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Sporting Kansas City Earns 3-1 Victory Over Portland Timbers

August 18, 2011 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release


Sporting Kansas City moved into third place in the Eastern Conference on Wednesday with a 3-1 win over the Portland Timbers at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park. Midfielder Graham Zusi struck twice in the first half and rookie striker Soony Saad scored nine minutes into his MLS debut as Sporting KC improved to 8-7-9 with 10 games remaining in the 2011 season.

Sporting Kansas City held the upper hand throughout the first half, holding Portland without a shot on goal while Zusi recorded his second multi-goal game of the year with strikes 15 minutes apart.

His first came in impressive fashion in the 25th minute, collecting a header from Timbers defender Rodney Wallace and firing a right-footed blast from more than 30 yards out that arched over Timbers goalkeeper Troy Perkins and into the upper corner of the far post.

The third-year pro from Maryland, who had scored one goal entering 2011, recorded his fifth goal of the season in the 40th minute on an opportunistic finish. Sporting KC capitalized on a long throw-in from defender Matt Besler, as C.J. Sapong flicked on the service for fellow forward Teal Bunbury at the backpost. Bunbury's volley was blocked by Perkins initially, but Zusi was in prime position to bury the rebound with a sliding shot from inside the six-yard box.

Sporting's 2-0 lead could have been larger entering halftime, but midfielder Milos Stojcev's shot from 25 yards out in the 19th minute was denied by the crossbar after deflecting off Timbers defender Eric Brunner.

Portland nearly pulled a goal back in the 50th minute on a long ball out of the back from Wallace that bounced over Sporting KC goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen, but the Danish netminder recovered in time to smother the ball before it could cross the goalline.

The crossbar again kept Sporting KC at bay in the 53rd minute on a well-taken header from Kei Kamara off a cross from Myers. On the opposite end, Portland striker Kenny Cooper tried a header of his own, but directed it wide of goal in the 59th minute from 12 yards out.

Sporting Kansas City inserted Saad in the 63rd minute for his first MLS action and within nine minutes, the Michigan product who led the NCAA in scoring as a freshman forced his way onto the scoresheet. Brunner's clearance from inside his own penalty area ricocheted off Saad, who celebrated his 19th birthday on Wednesday, and over the head of a helpless Perkins to give Sporting a 3-0 lead with under 20 minutes remaining.

Bunbury nearly found a fourth for Sporting KC after breaking free on the left side, but Perkins did well to come off his line and make the save in the 80th minute.

Portland got on the board in the 81st minute through forward Bright Dike. The rookie recorded the first goal of his professional career, re-directing a cross from Rodney Wallace. Former KC midfielder Jack Jewsbury, traded prior to the 2011 season, earned a secondary assist on the goal, his team-high seventh of theseason.

Sporting Kansas City will continue the homestand on Sunday, August 21st when they host D.C. United at 7:30 p.m. CT at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park. Tickets are available at TicketMaster.com or at the LIVESTRONG Sporting Park box office.


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