MLS Sporting Kansas City

Sporting KC Moves into First Place in East with 1-1 Draw

Published on September 23, 2011 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release


Designated Player Omar Bravo scored his team-leading ninth goal of the 2011 season, but a strike from Sebastien Le Toux seven minutes later meant that Sporting Kansas City and the Philadelphia Union would split the points in a 1-1 draw in front of a sold-out crowd at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park on Friday night.

With the draw, Sporting Kansas City have now lost on just three occasions in their last 22matches. Friday's result -- in a match played in front of a national television audience as part of Fox Soccer's 'Soccer Night in America' -- moves Sporting Kansas City level on points with the Columbus Crew and into a tie for firstplace in the Eastern Conference with just four matches left to play in the 2011 MLS regular season schedule.

Philadelphia would get on the ball early and create the first chance of the match in just the second minute of play. A quick sequence of passes through midfield saw Roger Torres pick out Veljko Paunovic at midfield. Paunovic played a first time diagonal ball in behind the Sporting Kansas City backline for Sebastien Le Toux running down the right flank. Le Toux collected the pass and drove towards goal, but mishit his shot wide of the far post under pressure from Julio Cesar.

Fourteen minutes later, the Union were on the attack again. Receiving the ball in space on the right, Michael Farfan, pushing forward from a right back position, cut pastSeth Sinovic before squaring a pass across the area for Paunovic. Paunovic aimed to strike his shot back across goal, but it was blocked away by Chance Myers.

The sides traded bouts of possession and half-chances throughout much of the half until Sporting Kansas City earned their first true opportunities in the 40th minute. A teasing ball in towards the near post from Kei Kamara saw a collision between Union goalkeeper Zach MacMath and defender Carlos Valdes, resulting in a corner for Sporting Kansas City. From the ensuing corner, Designated Player Jeferson picked out Kamara in the box, but the Sierra Leone international flashed his header onto the bar and over the top of goal.

Myers would get on the end of the final chance of the half in the only minute of stoppage time, smacking a volley from outside the area over the bar as the two sides entered the break level at 0-0.

Halftime saw one change between the two sides, with Aurelien Collin entering the match for Jeferson. Four minutes after the start of the half, Philadelphia would create another chance, again from Michael Farfan. Winning the ball at the edge of the area, Farfan struck a low shot to the far post that was blocked away for a corner by a sliding Matt Besler.

Sporting Kansas City would go ahead in the 56th minute, courtesy of a goal from Designated Player Omar Bravo. With time on the ball on the left side of the penalty area, Kamara punched a ball to the far post where Bravo was making his run. Bravo got free from Gabriel Farfan before volleying home for his ninth goal on the year on his first shot of the match.

Four minutes later, the Union would answer back with a good chance on goal from substitute forward Jack McInerney. Having come on for Paunovic immediately following Bravo's goal, McInerney made a run into the right channel behind the Sporting Kansas City defense. Receiving a well-weighted through ball from Torres, McInerney shot low to the near post, but his effort was denied by afoot save from Sporting Kansas City goalkeeper Jimmy Niesen.

In the 63rd minute, the Union would draw level. Roger Torres played a low ball across the area that looked to be headed over the byline but waskept in play by Michael Farfan. Farfan gained control of the ball before touching a pass back for a waiting Le Toux, who side-footed a finish low past Nielsen.

Sporting Kansas City rookie forward C.J. Sapong, on as a substitute for Teal Bunbury, would then create a chance all on his own in the 68th minute. With the ball between two Union players along the touchline, Sapong won the ball from both of them before advancing on goal and having his curling attempt toward the far post saved well back MacMath, who came out to the cut the angle.

Midfielder Roger Espinoza would then go close for Sporting Kansas City in the 71st minute. Running through the center of midfield, Espinoza received a pass in space from Graham Zusi, and let loose a knuckling drive was parried away for a corner by MacMath.

MacMath was involved again in the 88th minute, this time ranging well out of his goalmouth to tip away a dangerous cross from Espinoza.

Sporting Kansas City next hosts the Columbus Crew on Wednesday, September 28th at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park. The first 5,000 fans in attendance will receive a free Sporting KC t-shirt, courtesy of Pepsi, and the match will also feature Buck-a-Brat night, sponsored by Johnsonville and Roma Bakery. Tickets are available at TicketMaster.com or at the LIVESTRONG Sporting Park box offices.

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Major League Soccer Stories from September 23, 2011


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