Sporting KC 2 FC Dallas 0
In one of the hottest MLS matches played at Children’s Mercy Park Sporting found Lady Luck and rode that to a delicious 2-0 victory over one of 2016’s better teams as goals from Benny Feilhaber and Lawrence Olum propelled the squad to a needed three points.
For Sporting Kansas City this was a massive victory.
Were they the better team on the day? No.
FC Dallas showed over the course of the match why they are one of the top teams in 2016.
Things just went Sporting’s way.
A goal called off for a goal line clearance. It should’ve been the worst of own goals and the ball had even crossed the line. And yet the refereeing staff did not catch this. Tim Melia was credited for ‘saving’ what would’ve been an own goal from Olum.
A ball was crossed into the box and Kevin Ellis brought down, in this amateur referee’s eyes, Tesho Akindele and no penalty was called which could’ve made the match 2-0.
A goal was called off for offsides.
A one on one with the keeper went off the bar.
It was just not in the cards for the Texas side.
FC Dallas twitter handle said it best when it said to Pro Soccer Refereeing, ‘We’re sorry for whatever we have done’.
Sporting KC International News
Matt Besler and Graham Zusi have had massive parts in the United States making the semifinals of the Copa America.
Facing up against Argentina in Houston presents one of the biggest challenges that either player has faced in their international careers.
All fingers are cross for progression to the final but at least one more match is guaranteed with a third place match also to be played.
Both have had very good tournaments and the question is when Peter Vermes will return them to the Sporting line-up and if they are able to replicate their national team performances.
Soni Mustivar returned to the starting line-up Sunday after sitting on the bench in all three of Haiti’s group stage matches.
Swope Park Rangers 1 Oklahoma City Energy FC 3
Losing at home stinks.
It is more so when it is against Sporting Kansas City’s former USL affiliate coached by former club captain Jimmy Nielson.
Bright spot here was Ayrton scoring his first goal for the Rangers off of an assist from Nansel Selbol.
Having seen Selbol in person this is a kid from the academy who WILL, I swear, make it through to the senior team.
Going forward will be interesting for the Rangers as they find themselves on the bottom half of the standings.
But there is plenty of season left and there was no expectations from many in this their first season.
Academy Action
Both Sporting KC’s U-18 & U-16 academy teams start their playoff campaign this week.
U-18’s are in a group with the San Jose Earthquakes, Capital Area Railhawks (North Carolina), and Blau Weiss Gottschee (New York). Group winner goes to the US Soccer Development Academy Championships in July in Carson, California.
U-16s are in a group with the New England Revolution, LA Galaxy, and Georgia United.
