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.
