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MLS Sporting Kansas City

Sporting Clinches Playoff Berth with Win at Seattle

October 23, 2021 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release


Sporting Kansas City (16-7-7, 55 points) punched their ticket to the Audi 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs in resounding fashion, earning a 2-1 road win over Western Conference leaders Seattle Sounders FC (17-7-7, 58 points) on Saturday afternoon at Lumen Field.

Remi Walter hammered home his first MLS goal in the fourth minute and captain Johnny Russell extended his club-record scoring streak to seven matches with a wonderfully crafted 79th-minute winner as second-place Sporting climbed within three points of Seattle at the top of the West and secured their 10th playoff appearance in 11 seasons.

Saturday's momentous result saw Sporting Manager Peter Vermes take sole possession of fourth place in MLS history with 171 regular season coaching wins and set a league record by clinching his 17th appearance in the MLS Cup Playoffs as a player or a coach. Sporting also became just the second club in MLS history to win at Seattle twice in the same regular season and equaled a single-season club record with their eighth away victory of the 2021 campaign.

Boasting a perfect 7-0-0 record in matches immediately following losses this season, Sporting will return to world-class Children's Mercy Park on Wednesday to host longtime rival LA Galaxy. The contest will kick off at 7:50 p.m. CT with national coverage beginning at 7:30 p.m. CT on FS1 and FOX Deportes. Tickets for the high-stakes matchup are available at SeatGeek.com.

Vermes made two injury-induced changes to the Sporting lineup from a 2-1 loss at Vancouver Whitecaps FC last Sunday. Jose Mauri and MLS MVP candidate Daniel Salloi missed out with ankle problems, prompting the return of center back Nicolas Isimat-Mirin -- who landed his first start since Aug. 7 -- and veteran midfielder Roger Espinoza, who notably logged his 250th regular season start in a Sporting uniform. Ilie Sanchez moved from central defense into his long-held holding midfield spot and Gadi Kinda was deployed as a false nine up top.

Walter landed an absolute haymaker inside four minutes to give the upstart visitors a 1-0 lead. Khiry Shelton and Russell combined neatly on the right edge of the box before the latter swung a low delivery across the face of the six-yard area. Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Frei punched clear only as far as Kinda, whose rebound effort near the penalty spot was blocked through traffic. Luis Martins converged on the ball and crucially won possession by poking the ball to Walter, who lashed a spectacular left-footed strike into the top left corner to open his MLS scoring account.

Brimming with confidence, Sporting could have doubled their advantage after seven minutes. Russell was once again a danger man, flicking a pass into the path of Kinda. The Israeli international swiftly beat a defender at the top of the box and uncorked a right-footed blast that screamed narrowly high.

The Sounders were kept at bay in the opening stages, although Sporting goalkeeper Tim Melia was called to action in the 15th minute when he corralled Nicolas Benezet's well-struck shot. The 35-year-old veteran picked up another first-half save near halftime, thwarting U.S. international Cristian Roldan.

Near the half-hour interval, Russell asked further questions of the Seattle backline by chipping in a cross from the right endline. Espinoza was there to pull the trigger, but his effort was deflected behind for a corner kick. On Russell's ensuing delivery, the ball skipped through a swarm of bodies and was nearly prodded home by Sounders defender Shane O'Neill, whose blushes were saved as his redirect carried inches over the bar.

Outplayed in the first half, Seattle responded in the early moments of the second period with a deluge of attacking pressure. Melia and Alex Roldan were shown yellow cards after a hasty altercation in which Cristian Roldan blundered into Melia amid a goalmouth scramble. Shortly thereafter, Sporting center back Andreu Fontas blocked a side volley attempt from former Kansas City midfielder Jimmy Medranda, who was deployed as a left wing back on Saturday.

The Sounders restored parity in the 58th minute as Sporting came undone on a corner kick. Cristian Roldan glanced Joao Paulo's service to the back post where Benezet nodded into a gaping net for his third goal of the campaign.

Cristian Roldan almost went from provider to goal scorer in the 64th minute, planting a powerful header on target, but Melia produced a phenomenal reflex save at point-blank range and Isimat-Mirin ushered clear upfield to extinguish the danger. Sporting's gloveman racked up another stop on Roldan 10 minutes later, dropping low to his right to smother a seething turf-trimmer.

Russell entered the game in unplayable form, having bagged seven goals in his previous six games, and fired Sporting back in front with 11 minutes remaining. In a move that punctuated a dazzling 38-pass sequence, Espinoza charged into the attacking third and played an inch-perfect diagonal through ball to Russell. The Scottish winger took a touch on the right side of the box and sent a lovely side-footed effort past Frei for his 12th goal of 2021, all of which have come since the start of July.

Sporting defended bravely to the very end as Seattle piled numbers forward in search of a late lever. The Sounders went close to leveling terms in the 93rd minute, but Cristian Roldan's booming strike rattled the crossbar and referee Ismail Elfath blew the full-time whistle seconds later.

QUOTES

Sporting KC Manager Peter Vermes

Thoughts on the match...

They're a very good team. They're incredibly competitive. They find ways to change gears in games as a team. I think it was a really good, important three points at an important time of the year. It shows a lot of moxie on the quality of our guys because you can have quality, you can have all these different things but at the end of the day if you don't show up at the times that you need to, you don't achieve anything. Being able to get three points and secure a playoff spot is a huge objective of ours. We got it and I'm proud of the guys. They deserved it. They worked hard. They weathered different situations within the game that weren't always Seattle and they did a really good job with it.

On the team's competitive nature...

There were a lot of fouls called. Whether you think they're a foul or not, it doesn't really matter. You have to defend and we defended really well in a lot of situations. I thought Tim (Melia) was really strong and brave in a lot of different plays, which really changed the game for us. It held a lead that we needed to have. Even though they scored and tied us, we still maintained ourselves throughout the game.

On the return of Nicolas Isimat-Mirin...

I thought he was tremendous. I think he shows the quality that he brings both with the ball and also defensively. He is a special player in that part of the field, for sure. Between his reading of the game, his ability for 1v1 defending, his athleticism, he's just the whole package together. He's a very, very, very good central defender. It really assists our team in a different way. It lets us move different players around which helps immensely. All of that really, really worked well for us in the game and he was a big part of it.

On the absence of Daniel Salloi...

He turned his ankle in the game against the Whitecaps. It's day to day. That's what it is. When he gets back, he gets back. He'll be okay. It's just going to take some days. It's going to depend on how fast he accelerates through the rehab part of it.

Sporting Kansas City captain Johnny Russell

Thoughts on the match...

It was a tough game, I thought. We started the first half so well. We controlled the game really in the first half. Then in the second half, we conceded possession a little bit and sat back too much, sat too deep and invited the pressure. They're a good team, they're going to create chances. They get the goal from that. I was a bit disappointed on that front, but then the goal we get is a great team goal. A great counter attack. It's a great win, especially after the upset last week and dropping points. We had to come here and win. We knew that. We had belief. We've come here and done it this season. A massive win but it means nothing if we don't continue into Wednesday with three points there. It's a big win but it's just another three points and a step to the ultimate goal and that's finishing at the top of the conference.

On scoring on the team's only shot of the second half...

You only need one shot. We had to tweak our game plan a little bit just for the threat that they've got. First half, we really nullified that. Second half, we allowed them too many chances. We've shown time and time again this year how mentally strong we are and how resolute we are. I thought our shape was great and difficult to break down. We've always got the quality to hit teams whether it be on the counter or whether it be in possession. We're a dangerous team that scores goals.

On if game-winning goals mean more to him and breaking Preki's record for consecutive games with goals...

Of course. I scored at Vancouver and obviously that was the one that broke the record but it meant nothing to me because we lost the game. This one is a bit different. You get a goal against one of the top sides in the league and it wins you the game. Those ones mean a lot more. I spoke to Preki before the game as well and he was just congratulating me and saying that records are there to be broken so that was a nice touch from him. Everyone knows how well thought of and how much of a legend he is here. That was nice. I've got a pretty good record against Seattle. I always seem to pop up with a goal against them. In games like that when it's top of the table, games are decided in those moments. I'm just happy that it could have been me and I've put it away to help the team win.

On looking ahead to the last four games...

We're all professional. We look after our bodies. The staff look after us extremely well and our preparation for games. After games, we recover and we get ready to go again. We're not the only team that's doing this. There are plenty of other teams that are playing the amount of games that we're playing. We've got four left. We win out and we're top. That's what we set out to be at the start of the year. By winning out, it's in your hands. We've got no one to blame if we don't do it but us.

On the buildup to his goal and his celebration...

On the counter attack, it's how fast we hit them on the break and we kept the ball brilliantly. They stepped to press us and we broke the press so well by a long ball from Ilie (Sanchez) to Roger (Espinoza). We hit them quick from there. The celebration is a bit of fun. I'm getting stick all game. I usually do here. It was just a little bit of banter back. Some people can't take it but that's not my problem.

Sporting Kansas City midfielder Remi Walter

On scoring his first goal for Sporting...

I'm very happy to score my first goal because I think today it was very important for the team, for the group and for me. We won and I scored my first goal so I'm very happy today.

On the physicality of the game and his health...

They kicked my ankle two times. It's a game. When you play against the first place team in the league, it's always like that. It's normal. I'm very good and we keep going for the next game.

On whether he's played in a league with playoffs before...

It's good to have a good motivation every day because our objective is to finish first, for sure. Today we are happy because I think it's a good win. Before the playoffs, we have four games more so we keep going. The most important thing is to be ready for the next game.

2021 MLS Regular Season | Match 30

Lumen Field | Seattle, Washington

Attendance: 32,139

Weather: 52 degrees and cloudy

Score 1 2 F Sporting Kansas City (16-7-7, 55 points) 1 1 2 Seattle Sounders FC (17-7-7, 58 points) 0 1 1

Sporting Kansas City: Tim Melia; Graham Zusi, Nicolas Isimat-Mirin, Andreu Fontas, Luis Martins; Ilie Sanchez, Remi Walter, Roger Espinoza; Johnny Russell (C), Gadi Kinda, Khiry SheltonSubs Not Used:Kendall McIntosh, Amadou Dia, Roberto Puncec, Kaveh Rad, Jake Davis, Cam Duke, Grayson Barber, Wilson Harris

Seattle Sounders FC: Stefan Frei (C); Alex Roldan, Yeimar Gomez Andrade, Xavier Arreaga (Leo Chu 82'), Shane O'Neill (Fredy Montero 82'), Jimmy Medranda (Nouhou Tolo 65'); Joao Paulo, Kelyn Rowe, Cristian Roldan, Nicolas Benezet (Josh Atencio 72'); Will BruinSubs Not Used:Stefan Cleveland, Spencer Richey, Abdoulaye Cissoko, Ethan Dobbelaere, Danny Leyva

Scoring Summary:

SKC -- Remi Walter 1 (Luis Martins 3) 4'

SEA -- Nicolas Benezet 3 (Cristian Roldan 6, Joao Paulo 11) 58'

SKC -- Johnny Russell 12 ( Roger Espinoza 2) 79'

Misconduct Summary:

SEA -- Joao Paulo (yellow card; dissent) 35'

SEA -- Kelyn Rowe (yellow card; unsporting behavior) 51'

SEA -- Alex Roldan (yellow card; unsporting behavior) 55'

SKC -- Tim Melia (yellow card; unsporting behavior) 56'

SKC -- Gadi Kinda (yellow card; unsporting behavior) 63'

SKC -- Roger Espinoza (yellow card; unsporting behavior) 74'

SEA -- Yeimar Gomez Andrade (yellow card; unsporting behavior) 76'

SEA -- Fredy Montero (yellow card; unsporting behavior) 89'

Stat SKC SEA

Shots 8 15 Shots on Goal 3 5 Saves 4 1 Fouls 18 17 Offsides 0 2 Corner Kicks 3 3

Referee: Ismail Elfath

Assistant Referee: Corey Parker

Assistant Referee: Mike Rottersman

Fourth Official: Ramy Touchan

VAR: Rubiel Vazquez

AVAR: Rene Parra

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