Sporting KC Suffers 1-0 Loss to Chicago Fire
Published on June 29, 2012 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release
Sporting Kansas City lost at home for only the second time this season as the Chicago Fire prevailed 1-0 at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park on Friday. Marco Pappa's goal in the 58th minute and Sean Johnson's five saves keep Sporting KC one point back of first place in the Eastern Conference.
Johnson, who posted his second shutout of the season and first in eight games, was tested early on Friday, being called into action in the sixth minute to punch away a dangerous delivery from Graham Zusi off a corner kick from the left side. One minute later, Johnson quickly came off his line to deny Teal Bunbury's run into the penalty area on a long service from Kei Kamara.
Sporting Kansas City continued to pressure in the 13th minute, this time from the right, with Seth Sinovic's cross headed away by Arne Friedrich with Bunbury looming at the backpost.
The first shot on goal of the game came in the 14th minute. Zusi's initial shot was blocked by Austin Berry inside the penalty area and the rebound fell to Kamara, whose first-time attempt was turned away by Johnson.
On the opposite end, Sporting KC goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen made his only save of the opening 45 minutes in short succession. Pappa's cross from the endline was met by Dominic Oduro near the penalty spot, forcing Nielsen to react well to block the volley.
Manager Peter Vermes was forced into an early change as Lawrence Olum went off with a strained groin and was replaced by center back Matt Besler.
The home side nearly capitalized on a corner kick at the 24-minute mark. Aurelien Collin rose above his defender and placed a powerful header on frame, but right at Johnson.
Chicago found opportunities to counter, threatening with a long-range shot from DanGargan which rolled wide in the 27th minute. Returning to his left back position, Gargan was muscled off the ball by Kamara two minutes later, however the opportunity went beckoning as the Sierra Leone international sent his shot wide of the near post from an acute angle.
Neither side made any changes after a scoreless first half, and it was Sporting Kansas City who came out of the locker room on the front foot. The Fire dodged a series of close calls in the 47th minute with the ball inside their own area. The final look landed with Kamara, only to see Chicago surround him with five defenders and thwart his attempt to unleash a shot from close range.
Chicago then broke through in the 58th minute, catching Sporting KC with numbers committed forward. Pappa led the counter through the central channel, playing the ball out wide to Chris Rolfe and receiving the ball back in prime position for a first-time shot past Nielsen. The Guatemala international netted his fifth goal of the season, moving into a tie for the team lead, and 25th of his MLS career. Rolfe registered his first assist in his first start since returning from overseas.
Sporting Kansas City were poised to pull even within six minutes on a Zusi free kickfrom the right side. Kamara beat Johnson to the cross but his header went high of the crossbar, one of eight shots on the night for the team's leading scorer.
The Fire gave Brazilian midfielder Alex his debut with 25 minutes to play, though Sporting KC continued to be the aggressors in the attack in search of an equalizer.
In the 71st minute, a free kick for Sporting Kansas City near the right corner was pinballed around and nearly knocked in for an own goal by Friedrich, but Johnson was there for the save.
Five minutes later, an on-target cross from Sinovic to Kamara was nearly headed home, but Johnson made an excellent save, palming the ball out of play for a corner. Collin didn't waste Zusi's ensuing corner, getting a head on it but going just wide of the near post.
Oduro took a shot at goal in the 81st minute, but was denied by Cesar with the block. Seconds later, Rolfe poked the ball ahead, prompting a scramble between Nielsen, Besler and Alex all vying for the ball in a pile of bodies.
Sporting nearly pulled level in the 88th minute when Sinovic received a slicing cross from Myers on the right and volleyed the ball to Kamara, who headed the ball just wide of the far post.
Chicago responded by nearly netting a second goal, this time Chris Rolfe charging down the left flank and prompting Nielsen to come rushing off his line to deflect the shot.
The final minutes of the match were packed with drama for Sporting Kansas City, with chances coming repeatedly, beginning with a crafty turn and strike from Bunburythat beat Johnson but bounced narrowly wide. He was followed immediately with a shot by second-half substitute Soony Saad that looked like Sporting KC's saving grace.
Saad took a thundering shot from ten yards out and on target, however Johnson was there to block the shot and Barry promptly cleared it. The final seconds saw a go at goal from Myers and a last-ditch effort from Besler off of a header, following Johnson's diving stop on a shot from Kamara, all of which proved futile on a night that Sporting KC tied their season-high with 27 shots.
Sporting Kansas City, who played their fifth match in a 14-day stretch on Friday, will return to the road for their next MLS match, traveling to Montreal to face the expansion Impact at 6 p.m. CT on Wed., July 4 at Stade Saputo. The match will be broadcast live on KSMO-TV.
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