Tim Melia was SKC’s early hero
Graham Green
Around 200 Fire fans made their shortest journey of the season along I-55 and assorted other streets to their closest geographical opponent though now a cross-conference rival.
SKC switched Kevin Ellis to centre back to join Matt Besler after Ike Opara was ruled out for the year with a ruptured Achilles tendon. Jalil Anibaba played right back against his ex-teammates while Tim Melia replaced Luis Marin in goal after last week’s 4-4 draw with Houston.
Improving Chicago looked more stable off the bat forcing Melia into action with head, feet and hand inside 13 minutes in their 50th meeting. Four minutes later, it was his fists.
Not every SKC player was having such a good start. Dom Dwyer missed two early chances, one a sitter from a Feilhaber cross on a platter. Ellis hit the bar with a header as the home side looked more likely to prosecute their advantage, than Chicago were when they had it.
Chicago looked the sharper and were unfortunate when Seth Sinovic tugged David Accam’s jersey and got away with it, when he was already sitting on a yellow.
The game meandered on leaving poor ESPN announcer Adrian Healey desperately looking for something to talk about. We learned that Taylor Twellman did not watch the Mayweather/Pacquiao fight. Quincy Amarikwa came in for Chicago in 71 minutes.
Then it came. The goal. The goal that has to re-launch Sporting KC’s previously nondescript assault on the Western Conference. Substitute Paulo Nagamura produced a quality header from an an equally laudable Anibaba cross in the 75th minute.
Nagamura heads in the only goal
Photo: Graham Green
Frank Yallop introduced DP Kennedy Igboananike and SKC coach Peter Vermes smartly hauled Sinovic off as he continued to sail close to a second yellow card.
David Accam was less wise. The referee Jose Carlos Rivero was feet away when the Ghanaian raised his arm to Anibaba’s face. Mr Rivero could have sufficed with a yellow but chose red much to the expletive laden chagrin from the nearby Fire coach Frank Yallop who pointed out the earlier Sinovic non-call.
Sporting KC became the sixth Western Conference side to grab their third win with a little bit of grind, some early keeping herics and the better half of the refereeing calls.
They are back among the pack but will need to improve to move further upwards against the likes ov Dallas, Vancouver and the Galaxy.
