by Brian Turrel
A 3-0 beating Thursday night at the hands of Minnesota United FC sent Sporting Kansas City spinning out of the MLS Cup playoffs, and looking for answers to familiar problems as they head into next year. Missed scoring chances and defensive lapses squandered Kansas City’s hard-won regular season success.
Kansas City had its best chances early, but failed to convert. Forward Alan Pulido, Kansas City’s leading scorer, was held out of Thursday’s match with a knee injury, and his finishing touch was missed.
In the 2nd minute, Johnny Russell chipped the ball over Minnesota goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair, who came out to challenge but got caught out by Russell’s shot. Defender Michael Boxall bailed out his keeper by heading the ball away at the goal line.
In the 14th minute, Russell got another chance on a pass forward from Khiry Shelton, but St. Clair charged out to knock away the one-on-one opportunity. Just a minute later St. Clair saved a close range header from KC defender Roberto Puncec.
In the 27th minute, Minnesota started its barrage. Midfielder Emanuel Reynosa found attacking teammates slipping in behind the Kansas City defense, and assisted on three goals in the span of only 12 minutes. The highlight was Reynosa’s scooped pass over the KC defense to Kevin Molina who smashed the ball across the goal and inside the left post.
With a three-goal advantage at the break, Minnesota took few offensive risks in the second half, and Sporting was unable to mount an effective attack.
Minnesota moves on to play the Seattle Sounders in the Western Conference final. Seattle defeated FC Dallas on Tuesday in the other semi-final match and will be the host of the match as the top remaining seed.
Sporting ended the regular season with a 12-6-3 record and finished in first place in the MLS Western Conference standings.
