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Renewed? Sporting Kansas City claim win in start to new era

A game, a season can turn on a moment. A missed chance. A tackle. A coaching change. Saturday evening’s Sporting Kansas City match with rival St. Louis City brought that and more.

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2 months ago

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Thad Bell Photography

Soccer is a game and marathon of a season that can turn on a moment. A missed chance. A tackle. A coaching change. Saturday evening’s Sporting Kansas City match with rival St. Louis City brought all that and more. By the end, Kansas City had earned a 2-0 victory and a positive start in their hopeful renewal.

The match was not just another regular season game at Children’s Mercy Park: Traversing the coach’s box would be Kerry Zavagnin, not his longtime boss, the venerable Peter Vermes. To add even more spice for the first match after 16 years with Vermes as head coach, Sporting Kansas City (0-5-1) were facing their closest and fiercest rivals, St. Louis CITY (2-2-2). Fierce and not at all affectionate, let alone friendly. Most importantly, Sporting are battling for the support of their fans amidst at 13 match winless streak in all competitions dating back to September of 2024.

City claims an advantage in the MLS Regular Season series at three wins and two draws in six matches. However, Sporting is undefeated at home versus their fiercest rivals at 1-0-2. Although rival matches can be high scoring affairs, the two sides have not been lighting up the scoreboards. Sporting has generated six goals (three coming against Minnesota United FC), and City has put in only four in the first six weeks of the MLS season.

The night was not short of drama and compelling possibilities. Who would come out sparkling and who would wear a deepening din?

Zavagnin put out the following Starting Eleven:

Both Joaquin Fernandez (back) and Khiry Shelton (hamstring) were listed as questionable going in. Each provides Kansas City a plus. Fernandez has been Sporting’s most consistent center back and Shelton, who has performed well in limited minutes, allows Jake Davis to be in his prime midfield spot.

The kind-of-red-kind-of-not of City was sprinkled heavily in the South and East Stand of Kansas City’s home, but the home fans outnumbered the travelers.

The first ten minutes had bite and intent from both sides. Sporting had most of the ball, but were unable to create substance.

Then, City came close. Receiving in the middle of the pitch 36 yards out, Joao Klauss played quickly wide right to Conrad Wallum who deked Fernandez and clanked a strong attempt off the inside of the far post in the 16th minute. Another Wallum attempt was saved, followed by Akil Watts skying his attempt over Sporting ‘keeper John Pulskamp and the bar.

Manu Garcia dummied to leave for left winger Daniel Salloi in the 24th for an intriguing Kansas City chance. Salloi’s shot was blocked at the defense, giving City goalkeeper Ben Lundt no worries.

Clearly, both sides were hell-bent on entertaining and gaining the three points. Either a moment of brilliance or a methodical break through was coming.

The 30th minute saw an inventive and industrious Kansas City nearly break free for a shot, only to have Salloi, Garcia, and Dejan Joveljic touch heavy in traffic.

Off another heavy touch from Joveljic, City countered in the 33rd minute. This time the ball was played in for Klauss in behind, yet Pulskamp, in command of his box on this night, rushed out like a rabid bear and gobbled up the ball.

There was no doubt at all that the fans came to have fun. The buzz in the crowd was a long lasting – and a rambunctious – one. Sporting got the fuel close to fire in the 38th. On an overlap of a Shapi Suleymanov cut inside, Davis received and clipped in for a central Joveljic. At the spot, Joveljic struck, handcuffing Lundt. Though Lundt batted away, Sporting was stoking the flames.

A stout KC backline was limiting City’s options. Thus, City went from distance in the 44th, just nipping over the bar as in a number of previous instances.

Sporting trailed in shots at half 6-2 despite winning the possession game. Purpose. Purpose. Purpose.

Six minutes into the 2nd half saw two Sporting chances. The first, Fernandez volleyed from 16 yards out over the bar, followed by Davis trying to chip an onrushing Lundt. Davis’ attempt hit back netting, safe from goal.

Pulskamp was next in action. Driving to Pulskamp’s right, Marcel Hartel unleashed a low burner that forced Pulskamp into a sprawl. The trailing arm corralled the chance and kept the match scoreless.

The chance was the front of a flurry of City chances as they continually broke through Sporting’s flanks.

Nemanja Radoja replaced Shelton in the 59th minute. Davis then moved to right back as Radoja took up in midfield. It was an interesting wrinkle as Radoja played in advance of Jacob Bartlett, who remained at the holding spot.

Davis lost out on a ball from Pulskamp in the 66th. And it was nearly that Sportign moment where the match turns. However, Jansen Miller intervened with a sliding block of a clear shot.

Dangerous City rushes were regular now. A minute later, Watts was on Sporting’s doorstep. Yet, it must have been a “How did I get here” moment because the chance was muffed, away from goal.

One chance gone, one on the other end. Sporting built towards City’s end through the left wing, then centrally. Radoja found Garcia in a seam and the Spainard turned with eyes to goal. Instead, he laid off for Joveljic, a tad wide. But Jovelijic stretched and struck into the far netting for a Kansas City lead in the 71st minute. It’s a cruel game. But a just one…

Zavagnin sent on Erik Thommy for Bartlett and Dany Rosero for Fernandez shortly after the goal.

But City was on a break in the 81st minute before Rosero could enter. Blitzing across the midfield stripe, Klauss looked to spoil the party as two runners joined. Radoja, spying from behind, launched a fair tackle to knock the ball away and gain the second biggest eruption from the crowd on the night. Darn near poetic.

Kansas City entered the night two goals short of 400 regular season goals. They would find #400 in the 88th. Thommy pushed at his defender on the right wing while spotting Garcia streaking in at the top of the box. Seeing him free, Thommy fed. Garcia hit it well, but it pinged the crossbar. ‘No problem’ said Joveljic as he redirected the ball past a stunned Lundt and into the net. Two to one, good guys.

Five minutes of added time were announced, and after Pulskamp saved in the 92nd and a close Joveljic bender, Sporting saw the match out.

Finally, a win. And a good beginning to renewal. Now, what from here?

Wait, this is what. After the whistle, a scuffle ensued involving Davis and some City players by the City supporters. The clubs came together and peace was forcibly restored. After, Davis pumped his fists to get the South End on their feet.

Sporting Kansas City will have another full week of training with Zavagnin as they host Portland Timbers next Sunday at Children’s Mercy Park on a 1:15pm start.

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