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Sporting Kansas City

Sporting Earns 2-2 Draw vs. Portland in Home Finale

September 29, 2019 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release


Goals from Hungarian forwards Krisztian Nemeth and Daniel Salloi helped Sporting Kansas City (10-15-8, 38 points) to a 2-2 draw against the Portland Timbers (13-13-7, 46 points) in the club's home finale at Children's Mercy Park on Sunday night.

Portland struck first through Sebastian Blanco, but Nemeth conjured an instant first-half equalizer before Salloi opened his 2019 scoring account early in the second period. The Timbers would salvage a badly needed result-keeping hold of sixth place in the Western Conference and moving two points above the playoff line-when substitute Dairon Asprilla buried a late penalty to deny 10th-place Sporting its first victory of the month.

The entertaining battle produced three red cards as Portland striker Brian Fernandez and Sporting duo Roger Espinoza and Ilie Sanchez received their marching orders, ruling them out for the final matchweek of the regular season.

Manager Peter Vermes' men will now prepare for their last match of the 2019 campaign next Sunday against FC Dallas-one of 12 MLS contests slated to kick off simultaneously at 3 p.m. CT-with live coverage on FOX Sports Kansas City, FOX Sports Midwest and FOX Sports GO.

Four days after seeing their club-record eight-year playoff streak snapped in a narrow loss at Minnesota United FC, Sporting seized early initiative on Sunday and nearly went ahead in the sixth minute. Gianluca Busio, who rattled the woodwork versus Minnesota, was again thwarted by the crossbar after his venomous 20-yard blast had Portland goalkeeper Steve Clark rooted to the turf.

Vermes' side accounted for the first nine shot attempts of the game, but Portland gradually found a foothold and threatened in the 25th minute when Renzo Zambrano's measured ball through the middle was volleyed inches wide by Fernandez. The Timbers would convert their next chance, however, when Blanco slammed a right-footed curler past Tim Melia after Marvin Loria's initial attempt was blocked by Ilie.

Portland held their 1-0 lead for all of 84 seconds, as Sporting wasted no time restoring parity with a well-worked goal on the half-hour mark. Espinoza spread the ball right to Russell to Russell, whose pinpoint cross into the mixer was nodded home by Nemeth for his first goal since May 18. The tally moved Nemeth into a tie for the 2019 team lead with 12 goals across all competitions, while Russell recorded his club-leading 10th assist.

Petulance marred proceedings shortly before halftime as both sides were reduced to 10 men. A fiery confrontation involving several players prompted referee Alan Chapman to issue Fernandez a straight red card, and Espinoza was ejected less than a minute later after Chapman consulted video review for a second look at the altercation.

Salloi bagged his cathartic first goal of the season less than 60 seconds into the second half. The active Busio saw yet another shot hit the post, but Salloi settled the rebound and coolly tucked a shot past Clark for his first goal in exactly 10 months, having scored in the second leg of the 2018 Western Conference Championship against the Timbers.

Bolstered with confidence, Salloi nearly added his second in the 54th minute. Russell did well to chase down a defensive clearance from Botond Barath and sent a lovely diagonal ball to his forward partner, who beat Jorge Villafana only to see a toe-poked effort turned away by Clark. Twenty minutes later, substitute Gerso had a fleeting chance to double the hosts' advantage, but his attempt was blocked through traffic.

A bitter twist in the tale brought Sporting to nine men in the 84th minute when Ilie hauled down Jeremy Ebobisse, denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity. Chapman's brusque showing of a red card was met with a chilly reception from fans, but Asprilla was nonetheless clinical from the penalty spot to tie the game and split the points.

QUOTES

Sporting Kansas City Manager Peter Vermes

Thoughts on the match...

It was a little bit of the same. We played well most of the game. We had a lot of chances. We didn't score enough goals from the chances that we had. We gave away two silly goals.

On if there are any positives to take away heading into the season finale...

Honestly speaking, not really. We got two guys thrown out so they'll be unavailable. We've just got to try to finish off as strong as we can.

Sporting Kansas City forward Daniel Salloi

On his goal...

This goal means a lot more to me than you would think. It's been a difficult year but I really want to say a big thank you to the fans for pushing me all year long and my teammates and the coaching staff. It means a lot that they have confidence in me all year long. This goal, I think you can see with the celebration, that it meant a lot to me and my teammates. I wish that we could have finished with three points but hopefully we can win in our last game at Dallas.

On the play he scored on...

It's been a couple of times this year that I thought, 'This is the one.' I was just really focused. I took a touch and tried to put it on target. It's funny because the last time I scored was against Portland and now I scored against Portland. Hopefully next year our first game will be against Portland so I can start off on a good note.

On the club's final home game...

As I said, it was a difficult year. We all know that so I just want to mention the fans. They were with us all year long. We had some bad games. We had some good games. But they were always with us. The stadium was always full. That means a lot to us and we really want to give it back to them. Next year we're going to come back stronger and have a very good year. They deserve it. They are always with us. Thanks to the fans.

Sporting Kansas City midfielder Gianluca Busio

Thoughts on the match...

I thought we did well. We were unlucky to not get a win. We had a tough season and it's time to work on the next season and forget about this. Take the good and bad and keep on moving forward.

On Daniel Salloi's goal...

I think Johnny (Russell) or somebody got it and played a nice one-two with (Krisztian Nemeth). I got in a spot, Johnny gave it to me, I took a touch and I didn't really look up. I just kind of hit it because I knew I was close to goal. It hit the post but it went to the guy who needed it the most. I'm happy for him and I'm happy it went in.

On hitting the post and preparing for Dallas...

That's kind of how the season goes. We're onto the next one. We just have to go out there and play for pride. We need to end on a high note and take it into preseason next year.

Portland Timbers head coach Giovanni Savarese

On the match-up with Sporting...

Even though they are out of the playoffs, we know that they're still difficult especially at home. They proposed a very difficult match. They challenged us. We knew it was going to be like that. We followed it to the end. For us, of course we wanted the three points. The point is going to be very important for us and now we have another big, big match coming up next weekend. Finally, we got a PK that we deserved. I think (Allen) Chapman did a great job. I think he managed the game well. I think maybe the first goal was offside for them. I think maybe it will be reviewed in the week. And maybe Brian, I just watched and I don't know if he deserved a red card. The referee did a good job today and, as I said, we played against a very, very good team.

Thoughts on the match...

It became wide open. We tried to stay organized with our two lines of four. We stepped out a little bit higher. But we didn't have any reference and a lot of mobility and attack with the guys wide - but then they get tired, as well. It was hot. It was difficult to play. At the end, a very important point for us in a difficult place. We have got to now prepare for next weekend because it's going to be a tough match.

On the team's finale next Sunday...

We're going to try to win. We don't know how to play for a tie. We have to and try and get three points. We're going to fight through whatever way. That's what we're going to prepare for the week.

Portland Timbers midfielder Sebastian Blanco

On his goal...

I thought, 'Finally, I get to score' because many times I can't help it. We had very good chances in the last three or four games. We've created so many chances and couldn't score so today we took advantage of our opportunities. But we also need to be smart with our defense too.

On this match's effect on Decision Day...

First of all, we need rest. We've played three games in the same week so now we need rest. I'm thinking the next game is a big game. It's a final for us. We play at home, so we need to be aggressive and take the three points.

Portland Timbers defender Zarek Valentin...

Thoughts on the match...

It was a hot one, first and foremost. I thought the team battled well. I'm upset about the goals. As a defender, you're vulnerable after you score and coming out of halftime. For me, in those moments, I think we need to be a little sharper. We shoot ourselves in the foot coming out of halftime and after getting up a goal. We have to battle back. But, in saying that, kudos to the dudes for putting in the effort in a hot game in basically October, so kudos to the guys for battling through and getting a point out of this game.

On the upcoming match...

It's a must win, that's all it is. The focus starts now. We know that we control our own destiny in terms of winning and getting in and that's all you can ask for at the end of the year. We can be a little higher, but things don't necessarily shake out. We've just got to go out there, get some points and get into the playoffs.

On the red cards...

Of course, it ended up in two red cards but it's just a bunch of passionate players. If you know Felipe Gutierrez, if you know Roger Espinoza and if you know Brian Fernandez and Sebastian Blanco, these are guys that want to fight for their teams and for every inch, which is why I respect those guys so much. You never want to see guys get red cards because of non-soccer related stuff but that's the game at times. I've been in one or two of those games where there's been multiple red cards and it made the game a little goofy. You look back and watch film and you think, 'Well, for a good chunk there's 10 guys on the field and then there's nine' and all these things. It's just goofy but it's just passionate guys making plays and sometimes it boils over which you don't like to see but it happens.

On the Decision Day situation...

The best place is probably already qualified but, in any situation, you want to control your own destiny. In life, you want to be able to control decisions and control things around you because it's tough when you can't, and you need to expect results. Ultimately, we're happy. We would not want any other place than Providence Park to play that game. The fans are already talking about it, bringing their energy and I can already feel it. It's just a matter of going out there and getting points. I don't care how it happens. I don't care if the ball goes in off someone's face or groin, I really couldn't care less. We just need to make sure we put the ball in the net and get points out of that game.

On the late game mentality of the team...

I think all the guys that came on made a significant contribution so kudos to those guys for keeping their head in it because it's tough. For example, Dairon Asprilla - he hasn't been with the first team for a little bit. He's been in and out, but he's kept his head and was solid for T2 this year. His number gets called on and guess what, he scores a big-time goal for us. Kudos to the guys. Like I said, we shot ourselves in the foot with these goals and I'm not happy about them but ultimately we battled back and got a result.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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