In their second game of the “MLS Is Back” tournament, Sporting Kansas City would face off against Western Conference rival Colorado Rapids. Both teams enter tonight’s contest at the bottom of Group D, with neither team grabbing a point in their first match. In the two club’s 53-game history, Kansas City has come away with 23 wins and 17 draws. Forward, Johnny Russell makes his way into the starting XI tonight, after being used as a substitute in Sporting’s previous match. Another notable for Kansas City is the suspension of goalkeeper, Tim Melia, after last game’s red card. On the flip side, Colorado striker, Kei Kamara, is surprisingly left on the bench for the start of the contest.
Colorado wasted no time in this one as they would find the back of the net early on. In just the sixth minute of play midfielder, Kellyn Acosta would bury a loose ball from the top of the box to mark his first goal of the 2020 season.
However, Sporting would not go away easy and would continue to generate chances throughout the remainder of the first half. Forward Khiry Shelton, created a number of chances, taking three shots during the opening forty-five minutes. At the break, Kansas City would trail 1-0, but lead in shots 7-6 and in possession at 55% to 45%.
The action would continue into the second half, with both teams continuing to apply pressure. Neither team was able to break through as the first fifteen minutes of the half were evenly matched.
In the sixty-first minute, Colorado defender Danny Wilson was shown a yellow card. However, after video review it was deemed worthy of a red card. The pursuing free kick by Pulido would just miss, striking the crossbar and ricocheting out of harm’s way. Only minutes later, Khiry Shelton’s efforts would finally pay off as he was able to score and tie the game at one. A ball crossed in would find its way to Shelton’s left foot before being volleyed to the top corner of the Colorado net.
Ten minutes after the video review red card, Colorado would become the victim again, as another review would favor Kansas City. After review, a penalty shot was awarded for a handball inside the Colorado eighteen along with another red card for the Rapids. Sporting’s Alan Pulido would step up and put the shot past the Rapids goalkeeper, giving Kansas City the 2-1 lead.
With only 9 men, Colorado would continue to push on and look for an equaliser. In the eighty-fifth minute, Substitute Kei Kamara would play a ball into space for forward Jonathan Lewis. Lewis would run onto the ball and curl it far post past the Sporting goalkeeper tying the game at 2-2.
The trend of stoppage time goals would continue in this one as Graham Zusi would put Kansas City ahead 3-2 in the ninety-first minute. A loose ball in the box would find Zusi who’s shot would be deflected, chipping goalkeeper William Yarbrough.
After a long twelve minutes of stoppage time, Kansas City would hold on to defeat Colorado 3-2, earning a very important three points in Group D.
Next up for Sporting Kansas City is a matchup against Real Salt Lake on Wednesday morning. The Colorado Rapids will play Minnesota United later that night.
