Sporting Kansas City wins 2-0 over Real Salt Lake to stretch unbeaten run to 14-straight MLS matches
Published on August 4, 2011 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release
Sporting Kansas City earned a 2-0 win over Real Salt Lake on Wednesday to move into third place in the Eastern Conference and extend the club's unbeaten run to 14 matches, the longest in club history and tied for the third longest all-time in MLS.
Defender Roger Espinoza notched the game-winner, his first goal since his rookie season in2008, and striker Teal Bunbury struck for the second-straight match as Sporting Kansas City stayed unbeaten at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park since it's opening earlier this summer.
Sporting Kansas City controlled the opening half of play in front of a sold-out crowd, pressuring the Real Salt Lake goal from the opening kickoff as Omar Bravo pushed his header wide less than 30 seconds into the match off a cross from Michael Harrington.
Espinoza nearly netted an early goal in the eighth minute off a cross from Bravo, but his flick-header from inside the penalty area was held by Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Nick Rimando, who made three saves on the night.
Rimando did well to punch out Graham Zusi's free kick from the endline in the 17th minute, but Seth Sinovic put the ball back into the penalty area with a first-time volley that narrowly eluded Matt Besler, unmarked from six yards out.
Bunbury then found himself the benefactor of a poor touch by Real Salt Lake defender Chris Schuler, but the Sporting KC striker's shot was blocked as Schuler recovered at the last moment.
Real Salt Lake responded in the 24th minute on a well-timed run by Alvaro Saborio but his chip went well over the crossbar after being played behind the defense by midfielder Collen Warner.
Espinoza continued to assert himself in the attack two minutes later with an attemptfrom 25 yards out that sailed inches above the upper-90 from the left side.
The Honduran National Teamer, who appeared in the 2010 FIFA World Cup, then scored on a superb solo effort in the 29th minute. After picking off a Real Salt Lake pass, Espinoza split two defenders and rifled a shot inside the near post for his second career goal.
Sporting Kansas City then doubled their lead in the 34th minute, capitalizing on a throw-in by Matt Besler from the right side. Striker Kei Kamara forced a strong save by Rimando with the initial header but Bunbury was there to hammer home the rebound from six yards out.
Real Salt Lake, which had allowed only four road goals this season entering the match, picked up the tempo following halftime, with midfielder Will Johnson sending his shot from 25 yards out just above the crossbar in the 53rd minute.
The visitors then gained a man advantage three minutes later as Espinoza was shown an early exit for a tackle from behind on Kyle Beckerman.
But it was Sporting Kansas City that nearly stretched their advantage in the 67th minute as the club's two Designated Players combined to threaten Real Salt Lake. Jeferson played a pass out wide for Bravo, whose first-time service fell to the foot of Jeferson at the backpost but the Brazilian's volley went wide of the post from close range.
Real Salt Lake then came to life for the match's final 20 minutes, beginning with a corner kick from second-half substitute Andy Williams in the 70th minute. Saborio rose up to win the aerial batter and directed his header to the back post, but Sporting Kansas City defender Seth Sinovic was alert to clear theball off the goalline.
Two minutes later, Sporting Kansas City goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen made a pair of saves to preserve the clean sheet, first on a shot by Saborio from distance then on a second RSL attempt by Beckerman.
The Real Salt Lake captain again tested Nielsen in the 76th minute on a free kick from 20 yards out but Nielsen did well to track the shot through traffic and make the vital save.
Nielsen's three stops earned Sporting Kansas City their fifth shutout of the season and first in an eight-game span, dating back to a 0-0 tie at Philadelphia on June 22nd.
Sporting Kansas City will continue the homestand on Saturday, August 6th when they host the Seattle Sounders FC at 7:30 p.m. CT at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park. Tickets are available at TicketMaster.com or at the LIVESTRONG Sporting Park box office.
Major League Soccer Stories from August 4, 2011
- Chivas USA's Defender Heath Pearce Called into US National Team - Club Deportivo Chivas USA
- Rapids to Face Opponents from Mexico, Honduras and El Salvador in CONCACAF Champions League - Colorado Rapids
- Four Red Bulls Receive National Team Call-Ups - Red Bull New York
- FC Dallas Signs Colombian Midfielder Daniel Cruz - FC Dallas
- D.C. United's Bill Hamid Earns First-Ever Call-Up - D.C. United
- RSL Prepares for Saturday's Visit by New York - Real Salt Lake
- FC Dallas Goalkeeper Kevin Hartman Voted MLS Player of the Month for July - MLS
- Real Salt Lake MF Kyle Beckerman Named to U.S. Men's National Team - Real Salt Lake
- U-17's Win Group, Fall in Semifinals of Generation adidas Cup - D.C. United
- Portland ends Galaxy's 14-game unbeaten streak with first home win since May - Portland Timbers
- Sounders top San Francisco - Seattle Sounders FC
- Chicago Fire Claw Back to Earn Point Against Philadelphia Union - Chicago Fire FC
- Sporting Kansas City wins 2-0 over Real Salt Lake to stretch unbeaten run to 14-straight MLS matches - Sporting Kansas City
- FC Dallas advances to Champions League Group Stage on 2-0 aggregate win over Alianza FC - FC Dallas
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