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Sporting KC to play rescheduled road match Oct. 21 in Colorado

Sporting Kansas City’s regular season road match at the Colorado Rapids, originally slated for Sunday, Sept. 27, has been rescheduled for 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 21, at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado.

The announcement was made by Major League Soccer.

The rearranged match means that Sporting will play nine times in a 30-day period from Oct. 3 to Nov. 1, followed by the club’s Decision Day finale at Real Salt Lake on Nov. 8 to conclude the 23-game regular season campaign.

Currently occupying third place in the West, Sporting (6-5-2, 20 points) will begin a busy and decisive month of October when they visit rivals Houston Dynamo (3-4-7, 16 points) on Saturday at BBVA Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. with live coverage on FOX Sports Kansas City, FOX Sports Midwest, FOX Sports GO, ESPN 94.5 FM and La Grande 1340 AM.

Sporting road match in Colorado postponed because of COVID-19 test

A Colorado Rapids player and three Rapids staff members have tested positive for COVID-19, resulting in a postponement of the match Sunday with Sporting Kansas City in Colorado Springs.

According to a news release from Sporting KC, the tests of the Rapids organization members were conducted on Thursday and Friday, Sept. 24-25.

Major League Soccer has postponed Sunday’s match to allow for additional testing and evaluation, according to the news release.

A new date for the match will be announced later, according to a spokesman.

Next on the schedule for Sporting KC is an away match at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, with the Houston Dynamo in Texas.

Russell scores again in 2-1 Sporting loss to Orlando

Forward Johnny Russell headed in a shot for his fourth goal in the past three matches. Kansas City dropped the match, 2-1. (Photo copyright 2020 by 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.