopping three shots on target from United.

Manager Peter Vermes complimented the defense’s decision-making after the game, noting that the unit cleared the ball from the goal area much more effectively.

The high press style of both teams created plenty of counter-attack opportunities. Defender Matt Besler commented that the movement of KC’s offensive players let him serve the ball forward to create offensive chances.

Sporting almost added on late in the game, with a near miss on a header from Ike Opara, and a shot just wide from Gerso Fernandes, who came on as a substitute in the 78th minute.

The victory allowed Sporting KC to keep pace with the Vancouver Whitecaps in a tie for first place in the MLS Western Conference. Sporting will head to Los Angeles to play the LA Galaxy on April 8. Their next home match is against the Seattle Sounders on April 15.