Connect with us

Major League Soccer

Sporting Kansas City pull back from three down to Minnesota United

Somehow, something had to go wrong, even after a series of fortunate bounces and steely nerves and skill from Sporting Kansas City.

Published

1 year ago

on

Thad Bell Photography

After entering a dismal match in the 58th minute, left back Tim Liebold and midfielder Daniel Salloi provided a needed spark. Ten minutes later, Liebold chipped high and artfully for a running Salloi inside the left side of United’s box. Receiving behind the backline, Salloi flicked his ankle for goal, sending the ball rolling into Dayne St. Clair’s net for a 3-1 scoreline. What would come from there would define a reeling Sporting Kansas City.

A chilly and breezy night in Kansas City turned to a snowy night that reflected Kansas City’s cold streak: No wins in any competition in 2025 and 10-straight losses in all competitions – including a 22-6 deficit in goals scored – since a September 18, 2024, 4-1 home win over Colorado Rapids.

By necessity, Sporting will look to produce goals and wins at home as four of their next five matches are at Children’s Mercy Park.

Long-tenured Manager Peter Vermes filled-in the lineup card with the following formation:

The eleven’s shining star has been attacking midfielder Manu Garcia who ranks third in MLS in both shot-creating actions (17) and successful take-ons (eight) while ranking eighth in successful passes into the penalty area (eight). Kansas City acquired the skilled playmaker via transfer on February third.

On the ball in more like a 4-2-4, Kansas City had four up high getting numbers into the attack. Defensively, the hosts kept the field not small, but tiny, concentrating 120×75 yards into something like 36×20.

The more purposeful runs and working to find purposeful penetrations had clearly been the subject of training in recent days. Notably, left back Logan Ndenbe often found himself the playmaker on the left wing as he pinched inside. The low press from United and Sporting’s pitch concentration left plenty of space behind Kansas City.

Sporting’s first glimpse of success came from the left back in the 11th minute. Playing for Garcia, off one of the frequent runs up top, Ndenbe’s ball fell to Shapi deep and central in United’s box. The right winger spun as he fended off his mark, yet Shapi could not get a clean touch.

A minute later, Minnesota revealed their lethal counter as striker Tani Oluwanseyi was fed adeptly through the middle and beyond left center back Robert Voloder. Fortunately, Oluwanseyi brushed his attempt wide left of Sporting goalkeeper John Pulskamp.

Minnesota produced another skip of the Kansas City faithful’s collective heart in the 15th minute. Garcia was beaten in the air after a failed Kansas City clearance in their own box. Waiting at the top of Sporting’s box, Hasani Dotson pinged a volley from 20 yards to bulge net for a stunning 1-0 lead.

Knocked down a notch, Kansas City stayed upright on the mat until some KC man-on-man crime in the 19th minute.  Pulskamp and Fernandez both went up for a ball and both came crashing down after a mid-air collision. Though Pulskamp was up rapidly, Fernandez needed a minute to gather himself.

Sporting’s attacking verve blunted some as the half wore on. Yet, there were glimpses. Shapi sharply took down a failed clearance in minute thirty and struck a rare right-footed half-volley, but the drive was blocked by the United defense.

In the 31st minute, Minnesota shredded Kansas City’s defense. Thommy was stripped 10 yards inside Minnesota’s end. Take some quick combos to remove Thommy, holding midfielder Nemanja Radoja, and then Voloder out of the play combined with the blazing speed of Bongokuhle Hlongwane down the wing and Tani Oluwanseyi up the gut and you spell trouble for Sporting. Hlongwane curled an inch-perfect ball from the right wing past right back Davis for Oluwanseyi, who struck easily past a helpless Pulskamp.

After the goal to make it 2-0, officials broke out the orange ball amidst the seemingly ever-thickening snow during this mid-March unexpected snowstorm less than 24 hours after high-winds and threatened tornadoes rattled Kansas City. Perhaps it was a move aimed at assisting Kansas City in finding their game.

Kansas City held a 73% advantage in possession by halftime and was even with Minnesota at two shots on goal, despite firing three less shots overall. As the half began, Memo Rodriguez came on for midfielder Zorhan Bassong.

It took less than 30 seconds for Minnesota to claim a 3-0 lead and to seemingly seal the match. Robin Lod chipped over Kansas City’s right-wing defense for a well-placed Joaquin Pereyra who touched one-time for, you guessed it, Oluwaseyi at the far post. Que fan dismay and moaning because clear defeat had happened again.

Kansas City kept persisting no matter resulting in enterprising play that ignored the deficit.  Garcia played outside of his right boot to Joveljic at the top of Minnesota’s box in the 52nd minute. The Bosnia and Herzegovina native played precisely back for the playmaker. But Garcia’s shot was gobbled up by the three defenders on the scene for United.

Vermes opted for Tim Liebold for Ndenbe at left back and Daniel Salloi for Erik Thommy in the midfield in the 58th minute. Both would go vital in a furious comeback attempt by Kansas City.

Ten minutes later, Liebold chipped high and artfully for a running Salloi inside the left side of United’s box. Receiving behind the backline, Salloi flicked his ankle for goal, sending the ball rolling into Dayne St. Clair’s net for a 3-1 scoreline.

Soon it would be two for Sporting. Shapi dueled with his marker on the edge of box. He pushed left and hit right only to see the ball deflect off a United defender and into the goal for a one-goal match at the 72nd minute mark.

As excitement reached a fervor in the remaining faithful, Garcia battled for a loose ball on the upper right edge of United’s box. The ball deflected off a United defender to Joveljic. The star #9 who has been tasked with spearheading Kansas City’s goal danger in a headlining offseason move, touched right and released a curling shot that spun just enough to bang off the inside of the far post and into Minnesota’s goal. Match drawn at 3-3.

Somehow, something had to go wrong, even after a series of fortunate bounces and steely nerves and skill from Kansas City. In the 83rd minute, Pulskamp pulled a reactive save with a scrum in front of him off a shot stung goalward.

Then, in the 86th minute, a scary call for a penalty arrived from Referee Joe Dickerson after a United shot rang off Fernandez’s head. Dickerson, in an immediate reaction, signaled for a penalty shot. After, reason won out and Dickerson overturned his call after review.

Right back Khiry Shelton, recovered from a hamstring issue, made his first appearance of the season for Davis in the 88th minute.

Eight minutes of stoppage time saw the two sides fight tooth and nail for any advantage to pull the valued three points. But to no avail. The match felt like a win for the home side, as it gained the first points of the season, stemmed the losing streak, and sent the fans home somewhat satisfied.

Kansas City host LAFC next Saturday night at Children’s Mercy in a match scheduled for 730pm.

 

 

Related Topics:

Amid a successful club and high school coaching career, Robert began writing for Major League Soccer as a stringer in 2004, doing weekly coverage and being sent to MLS Cup and the SuperDraft in subsequent seasons. Since then, Robert has continued playing and writing about soccer, although he chose to stop coaching in 2015. Catch his tactical and humanity-based articles and his musings on the Shades of Blue podcast at KCSoccerJournal.com.

8 Comments
Subscribe
Notify of
guest

8 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
skcfanipromise

shoutout some good saves by Pulskamp

#vermesout

4
Reply
Michael

What good saves? The shots right at him that he didn’t catch and almost hit into his own net or right to a MN player? The 1 save at his near post that every professional keeper should make? Pulskamp should not be a starting goalie for any professional team. His Fundamentals are horrible, his distribution is horrible, his game awareness is horrible, his decision making is horrible, he has no command of his back line, etc, etc, etc…. The dude “basket” caught a lob ball in his belly and it nearly rolled out. That has to be caught at the highest point you can, with 2 hands, if you’re a keeper. He has all the physical tools but Simple fundamentals.seem to escape him.

Last edited 1 year ago by Michael
-4
Reply
InToTouch

lol @ “right back Khiry Shelton”

1
Reply
Michael

I remember back in a preseason presser PV made comments about needing to be more defensive and having to be more direct in attacking with long balls. Well….the second half is the first time this year that SKC were attacking with balls over the top and winning the second ball (because MN plays 5 at the back and only 3 in midfield when they don’t have the ball, SKC had more players in the midfield to win the second ball). Why didn’t PV use this tactic in the first half? Who knows.

3
Reply
jdkus11

I stopped watching after the first half, so I was pleasantly surprised to tune back in after we scored two and got to see Joveljic get the tying goal. We finally scored some goals which is good and we had two bad defensive lapses and then a freakin worldie scored that you can’t do much about. Hopefully this can get some mojo going for our guys since they were the ones to spoil a three goal lead for Minnesota. I would rather we never went down that low, but I’ve gotta look for the sunshine somewhere.

2
Reply
KCOutsider

I guess the team decided there was no point in an 11th straight loss. So they finally got one.

1
Reply
Mister Murse

The momentum shifted when Minnesota stopped attacking with speed and tried to kill the game. Once they slowed down they couldn’t shift into gear when they needed to.

1
Reply
Howlie2

I almost stopped watching after the 3rd goal. Glad I didn’t because SKC was kinda fun to watch for the last 30 min. Salloi really changed the game when he came in at 60 min.

SKC didn’t lose. Felt like a win. Yay

0
Reply

Recent Comments

KC Soccer Journal in your Inbox!

Be the first to know when news breaks, sign up to get all of our posts sent directly to your inbox.

Facebook

Follow us on Twitter

8
0
Make your voice heard. Leave a comment!x
()
x