by Brian Turrel
Johnny Russell’s 81st minute goal won Sporting Kansas City their second consecutive 1-0 home match and stopped the momentum of conference rival Real Salt Lake, which came in undefeated through its first four games.
The Sporting captain’s goal started with a feed from right back Graham Zusi. Russell broke to his left, shaking off three would-be tacklers along the top of the penalty area. His attempt to play the ball through to Khiry Shelton was blocked by defender Tate Schmitt but ricocheted back to Russell in a quantum of open space near the penalty spot.
He did not hesitate to blast the ball inside the left post, past a sliding defender and diving goalkeeper.
After the game, the Scottish winger described the “bit of luck” involved in scoring his first of the season.
“It’s about time we get a goal like that,” Russell said. “I feel like a lot of teams get goals like that against us. We always seem to have to carve a team up to get a goal like that. It was nice. It fell perfectly for me.”
Russell’s parents and two brothers were in attendance, visiting from Scotland for the first time in two years and celebrating his daughter’s fifth birthday, though she left at halftime and missed dad’s goal.
Back after missing a game with a hamstring injury, Russell played 84 minutes before being subbed out for Kortne Ford. Also back from injury were Daniel Salloi, who played all 90 minutes, and Khiry Shelton, who came on as a substitute in the 62nd minute.
Sporting will travel to Vancouver to face the Whitecaps on April 2 then will return home a game against Nashville on April 9.
